Michelle’s motto is, ‘If you’re passionate about something, it doesn’t feel like work.’ This is evident in her classwork and study, balancing life as a single mother with resilience.

Michelle has been at Chisholm for the past five years. She started with a Certificate III in Community Services and progressed to a Diploma of Community Studies, specialising in family violence. She then went on to study a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

It was clear to her teachers and peers that Michelle is a natural-born educator.

She drew on her personal experience as a survivor of family violence to deliver powerful classroom presentations, guiding discussions with sensitivity and emotional awareness. One of the most memorable talks the students experienced last year was delivered by Michelle. Through her heartfelt storytelling, she taught the class about the cycles of abuse, warning signs and community resources available. Following her moving speech, every student had tears in their eyes. They were impressed by her courage and authenticity. Michelle’s commitment to the learning community extends beyond the classroom. She was the student representative of Chisholm’s Family Violence Training Hub Advisory Committee since 2022. She offered a student’s view on the delivery of family violence courses and provided recommendations on family violence-related events for Chisholm.

One of Michelle’s favourite parts of studying at Chisholm was networking with teachers and students. Working at the Dandenong campus café has given her many opportunities to meet people and discover education pathways.Michelle won the 2025 Chisholm Education Awards Vocational Student of the Year.

Her goal is to become a teacher at Chisholm, continuing to empower and inspire others. She will be a true asset to the learning community.

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