Yiorgs has been working with children and adolescents for nearly 15 years, having previously worked with young offenders through organisations including the Department of Health and Human Services (Youth Justice), Youth Projects (YNOT program), and Australian Community Support Organisation (PSBS). For the past 5 years, Yiorgs has been employed as a Psychologist with the Department of Education & Training, working at both primary and secondary schools in the Manningham & Boroondara regions. During this period, he provided counselling services for the students, and regularly undertook psycho-educational assessments. Yiorgs was also required to undertake assessments and write and submit applications on behalf of students who were potentially eligible for funding under the Program for Students with Disabilities.
A significant part of his role at the schools related to managing difficult behaviours in the classroom, which often involved working with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Behavioural Disorders, working closely with teachers and parents in the process. This position of employment with the Department also required Yiorgs to regularly collaborate with other external professionals (e.g. Speech Pathologists, Psychologists & Paediatricians) who were providing additional support for students at these schools. Yiorgs developed and delivered a number of Personal Development Training sessions for staff at each of these schools, relating to areas such as managing students with anxiety, school refusal, and suicidal ideation.
He also carried out several sessions for parents and students relating to topics of interest to these groups, including depression, anxiety, resilience and mental fitness. Yiorgs has an interest in the areas of ASD, anxiety and depression, and is passionate about working with children and adolescents to help them confront and overcome difficult life situations, and to develop both resilience as well as a positive level of psychological wellbeing that they will be able to independently maintain.