CEO of crisis centre steps down after 16 years of service

After a decade and a half of service, Sinoville Crisis Centre’s CEO Colleen Strauss has announced her decision to step down to seek new challenges and opportunities.

Strauss, a qualified social worker, has worked as a counsellor for the centre, creating a welcoming environment for abuse and crisis victims and expanding the centre’s services.

She started working as a counsellor at SCC 16 years ago while studying to become a social worker.

“I wanted to make a difference in our community and people’s lives. Serving our community has always been a calling for me,” she said.

Strauss said the time for her to spread her wings and take on new challenges had come.

“This feeling has been at the back of my mind for quite some time and I believe nobody is irreplaceable but it is time for new management of the SCC to take over with new ideas and initiatives to take it forward,” Strauss told Rekord.

Strauss said it was time for her to build her career as a social worker.

“I am a qualified social worker building my practice, doing forensic assessments of children for the courts while working full-time at Laerskool Stephanus Roos. It is time for a new beginning.”

She said she will always treasure the journey as the centre’s CEO.

“The past 16 years were nothing but an absolute privilege to contribute to our community.”

Strauss assured the community the centre would be left in capable hands.

“I know I leave the SCC in very capable hands. I do not doubt that the SCC will continue to grow from strength to strength and I believe that the new management will always serve victims with passion and the highest standard.”

She said her journey has not always been rosy as she faced many obstacles as CEO.

“Survival, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic when individuals and businesses no longer had the funds to support the day-to-day expenses of a non-profit organisation like the SCC was draining and very worrying.”

The biggest challenge for her remains the lack of proper training and education, especially about evolving legislation.

“If I take the amended Domestic Violence Act as an example, it is unfortunate that not all role-players are trained on the amended Act that came into effect on April 1, 2023.”

She said despite its challenges, the centre continued to grow – not just in Sinoville – but nationally.

“The SCC made headlines over the past decade as it has been setting the trend for victim empowerment centres and ensuring efficient and effective collaboration and communication between victims, counsellors, and the police.”

She said the centre managed to take hands to make a difference and to enhance the victims’ overall experience of the criminal justice system.

Strauss wished the centre and its new management a prosperous journey.

“The new management must never forget their role to serve our community, to relieve the trauma of victims and to strengthen the hands of the police. I wish all the role-players best of luck to grow even more,” she concluded.

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