Melissa Stevens - Managing Director
melissa@mmigp.com.au

Melissa Stevens is a Gunnai women from Orbost in East Gippsland.  Melissa’s career commenced in the criminal justice system working within juvenile justice and child protection in Gippsland after completing a Bachelor of Social Work, this work lead to further postgraduate study in criminology.   Melissa moved to Melbourne in 2002 to take part in leading the development of the Victorian Indigenous Family Violence Strategy where she and a co worker lead the state-wide community consultations on behalf of the Victorian Indigenous Family Violence Task Force, leading to the development of the Victorian Indigenous Family Violence Strategy which remains in place today.

Melissa later worked with the Department of Justice under the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement as Manager of the Koori Recruitment and Career Development Strategy.   This work allowed Melissa to continue supporting Justice staff state-wide in their respective careers along with overseeing the Departments Cultural Awareness and Management training including the development of Layun Nguttay – A guide to understanding Indigenous Culture for Managers.

In 2006 Melissa moved across to the City of Melbourne to develop Councils Indigenous Framework, encompassing social, cultural and reconciliation.   Melissa spent 5 years working with council developing and later implementing the framework.  In this time Melissa worked closely with Traditional Owners and established Council’s Indigenous Advisory Panel and managed the commencement of an Indigenous Heritage Study for Melbourne.    During this time Melissa completed further postgraduate studies in corporate management specialising in Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour.

In 2010 Melissa returned to community to take on the role of Managing Director at MMIGP.  Melissa spent time as a Board of Director before taking on the challenge to manage the organisation and implement the Board of Directors new business plan 2010-2013. 

Melissa in 2010 received the Dardi award for outstanding leadership receiving a scholarship with Melbourne Business School Asia Pacific Social Leadership Centre for her work as a consultant and supporting community.

Melissa states that her true passion lies at the grass roots level of community- advocating for the true needs of community to government and building community capacity through strong governance and leadership.  Melissa states ‘she can only hope she is a role model for young people, particularly young women following behind her’.

Bronwyn Scott - HACC and Community Team Leader halo@mmigp.com.au

Hello, just a short introduction to let you know a little bit about myself.  Before moving to Victoria I worked with the Aboriginal community in Kempsey NSW for around five years as a Group Facilitator & Community Support. 

When I first arrived in Victoria I worked for EACH and MMIGP as the AHPACC Health promotion Officer.  It was during this time that I began the MMIGP Foodbank to improve access to fresh fruit & vegetables for the community, our volunteers now operate the food bank.  My position now is the HACC Aboriginal Liaison Officer.  

I have always been committed to social justice and the environment.  I have two grown children who now follow in my footsteps to help protect and preserve the environment for future generations.  I feel honoured to work for the Aboriginal community in Victoria and will always do my very best to make a difference.      

Nicole Everitt - Grants Coordinator

grantscoordinator@mmigp.com.au

My name is Nicole and I started working at MMIGP in June as the Grants Coordinator.  I work Monday to Thursday and my role is to monitor new grants opportunities and assisting the Managing Director to track spending against current grants, including reporting and preparing acquittals.  I work closely with Program Staff to keep them informed of upcoming grants relevant to their program area and to gather information from them to assist in the preparation of submissions.
 
I have an Aboriginal partner whose family connections are the Fourmiles of Yarrabah just outside of Cairns.  Our children, aged 2 and 4 both attend the Burrai Playgroup, with the eldest attending since she was 6 months old.
 

Carolyn Dawe - Administration Team Leader administration@mmigp.com.au

Hi, I’m Carolyn,  I started working here voluntarily and now work full time as the Administration Manager but also help with IT, Finance and website updates.  

I am married and Kevin and I have two beautiful boys Jayden & Adam.  I am a Wurundjeri/Yorta Yorta women and I have lived in the Eastern Suburbs all of my life. 

I’ve worked in various jobs over the years but mainly as a department manager in a supermarket,  I left work in 2003 to raise my two children at home until they were school age and now I am thoroughly enjoying being back in the work force and meeting and working with everyone in the community.

Thomas Harrison - Wellbeing Team Leader

mensworker@mmipp.com.au

Thomas has returned to MMIGP in October 2010 to undertake the Youth and Volunteer Coordinator position in the Indigenous Wellbeing Team. Thomas Harrison is a Yorta-Yorta/Wotjobaluk man and has been raised in the Eastern region of Melbourne.

Thomas coordinated the MMIGP Youth Network from 2006 to 2008 and has some bright plans for young people in the region for 2011. He is currently planning projects to kick off early in the New Year.