Penny Jacomos B.A.Soc.Wk.,MA(SS) SOCIAL WORKER
Penny Jacomos has been involved with ADSSA from its beginning in 2005, when her role was to provide a social work and counselling service to the victims of asbestos related diseases and their family caregivers and bereaved relatives.
Penny has worked for 40 years as a Social Worker in Adelaide in both the public and private sectors, as well as in the community service sector. In the late 1990’s she spent a year working in the respiratory ward at the Repatriation General Hospital and during this time she gained experience in assisting those suffering asbestos related diseases.
At ADSSA, Penny’s role is to facilitate the wellbeing of the client and help improve their quality of life as much as possible. A significant component of her work is working with and recognising loss and grief issues and the lifestyle changes that go with having an asbestos related condition. This might take the form of individual counselling, providing information, and linkage to other community services and advocacy work.
After many years studying and researching asbestos disease victims, on 15 December 2011 Penny graduated with her Masters of Arts in the Social and Behavioural Sciences Faculty in the School of Social Work at Flinders University. Her thesis was titled: “An exploration of the social experience of people diagnosed with an asbestos related disease including mesothelioma and their family caregivers.”
Penny has already presented her work at one international conference and several national conferences held in Australia.
Penny is a Member of the AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers) and OSWA (Australian Oncology Social Work.
For more information about ways that ADSSA can provide support, see: