About Melinda

Melinda (B Com, M Ed (Ed Psych), COGE, Grad Dip Psych, BSocSci (Hons) and M OrgPsych) is a teacher and psychologist with over twenty years’ experience in supporting schools. Melinda has taught K-12 in the Catholic and independent systems in the social sciences (economics, business studies and commerce) and in learning enrichment/support.

Melinda has worked as a consultant with the Association of Independent Schools NSW (AIS NSW) and headspace Schools as well as a teaching educator with Catholic Education, Diocese of Parramatta. In addition, Melinda has a passion in supporting schools through experiences of grief and loss and was General Manager of Good Grief Ltd, before joining headspace Schools.

Melinda’s experience includes working with whole school staff, leadership teams, individual system leaders, school leaders and teachers in areas including individual and staff wellbeing (program facilitation, coaching and one-on-one support); strategic approaches to social and emotional learning;  trauma, grief and loss in schools. Melinda is an accredited coach with the International Coach Federation and values the structure and insights effective coaching can provide in times of planned and unplanned change.

Melinda is the Deputy Chair of the NSW Chapter of the Positive Education in Schools Association, the Australian Psychological Society (student member) and the International Coach Federation. Her compassionate approach embeds positive psychology principles within an appreciation of the complex nature of schools as communities and systems and her own practice, Compassionate Schools/Compassionate Self Psychology focuses on the wellbeing of school staff within these systems..