​

Melissa had been an educator for over 24 years. She completed her Bachelor of Education Early Childhood, graduating early in 1998 from Charles Sturt University in Bathurst.

Before the availability of tools such as Google Maps, she navigated to her first appointment by purchasing a paper map from a service station in Brewarrina and locating a school approximately 739 km away.

​

During her time studying full time at university in Bathurst, she regularly visited Mount Panorama Circuit, where she would sit overlooking the city and wonder where her first teaching appointment would be, despite listing Brewarrina as her first preference.

Her first teaching role was at a large school of around 900 students. While her mother was a strong influence in fostering her interest in literacy, it was in this role that she developed a sustained professional focus on literacy education.

Her mother, Missy (Melissa's mother), also worked in education as a teacher’s aide in a regional school and was Melissa’s aide for a number of years. She later undertook teacher training after raising six children in a two bedroom home (land and house they bought and own) preparing them for tertiary education and work life. Further details of Melissa love for literacy will be included in the second edition of her book/s.

​

All of Melissa’s work share a common theme, with a strong focus on her immediate family as a major source of support and inspiration. She also acknowledges and thanks her professional mentors and the many invisible friends who have supported her along the way.

​

Keen to return to regional communities, Melissa successfully received a NSW Department of Education scholarship to undertake a Master of Special Education at the University of Newcastle, specialising in behaviour management and learning disabilities. During her full time studies, she also completed placements in high schools, broadening her understanding that learning support and intervention extend beyond the early years. These experiences reinforced her belief that students learn in different ways and at different paces, and that effective support must continue throughout schooling.

​

Since then, Melissa has continued to build her expertise, completing a Master of Research Education, specialising in Early Literacy. She values both personal and professional development as essential to growth and is now focusing on more writing.

​

Melissa has recently handcrafted a range of literacy resources for her Miss Y Approach®, designed to support language learners in developing their skills with confidence. She hopes you enjoy the simplicity and effectiveness of language learning the Miss Y Way.

 

​Resources online soon, 

​

Melissa is a multidisciplinary artist who spends much of her time out in nature, designing meaningful learning experiences. As a qualified experience designer, she brings a creative and intentional approach to her own frameworks, focusing on how learners interact, connect, and build understanding.

​

Keep an eye out for Melissa’s literacy workshops, where she implements the Miss Y Approach® to literacy learning and in addition to showcasing her practical, engaging, and thoughtfully designed Drystones literacy model experiences.

​

Please reach out to Melissa at  info@melissakirby.com.au

I look forward to having a coffee and a warm chat with you. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​