Melissa Brickell is a descendant of the Yorta Yorta and Wiradjeri people and resides in Melbourne. Melissa has worked as a teacher in Victoria and the Northern Territory in the public and private sectors in Primary, Secondary, University, TAFE, Prison, Museum, the Church; and in particular, as Aboriginal Cultural Parish Worker for the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Melbourne [ACMM] (1996-98).

For the last 7 years Melissa has worked for the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and is currently the Training Officer with responsibilities for internal and external training cultural and community education. Melissa’s work, commitment and active community involvement over the last 18 years has focussed on cross cultural awareness and reconciliation among Australians.

Melissa received a Reconciliation Award from Maribyrnong City Council (Vic, 1998) for Advancing the rights and community life of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Melissa also carries with her a high profile involvement in the Stolen Generations movement in Victoria and nationally. Melissa has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education (1988), Catechist Diploma (1997), Rite of Christian Initiation Adults Certificate (1997); and a deferred Masters of Arts in Aboriginal Studies.

As an active volunteer in the Victorian Community, these are a few of Melissa’s commitments:
• ACMM member, 1989-
• Victorian Sorry Day Patron
• Stolen Generations & Victorian Sorry Day Representative, 1997 –
• National Sorry Day Committee member, 1998 –
• MacKillop Heritage and Information Services Committee member 2000
• MacKillop History Project 2001-
• Victorian Reconciliation Place Taskforce, (Victorian State Government appointment), 2001-
• Opening the Doors Foundation Trustee, 2001-
• Victorian Aboriginal Catholic Council, Melbourne Archdiocese, 2003-
Melissa also enjoys spending time with her sons Lee and Troy, writing and painting.

Message Stick Relay