Contact
Quality4Children
z.Hd. Mag. Elisabeth Ullmann-Gheri
Wolkensteingasse 2
A-6020 Innsbruck
Email: office@quality4children.org
We are a group of people with diverse backgrounds and many years of experience in the area of child and youth care:
Dr. Christian Posch
Q4C Co-Founder
Christian is born in Vienna, Austria, in 1955, and a proud father of three. He is a psychologist, psychotherapist, and quality manager with 40 years of experience in international child & family support and alternative care. Christian serves as the Honorary President of the Austrian NGO FICE Austria (http://www.fice.at), which advocates for quality care for children at risk, family support, and quality standards in alternative care. He is also the founder of "Quality Care Consulting," an independent consulting network that focuses on quality care projects worldwide, and the co-founder of Quality4Children.
Previously, Christian was the Project Director for SOS Children’s Villages Austria and later served as the International Programme Director for SOS Children’s Villages International, the largest organization involved in family- and community-based care, active in over 130 countries.
His favorite topics include assessment of child and youth care organizations, quality management, organizational development, and strategy. He frequently conducts training sessions and lectures on quality management in alternative care, youth welfare systems, and offers coaching and supervision for professionals and leaders.
Elisabeth Ullmann
Q4C Co-Founder
Elisabeth holds a degree in Psychology and additional qualifications in "Quality Management in Social Organizations" and "Play Pedagogy." She worked for SOS Children‘s Villages International in various positions for over 30 years. Elisabeth’s passion has always been with parents, caregivers and other child and youth care practitioners who provide direct care & support to families, children and young people around the world. She managed projects that focused on strengthening their working conditions, support structures, and development opportunities. Elisabeth facilitated quality standards and policy development processes as well as exchange on various child and youth care topics within multicultural contexts. She co-edited the book "Traumatic Experiences of Children" and co-authored "Women’s Lives. SOS Mothers Around the World Tell Their Stories". In her last 5-year project with SOS Children’s Villages International, she led a project team that developed and rolled-out a learning & development framework for child and youth care practitioners in over 30 countries. Elisabeth has two children and lives with her South African partner in Innsbruck, Austria.
Werner van der Westhuizen
Associate
Werner is a social worker consultant in private practice based in South Africa. "I started my career in 1996 as a probation officer for the Department of Social Services, in a pilot project which was part of the transformation of the child and youth care system in South Africa. I was introduced to the leading academics and practitioners in the CYC field, many of whom remained a guiding influence in my life. After 7 years, I become a director at SOS Children’s Villages in Port Elizabeth. As a residential staff member, I had one foot in management and another in direct practice with children and young people in alternative care. After 13 years, I entered private practice as a therapist and soon began creating and facilitating workshops for professionals on mental health and CYC practice-related topics. From 2020 to 2024, I worked as a consultant to SOS CVs to write competency portfolios and workshop programmes with a team of gifted professionals. I offer consultancy to organizations, and create and facilitate workshop content.
I hold an MA in Clinical Social Work and an MA in Psychology, am certified in hypnotherapy and have certifications in NLP and EMDR. I previously served as a board member of CYC-Online, and am currently on the editorial board for Relational Child & Youth Care Practice.
Dr. Teresa Ngigi
Associate
Teresa W. Ngigi is an international Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist whose focus is on Trauma Informed Care as well as Child Protection. She is originally from Kenya, but lives in Trieste, Italy, with her family. She holds a BEd in Psycho-Pedagogy, a Higher Diploma in Psychological Counselling, a Masters degree in Organizational Leadership and Management, a PhD in Psychology and Culture, and a Post-Doctorate in Trauma-informed Care. She has written several articles as well as media interviews. Her books include "Breaking the Cycle - the Role of Auntie Rosie in Trauma Informed Care" and "Trauma and Adoption". Teresa has travelled to many countries sensitizing and training people on Mental Health, with a special emphasis on Trauma and Child Protection. Her main goal in life is to make a difference in people’s lives, as well as to offer hope that it is possible to break the chains that prevent them from being fully alive. Her website www.teresangigi.com details some of the experiences and ideas she offers to people.
www.linkedin.com/in/ngigi-teresa-phd-b83b7015
www.teresangigi.com
Hilda O’Callaghan
Associate
Hilda O’Callaghan is a qualified Emotional Intelligence Trainer, Marriage and Relationship Educator and Dispute Resolution Mediator and has facilitated learning for the past 38 years in Australia and internationally. Her last full-time employment was with the Australian Red Cross as Manager of the Family Support Department. Hilda holds qualifications in Psychology and Criminology and has a Masters Degree in Training and Development. She is an Accredited Edward De Bono Six Thinking Hat Consultant and has run Lateral Thinking Workshops for Children, teachers and corporate groups. For the past 15 years Hilda has travelled to different countries to deliver Protective Behaviours training. She travels to South Africa multiple times each year and just in SA alone, she has trained more than 3,000 Social Workers and Teachers who in turn, deliver the program to groups of children and teenagers in the community. Hilda’s goal is to achieve a safer world for all and to ensure that all children are empowered with the knowledge and skills of the Protective Behaviours Program. Every child has the right to feel safe at all times and the opportunity to develop to their full potential.