Role Players 2018
Dr. Shaheda Bibi Omar
Clinical Director
THE TEDDY BEAR CLINIC for abused children
B.A. Social Work (Hons.), Masters in Mental Health, Dip. In Marriage Guidance & Counselling, Forensic Assessment of child victims of abuse, doctoral thesis on young sex offenders. Shaheda has worked in the field for 25 years.
Testimonial of Clinical Director of The Teddy Bear Clinic (TTBC):
Shaheda Omar has been with The Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children for 16 years. During this time she has developed the professional standard of services offered by the clinic. She is well known and respected in the field of child abuse. She is often asked for by name to assist in challenging and controversial cases. Her knowledge and skill is of enormous value to TTBC.
Shaheda has driven the Diversion Programme for young sex offenders since its inception and continues to take the programme from strength to strength. She completed her PHD and graduated in June 2011. Her work in this level of study adds to the literature and greater understanding of child abuse in South Africa, and the Diversion programme in particular. We now have one of the most progressive Diversion programmes in the continent. Shaheda is also the author of a Diversion Handbook, 'Children who sexually abuse other children'.
As the clinical director of TTBC, Shaheda sits on the executive committee and is party to the strategic direction of the clinic. She is a leader that is respected throughout the organisation and in the field of abuse reactive children, both in the government and NGO sector.
As a person, Shaheda is a dedicated and a committed employee who always goes beyond the call of duty. For example, she will assist parents and victims on an emergency basis to schools in crisis at all hours. She is an excellent therapist and forensic investigator. Shaheda is open, honest and rises to every challenge placed before TTBC. Her insight into the psyche of child abuse is phenomenal, and she strives to share this knowledge and develop the staff at TTBC.
Shaheda has presented at numerous conferences (national and international) such as SASPCAN, SAALED, IATSO, SAYSTOP, SVRI, IMA (medical convention), ACOPAB (psychiatry conference), SAPSAC, Child Trauma Conference, Centre for applied Psychology and many others. She has also been appointed to sit on the SAPSAC committee, Shukumisa Campaign (working group for sexual offences legislation) and on the Accreditation committee for diversion.
Workshop Presentations and Training
Shaheda has also presented workshops on child abuse and young sex offenders (children who sexually abuse other children). She has trained a multi disciplinary of Medical, Psychological staff, facilitators and lay counsellors in the deep rural areas of Thohoyandou, Bushbuckridge, Mafikeng and Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape. Training has extended to Windhoek in Namibia and Zimbabwe. Shaheda has provided training in the field of child abuse to the different sectors such as: medical (G-EMP medical students, doctors); community paediatric registrars; family medicine and MSc Students (nurses, psychologists); educators; welfare students (social work students from UJ and UNISA, social workers, probation officers); NGO's; CBO's; and NPO (prosecutors and magistrates). Further training has also been provided to volunteers and lay counsellors in areas such as Katlehong, Diepsloot, Thembisa, Ennerdale, Eldorado Park, Soweto, and in the Vaal Triangle.
Media Appearances
Shaheda has been invited on numerous television panels and other shows concerning child abuse issues. She has appeared on Carte Blanche, 3rd Degree, 3 Talk and other SABC 2 and 3 shows. She is often consulted by the media for her expertise and opinions on various matters pertaining to abuse.
Court Testimony
Shaheda has appeared as an expert witness on an ongoing basis and has also sat in court with magistrates as an assessor, assisting and guiding magistrates in their understanding of the cases presented on child abuse. Furthermore, she has appeared in both regional and the high court and is often consulted for challenging and controversial cases for law enforcement agencies. She has worked on many high profiles cases such as the Swan Nursery School versus Raymond Godfrey case and she also worked with the Jules High School and children from the German School who were allegedly abused.
Social Responsibility
Over and above her work in the field of child abuse, she is also committed to serving the needs of the community through her contributions towards other organisations. She serves on various boards, some of which are: Nkosi's Haven; Muslim AIDS Programme; Arepp Theatre For Life; Johannesburg Institute For Social Services and so forth. She has also volunteered her counselling services to the Parktown convent the AIDS clinic in Hillbrow and numerous other faith-based organizations. Her skills are also used in the formation of counselling training manuals to Islamic organizations, and Shaheda also renders her services as a volunteer consultant.
