“It wasn’t something I always planned to do, my early career was in real estate, travel, and event management, but I can’t imagine doing anything else now. I was inspired by my dad, who was working at an Aboriginal Youth Healing Centre at the time. Hearing his stories about the impact of the work and the support provided to participants made me rethink what I wanted from a career and what I was truly passionate about. He encouraged me to go back and study, promising he’d help me get a job once I finished—and true to his word, I started at the Healing Centre the very next day after completing my studies. Safe to say, he is a man of his word.
“After a few years at the Healing Centre, I quickly realised there was a strong link between substance use, past trauma, mental health, and the justice system. I wanted to broaden my skills and experience by supporting individuals transitioning from prison back into the community. After a bit of research, I came across ACSO and the incredible work they do in this space. I had one goal: get a job in their case work programs. One week later, I saw an advertisement for the ReStart program, applied, and here I am over seven years later.
“That was in 2018. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to work across all Forensic Case Work Services programs, taking on Team Leader and Program Manager roles along the way. These experiences helped me grow as a leader and broaden my understanding of the work we do. I’m now the ReConnect Program Manager and Hub Lead Coordinator, supporting our Hub Leads across VIC, NSW, and QLD and it’s been an incredible seven year journey so far!”
“I have been incredibly lucky to work with such beautiful teams and programs across ACSO. There is a strong sense of trust, support and shared purpose, and people genuinely show up for one another—both professionally and personally. Even on the hard days (and there are plenty in forensic case work), there’s always someone you can lean on, debrief with, or have a laugh with to reset. It really feels like a team that has your back.”
“Honestly, I’m curious about most areas of ACSO! There’s so much incredible work happening across different programs, and I love learning how other teams approach challenges and support participants. I think there’s huge value in understanding the broader organisation. It helps us collaborate better and keeps us grounded in the bigger picture of ACSO’s mission. If ACSO were ever to branch out into the youth case work space in metro Melbourne, I would be really excited to support that area and contribute my experience.”
“No two days ever look the same, which is part of what I love about the role. My week is usually a mix of supporting team leaders, intake and case workers, problem-solving complex participant matters, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, and making sure our program is running smoothly and in line with our values. There are lots of conversations, meetings, plenty of curveballs, and a fair bit of thinking on my feet, but always with the goal of achieving the best outcomes for participants and supporting team members to do this.”
“I absolutely love working alongside my team—they inspire me every day to be a better leader and to provide high-quality, person-centred support to our participants. I also thrive on problem-solving; every day brings something new that we need to navigate together. These challenges push us to think outside the box, advocate fiercely, and stay quick on our feet. It’s fast-paced, rewarding, and never boring—and I wouldn’t have it any other way!”
“Belief in humanity really resonates with me right now. I’ve had some incredibly special moments in recent case work where participants have shared that they’ve never received—or even accepted—support before, and never believed there were people who genuinely cared. Those moments are a powerful reminder of why this work matters.”
“I don’t think I have one single moment that stands out, but each year I reflect on the “year that was” and I am proud of my team and everything we have been able to achieve with our participants, proud of the team’s personal and professional growth. That said, winning the Leadership Excellence Award in 2025 was definitely a highlight, and yes, I may have done a little happy dance when I found out! But honestly, the moments that mean the most to me are the everyday wins, seeing our team come together, overcome challenges and make real difference in people’s lives.”
“I don’t have a very defined “next step” in mind—and I’m okay with that. Right now, my focus is on continuing to grow as a leader, supporting my teams well, and doing meaningful work that aligns with my values. If opportunities come up that allow me to keep learning, challenge myself, and make a positive impact, I’m open to seeing where that takes me.”