Tracey has a storied professional past, having worked in many places and unique roles before joining STEPS.
Read this latest edition of our STEPS Spotlight series to learn what inspired Tracey to enter the education and training space, how she loves to unwind outside of work, and which moments with STEPS from the last five years have stuck with her the most.
Setting sail for something new
Tracey spent many years in the hospitality industry in her home country of England, but once she fell in love with travelling, she decided to journey across Europe while working in a range of roles. Her experience earned her senior roles such as Maître d’ and Banquet Coordinator.
Tracey combined this experience with her love of ocean expeditions and began working on cruises as Head Purser, handling accounts and administrative duties as an officer on a ship while travelling around Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea – until an exciting development changed her life forever. “After the birth of my first child, I had to re-evaluate my career path,” Tracey said.
She transitioned into a land-based career as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher in the Cairns region, meeting people from many different parts of the globe and rekindling her love of language.
“I studied modern languages at university and love learning more about English and other languages. I also enjoy embracing new challenges.”
Helping others find their footing
Tracey joined STEPS in August 2021 as a Job Readiness Trainer in the then-newly launched Work Mates Program in Cairns.
Her work as an ESL Teacher started to dwindle in 2020 because of COVID’s impact on travel and immigration. She soon heard about STEPS from a colleague and was drawn to the organisation’s focus on creating opportunities through learning.
“I understood and loved the idea of helping people with their language, literacy, numeracy, and digital skills,” Tracey said.
After her initial role, she transitioned to teaching participants in the Cairns STEPS Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program. Four years on, she stepped into the role of Training Manager for STEPS Cairns.
“I oversee the implementation of the education and training programs in our region to ensure our trainers and participants have all the resources they need to succeed, and onboard new Cairns trainers.”
Finding joy every day
Tracey shared that she considers herself extremely lucky to be the STEPS Cairns Training Manager, and she is dedicated to excelling in this role and further empowering her team to deliver the best possible training and support.
“I want to keep our spirits and motivation high, so we can stay focused on our goal of helping learners reach their full potential,” she said. “Working with, mentoring, and teaching so many amazing humans inspires me to be a better person, and the people around me surprise and delight me every day.”
Tracey maintains this energy and love of learning while outside of work, too. She loves to relax with a good book – “Anything with good writing, but particularly thrillers and crime novels.”
She also takes any opportunity to indulge in nature, getting out in the fresh air and going snorkelling on the reef.
And if you can’t find her with her nose in a book, or enjoying the natural beauty of Cairns? “I like to watch the footy – NRL, of course – with the company of my wonderful, funny family.”
Growing together, every step of the way
When asked about the highlight of working with STEPS (so far), Tracey said: “There are so many! I treasure every opportunity to help participants discover their love of learning for the first time, or helping them fall back in love with it.”
She loves seeing participants graduate from their STEPS Program. While it can be bittersweet to say goodbye, she is proud of them for accomplishing everything they set out to do and, often, even more. “You can see that they’re standing taller and they have a lighter step, a brighter smile, compared to when they first arrived.”
Another highlight for the whole STEPS team was when Tracey was named a top three finalist in North Queensland for the category of Teacher or VET Trainer of the Year at the 2023 QLD Training Awards.
“It’s a joy to be surrounded by such passionate people who share the same ideals, particularly around mentoring and bringing positivity and purpose to each day,” Tracey said. “Because of STEPS, I have become a better teacher, colleague, and person.”
About STEPS Spotlight
STEPS Spotlight is our way of celebrating the incredible people who make up the STEPS team.
Each month, we share the story of a staff member whose passion, dedication and unique journey help shape the heart of our organisation.
Stay tuned for more stories across the STEPS community or, in the meantime, revisit our previous profiles!
