Aldona’s journey at Flinders has taken her from Arnhem Land to Victor Harbor, supporting rural and remote education along the way. With a diverse career background and a passion for hands-on learning, she shares how these experiences have shaped her work and outlook.
What is your role and what does your work focus on?
When I first began working with Flinders in 2022, I was working as the campus administrator up in Nhulunbuy- Remote East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. There I worked in a hybrid role managing facilities, supporting Yolngu Cultural education, liaising with stakeholders, providing student assistance & anything else that needed to be done! In December last year I relocated to Victor Harbor- south of Adelaide in South Australia. I was fortunate enough to move into a role with Flinders University where I now work as a Facilities Officer focussing mainly on the HMF region but also supporting all of our rural South Australian sites. My days involve organising services, liaising with contractors, checking in on student accommodation and general administrative campus management tasks.
Where did you work and / or study before joining CMPH / Flinders?
This is a mixed bag! I worked as a chiropractic assistant before completing my diploma of specialised makeup services and running my own makeup and hair styling business for 10 years. I then went back and completed diploma of early childhood education which allowed me to work in schools with my trained therapy dog Banjo. When he retired I went back to the classroom and worked in student support before moving to Flinders University.
What inspired you to pursue a career in your current field, and how has your passion evolved over time?
Finding a role in Nhulunbuy that allowed me to work meaningfully with, and learn from some of the most wonderful Yolngu elders was truly a pivotal moment in my career. It opened my eyes to a whole new way of learning and understanding the world around me and I will forever be grateful to Mayalil Marika, Lipaki Dhamarrandji and Murphy Yunupingu for their generosity and to Chris Hince for his support. Providing support to students to be able to have experiences in rural and remote regions has become a main focus of my work at Flinders University as I know firsthand how transformative it is to have quality first-hand, lived experiences in these regions.
Can you share a memorable experience or project from your career that had a significant impact on you or the community?
This one is easy- being a part of Garma Festival for the past 2 years has had the most significant impact on me out of anything I’ve done in my career. I have been so proud to stand in our Flinders University booth, under the roof made from branches and floor made from dirt and connect with people from across Australia about the work that we do. Sharing photos, stories and experiences with people from all walks of life and being amongst wonderful colleagues are certainly experiences I will be forever grateful for. Another experience that I feel is important to share has been my move down to Victor Harbor. The team here at the campus have been so incredibly welcoming, kind and supportive- I feel like I’ve hit the colleague jackpot!
How do you like to relax or spend your spare time?
This has been a bit of an adjustment- in Arnhem Land I would’ve said fishing for a nice big GT, camping out in the swag or meeting with my gorgeous book club friends. Here down south I’m now enjoying the coastal walking trails, live music gigs (King Stingray last weekend was phenomenal!) and visiting the Port Elliot Bakery where I’m slowly working my way through their entire menu.