Melinda Simon - Certificate IV in Community Services

Melinda grew up in the Worimi and Biripi nations of the mid north coast of NSW in Taree and Foster Tuncurry. Her Great Aunt is Ella Simon who was a prominent welfare worker and Aboriginal activist. However, school was difficult for Melinda. She was a youth of the street living in Redfern whilst finishing her Year 10 School Certificate catching a train an hour each way between Redfern and where her school was in Blacktown and then to her accommodation each night after her part time job. She was able to pass in the end, but wasn’t able to complete her senior schooling as she needed to start working to pay for accommodation and board. She never imagined that she would one day have the chance to be able to study at a post-school level.

Now a friend and relative to the Bundjalung and Minjungbul tribes living in Ballina, Melinda has lived through various life challenges including overcoming addiction, and the grief that followed the tragic loss of her son in a motorbike accident 4 years ago. With her deep love of community, she had an intense desire to be an example to her friends and family – but no idea how to do that because of the gaps in her education. She offered her help in a voluntary capacity to a number of initiatives with a particular interest in supporting young people.

When she began volunteering at the Mullumbimby Neighbourhood Centre, the staff there recognised her potential and encouraged her to do the Certificate IV in Community Services course. Melinda realised that her own life experience had in fact enabled her to readily see the industry from a professional perspective but when she first began, even the process of enrolling in the course seemed daunting. The support from her Trainers, College Outreach services and the peer support from her classmates all contributed to a steady increase in confidence. As her training progressed, so too did her writing skills and her interest in research. She even began to entertain the possibility of maybe going on to do further study – a lifelong dream but something she never thought would be available to her. Recently, Melinda applied for an identified
position at Women Up North in Lismore where her amazing warmth, understanding and life experience will be greatly valued.

Watching Melinda’s confidence and belief in herself grow through her studies has been inspiring. She is such a great example of what is possible with the support that a Community College can provide. She now has the skills and confidence to go on to further study and employment and to inspire others to take their next steps. “I hope to follow in My Elders footsteps to empower our mob and others in our communities that are also in need.”

Melinda recently received a special award for Achievement and Resilience from Community Colleges Australia. The awards celebrate the achievements of Australia’s adult and community education students. It recognises their commitment to study and the relevance of lifelong learning for themselves and their community.

Melinda has worked so hard and we’re so excited for the bright future that awaits her. She has been accepted into a Bachelor of Social Work at university and the future looks very different to what she imagined it would be 12 months ago.

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