Specialties & Experience
General Specialties:
Social Work
Specialty Focus:
Child Protection, Historical Child Sexual Assault, Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, Mental Health
Education:
Dr Fergeus completed the Doctor of Philosophy (Social Work) degree under supervision from the Schools of Social Work and Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne. His thesis was completed partially by publication and focused on the impact of carers on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in out of home care. He was also awarded the following degrees: Master of Social Work (Monash University), Bachelor of Teaching (Deakin University) and Bachelor of Arts (Deakin University).
Years in Practice:
3
Number of Times Deposed/Testified in Last 4 Yrs:
9
Additional Information
- The needs of carers: applying a hierarchy of needs to a foster and kinship
care context – Adoption and Fostering (2019)
- Supporting foster and kinship carers to promote the mental health of
children – Child and Family Social Work (2018)
- Assisting carers to respond to the mental health needs of children –
Children Australia (2018)
Dr Fergeus is a sitting Member of Victoria’s Mental Health Tribunal, the South-East Metropolitan Interim Regional Body for Mental Health, the Suitability Panel, and the Worker and Carer Exclusion Scheme Panel. He is the Independent Chair of the North-Eastern Montessori School and a Board Director of Robinvale District Health
Services, and has been a Chief Executive Officer of social service organisations since 2013.
Dr Fergeus is a former Secretary and President of the peak body representing Victoria’s foster carers, the Foster Care Association of Victoria (2011-2014). He worked in senior roles at the peak body for child and family welfare organisations in Victoria, the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, between 2009-2013. While at the Centre he ran the Victorian Foster Care Recruitment Project and statewide Kinship Care Network, and contributed as an author or lead author on the following publications:
- Their voice: involving children and young people in decisions, services and systems (2012)
- Their needs: appropriate service models for vulnerable children, young people and families (2011)
Dr Fergeus worked recruiting, training and assessing foster carers for Anglicare Victoria from 2006-2009 and was a registered Shared Stories, Shared Lives and Step By Step trainer and assessor. He is a former accredited foster carer in the State of Victoria.