Meet our new staff
Gemma Minuz, Education Support
A big warm welcome to Gemma!
Tell us about your family...
Probably the most interesting thing about me is my family- I'm a triplet! I have a brother and a sister and we are all just about to turn 30...so needless to say my parents are legends. My sister is a graphic designer who is due to get married at the end of the year, and my brother is a concreter who is proud fur dad to 2 cats and a dog. My favourite thing is family dinners together- Mum is an incredible cook, Dad loves a joke and the 5 of us talk all kinds of nonsense together!
Where were you when we found you?/ Where did you come from before here?
I was limping back from the Mornington Peninsula after a return to working in Outdoor Recreation was cut short by a torn ACL and MCL! After graduating uni in 2013 I worked across a number of schools and school camps- taking young people snorkelling, hiking, camping, bike riding and sea kayaking all over Victoria. Following that I worked for about 4 years at the Centre for Multicultural Youth, designing and facilitating sports and leadership based programs for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Education Support has always been something that I've wanted to pursue and I'm very glad that CHPS has allowed me to begin this journey.
Where are we most likely to find you on the weekend?
At a footy oval around Melbourne somewhere! I've played for Fitzroy's Senior Women’s team since its inception in 2015 (which is earning me a few brownie points in the playground here!) and I absolutely love it. I grew up watching my brother play footy every weekend and supporting the mighty blues, without an inkling of a thought that I could ever play the game I loved watching. I'm certainly making up for lost time with hours spent every Saturday watching our ressies, playing myself and of course still catching a few AFL games on TV.
Do you play an instrument and if so, which one/s?
I think it's fair to say that you haven't worked in Outdoor Rec if you haven't at least attempted to play the guitar- who doesn't dream about being the cool camp leader strumming songs by the campfire?! I never got past a few basic chords, but if I strum along and sing loudly enough over the top of it then I can trick people into believing that I know a few songs!
What is your favourite book or author and why?
I've recently come to terms with the fact that I will never again know as much excitement as when a new Harry Potter book was released! I have such clear memories of my brother, sister and I being in primary school, all tucked up in our 3 single beds in a row, and Dad reading us a chapter each night. Once we were old enough, we were joining the lines outside bookstores, my brother would hurriedly read as much as possible of the new release while my sister and I played basketball, then we would take our turn while he played footy...absolute joy.
Karla Campos: Education Support
Don’t keep things, keep memories!
Describe yourself in 3 words: Adventurous, Caring, Passionate
Tell us about your family!
I have a small family; Mum, Dad and two older brothers. We grew up in Santiago, Chile. They still live there, and I miss them a lot.
Are you from Melbourne? If not, how did you end up here?
I moved to Melbourne 3 years ago to study a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics. I am a language teacher; I teach Spanish as an additional language. I fell in love with the city, so after finishing Uni I decided to stay. Off the record…I also stayed because I met the love of my life, a handsome Scottish man called Craig J
Do you have any fun hobbies that you can tell us about?
I love travelling and exploring new places. I really enjoy meeting new people and learning about different cultures. I always try to meet locals when travelling and get to know their way of life. As a Latin, I also love to dance, eat tasty food and have a good time with family and friends.
Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?
My friends would say I am extrovert, but I also love being by my own and enjoying some quiet time.
What do you like most about working in schools?
I feel proud working in schools because as an educator we can make a great contribution to not only the children’s lives but also to society as a whole. Every day is different and is a chance to nurture and encourage children to appreciate and develop their natural abilities and interests and reach their full potential.
Where are we most likely to find you on the weekend?
Probably you will find me walking in the middle of nowhere haha, I love a good nature hike. Also, out trying new food cuisines at local cafes and restaurants or at a good rooftop bar with a nice view of the city.
Welcome Karla!