Testimonial of Clinical Director of The Teddy Bear Clinic (TTBC):
Shaheda Omar has been with The Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children for 16 years. During this time she has developed the professional standard of services offered by the clinic. She is well known and respected in the field of child abuse. She is often asked for by name to assist in challenging and controversial cases. Her knowledge and skill is of enormous value to TTBC.
Shaheda has driven the Diversion Programme for young sex offenders since its inception and continues to take the programme from strength to strength. She completed her PHD and graduated in June 2011. Her work in this level of study adds to the literature and greater understanding of child abuse in South Africa, and the Diversion programme in particular. We now have one of the most progressive Diversion programmes in the continent. Shaheda is also the author of a Diversion Handbook, 'Children who sexually abuse other children'.
As the clinical director of TTBC, Shaheda sits on the executive committee and is party to the strategic direction of the clinic. She is a leader that is respected throughout the organisation and in the field of abuse reactive children, both in the government and NGO sector.
As a person, Shaheda is a dedicated and a committed employee who always goes beyond the call of duty. For example, she will assist parents and victims on an emergency basis to schools in crisis at all hours. She is an excellent therapist and forensic investigator. Shaheda is open, honest and rises to every challenge placed before TTBC. Her insight into the psyche of child abuse is phenomenal, and she strives to share this knowledge and develop the staff at TTBC.
Shaheda has presented at numerous conferences (national and international) such as SASPCAN, SAALED, IATSO, SAYSTOP, SVRI, IMA (medical convention), ACOPAB (psychiatry conference), SAPSAC, Child Trauma Conference, Centre for applied Psychology and many others. She has also been appointed to sit on the SAPSAC committee, Shukumisa Campaign (working group for sexual offences legislation) and on the Accreditation committee for diversion.
Workshop Presentations and Training
Shaheda has also presented workshops on child abuse and young sex offenders (children who sexually abuse other children). She has trained a multi disciplinary of Medical, Psychological staff, facilitators and lay counsellors in the deep rural areas of Thohoyandou, Bushbuckridge, Mafikeng and Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape. Training has extended to Windhoek in Namibia and Zimbabwe. Shaheda has provided training in the field of child abuse to the different sectors such as: medical (G-EMP medical students, doctors); community paediatric registrars; family medicine and MSc Students (nurses, psychologists); educators; welfare students (social work students from UJ and UNISA, social workers, probation officers); NGO's; CBO's; and NPO (prosecutors and magistrates). Further training has also been provided to volunteers and lay counsellors in areas such as Katlehong, Diepsloot, Thembisa, Ennerdale, Eldorado Park, Soweto, and in the Vaal Triangle.
Media Appearances
Shaheda has been invited on numerous television panels and other shows concerning child abuse issues. She has appeared on Carte Blanche, 3rd Degree, 3 Talk and other SABC 2 and 3 shows. She is often consulted by the media for her expertise and opinions on various matters pertaining to abuse.
Court Testimony
Shaheda has appeared as an expert witness on an ongoing basis and has also sat in court with magistrates as an assessor, assisting and guiding magistrates in their understanding of the cases presented on child abuse. Furthermore, she has appeared in both regional and the high court and is often consulted for challenging and controversial cases for law enforcement agencies. She has worked on many high profiles cases such as the Swan Nursery School versus Raymond Godfrey case and she also worked with the Jules High School and children from the German School who were allegedly abused.
Social Responsibility
Over and above her work in the field of child abuse, she is also committed to serving the needs of the community through her contributions towards other organisations. She serves on various boards, some of which are: Nkosi's Haven; Muslim AIDS Programme; Arepp Theatre For Life; Johannesburg Institute For Social Services and so forth. She has also volunteered her counselling services to the Parktown convent the AIDS clinic in Hillbrow and numerous other faith-based organizations. Her skills are also used in the formation of counselling training manuals to Islamic organizations, and Shaheda also renders her services as a volunteer consultant.