Michelle Alchin

I have 30 years experience as a community worker, manager, broadcaster and teacher across the not for profit, local government, broadcast media and tertiary education sectors. My work is values driven – I believe in people power, social justice and supporting the most vulnerable people in our society. These working values I have applied at a grass roots level as well as at a strategic macro-level supporting municipal wide community service organisations in local government areas. I have worked and volunteered in the not for profit community services sector for the past 25 years in a broad capacity eg: managing a neighbourhood house; supporting refugees and asylum seekers with material aid, settlement support, service referral;   mentoring and partnering with people who have mental health issues to support re-empowerment in their life; a community centre committee of management member overseeing strategic directions and community based programs; regional health service community consultative committee member; running group based activity programs for people with diverse abilities and levels of wellness; one-to-one welfare support to students and individual community organisation members as well as countless other support roles reflecting the diversity in our society and the diversity of needs.

The benefits of being around for a while is that I have seen and been part of the cycles of change that have occurred politically and socially over the past 30 years and how those changes have impacted and shaped our local communities, our social/community services sector and our profession as community service and development professionals. It was a natural progression for me to move into teaching  – to share my expertise and mentor those who are seeking to upskill or gain employment in the sector.

The breadth of my experience has given me the attributes of being a long-term listener and a community landscape reader. Quite simply, I am passionate about people, and about empowering people to be in charge of their decisions and lives. I have come to see that education is fundamental to achieving this and has the power to transform lives.

Education:

BA Communications

Diploma Community Services

Diploma Vocational Education and Training

Certificate IV Training and Assessment

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