Donna Mahoney is the Outreach and Engagement Officer within the College of Medicine and Public Health, supporting community engagement across the SA regions where Flinders have a presence. In her role, she helps deliver outreach activities including expos, field days, roadshows and the promotion of health-related education and career pathways. She also provides administrative support to the team. With a strong background in customer service, retail management and higher education engagement, Donna brings valuable experience in building connections with communities and supporting students to pursue study opportunities close to home.

Where did you work before joining CMPH/RRH?

Most of my time was spent at University of South Australia Student Association (USASA). I was the Manager of Student Spaces and Retail. I also more recently worked as an Advertising Assistant, for our local Murray Pioneer newspaper.

What is your role and what does your work focus on?

I am the new Outreach and Engagement Officer. I will assist with outreach, community engagement, expos, field days, roadshows and promoting health-related education and career pathways. I will also provide backup admin support.

Do you have a rural background?

I absolutely do! I was born in Waikerie, raised in Berri and now reside in Monash. My family and I spent 10 years in Adelaide. However, the Riverland is our home, so we are happy to be settled here.

Tell us a little about your professional journey and what brought you to this point in your career?

My professional journey has always strongly followed some sort of sales, or customer service/engagement path. My first fulltime job was here in Renmark, at Big W, as a department manager.

I then moved on to the Just Group (Just Jeans, Portmans, etc), where I managed various stores throughout Eastern Adelaide and assisted with the training of newly hired store managers.

I left the Just Group after 7 years for a role with USASA. I was originally hired to manage USASA’s physical student spaces/info hubs on their metro campuses. However, this role quickly evolved once we won the tender to manage Uni SA’s branded merchandise. This required my team’s numbers to increase from approximately 8-10 staff, to approximately 13-20. Our student spaces also became brick and mortar shops, and an online store was also built and managed.

I left this role after 7 years due to relocating back to the Riverland and did so feeling incredibly proud of what we’d built.

After relocating, I began work at the Murray Pioneer. I loved getting out and about amongst the community, chatting to them about their businesses, local growth and the challenges they face. However, I was really missing USASA and the environment of higher education, so when I saw the role for Allied Health Study Hub Coordinator, I jumped at the chance to get my foot in the door with Flinders. I have enjoyed my time here so far and I am very excited to now have this new opportunity as Outreach and Engagement Officer.

What is something you love most about your work?

I love that we can offer local students the opportunity to study and stay here at home in the beautiful Riverland. It is so rewarding when chatting with students and their families and hearing their excitement and appreciation for the programs we offer.

What are some of the challenges you face in your role?

I am too new in the role to have identified challenges. However, I am sure that I’ll soon come across them, so I look forward to using them as a learning experience.

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

Oh, where do I start?! In all honesty, I would tell myself that the hard work will pay off, so be sure to soak up any learning & work experience you can, as it will be useful in the future. (It was closely followed by a warning that the cost of living will be ridiculous, so stop buying things you don’t need and save more money.)

How do you like to relax or spend your spare time?.

I love a good crime novel and time away with my family. I also love crafting. I have a side-hustle, called Fun Sips Co, mainly focusing on children’s toys & activities. However, my Etsy store is full of items I’ve crafted, such as nursing badges and bookmarks.

What are most looking forward to in 2025?

I can’t wait to sink my teeth into my new role and get out there to chat with community members and prospective students.

I also cannot wait for the weather to heat up! We built a new pool over Winter and we’re yet to use it. Dipping my toes in, whilst the smell of BBQ in the air is top on the list.