Creating impact, one student at a time

“It all started with that idea,” Greg said. “Whether it's about helping them grow as people or get to their dream job, everything flows from there.”

That idea has grown into something much bigger – a program now delivered across Queensland that is shaping the next generation of mental health professionals and Alcohol and Other Drug Workers.

Eileen and Greg lead TAFE Queensland’s mental health team at the Townsville (Pimlico) campus. Together, they deliver the Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs / Diploma of Mental Health (CHC53215 / CHC53315) dual award as well as the Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315). Their courses are delivered online, blended with face-to-face learning, which means their impact reaches far beyond the geography of their classroom.

“We walk alongside our students through their study journey,” Eileen said. “And to do that well, we need strong relationships with community organisations and industry stakeholders.”

It’s a partnership that’s working. Eileen and Greg won the Team Award at the TAFE Queensland North Staff Awards in 2024.  Eileen is a 2025 Queensland Training Awards finalist for VET Teacher or Trainer of the Year in the North Queensland region, and earlier this year, she and Greg won the Industry Collaboration Award at the TAFE Queensland North Staff Awards.

“We knew the only way to get good outcomes was to work in partnership with community organisations and people already doing the work,” Greg said. “You can’t do this alone.”

Over the past two years, the pair have built something remarkable. In 2022, the Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315) was newly introduced at TAFE Queensland North region. To help launch the program and generate interest, Eileen and Greg reached out to their networks and hosted a special information night on campus.

Now, just two years later, enrolments are at record levels: 43 students in Cairns, 46 in Townsville, and 90 in the dual diploma.

“We have one foot in education and one foot in industry,” Greg and Eileen said. “That’s how we know what’s happening, and that’s how we make sure our students are job-ready.”

Their links with industry have directly led to real opportunities for their students, including paid employment. Greg and Eileen don’t just teach – they personally place students, attend meetings, and stay connected with community stakeholders, colleagues, peers and community organisations.

“It’s not just about knowing industry,” Eileen said. “It’s about being part of it.”

Each year, Eileen undertakes industry release work with QuIHN, attends professional development workshops, conferences, and local community events. In 2024, she also completed facilitator training with Community Response to Eliminating Suicide and now delivers Suicide Intervention Training to the community.

“I like to keep my finger on the pulse,” she said. “When we bring that knowledge back into the classroom, our students speak the language of the sector before they even go on placement. That’s how we know it’s working.”

In 2024, Eileen and Greg also delivered a 12-month workshop series focused on recovery-oriented practice, trauma informed care, and co-existing needs. These sessions brought theory and practice together for students across both qualifications and included hands-on activities, case studies, and scenarios.

“We want students to walk into placement with confidence, skills, knowledge and abilities,” Eileen said. “And we want supervisors to say, 'Wow, they’re ready.'“

One of the most important changes Eileen and Greg made was aligning the Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315) with the dual diploma. That decision meant students who began with one course could move forward and graduate with two full qualifications, increasing their job prospects without starting from scratch.

They also support every learner as an individual. In 2024, they identified 24 students who had been sitting in the dual diploma for years without finishing, mainly because they couldn’t secure placements.

“We made a promise to each other,” Eileen said. “We were going to help every one of them finish. And we did it. They all completed their qualifications.”

By the end of 2024, 35 students graduated. Every one of them secured work, earned a promotion, or continued volunteering at their placement organisation.

This success is also reflected in the students nominated for Queensland Training Awards this year, with several of Eileen and Greg’s students recognised across the state.

One of them is Adam Breadon, a finalist for the Tropical North Queensland region. After completing a Certificate III in Community Services (CHC32015), Adam enrolled in the dual diploma and is now working as a Crisis Worker at Saint Vincent de Paul Homeless Hostel in Cairns.

“Before TAFE, I was a painter and plasterer. I wanted to change my life and help others doing it tough,” Adam said.

His lived experience has been a strength in his current role, where he supports men facing homelessness and mental health challenges.

“I've been through rough patches myself, so I can relate. This course taught me how to connect, communicate, and make a real difference,” Adam said.

Another standout student is India (Indie) McGuinness, a finalist for the Metropolitan (Brisbane) region. Indie left home at 13 and entered independent housing at 15. Completing the dual diploma while working full-time, she is now employed by QuIHN, a leading provider of community-based mental health and alcohol and drug services.

“This is the first qualification I've ever completed, and it means everything,” Indie said. “TAFE gave me purpose. Eileen and Greg were my biggest support the whole way.”

Indie’s placement turned into paid work with QuIHN, first as a Group Facilitator in correctional centres and now as a Dual Diagnosis Therapist.

Tracey MacDonald, a finalist in the North Coast region, is another example. After an injury ended her career as a diesel fitter, she started fresh with the Certificate IV in Youth Work (CHC40421) followed by the dual award and is now working for Drug ARM in Maryborough Correctional Centre.

“I used to be ashamed of my past,” Tracey said. “But this course gave me the tools to turn that experience into something meaningful.”

Tracey is now delivering group education programs in correctional services and hopes to continue working in group facilitation and cognitive behavioural therapy.

“Greg and Eileen didn’t just teach me,” she said. “They believed in me. And that made all the difference.”

In early 2024, Eileen and Greg prepared the successful application for TAFE Queensland North to become a member of the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health. In February 2025, they were invited to join the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy Project: Career Subcommittee.

“Being involved at that level helps us advocate for our students and stay aligned with where the industry is going,” Greg said.

At the core of everything they do is a shared belief: community is everything.

“We're not just building skills,” Eileen said. “We're building connections. We link students to industry, and we link industry to each other. That's where the real growth happens.”

The mental health and alcohol and other drugs sector is constantly evolving. For Greg and Eileen, that means staying active, staying relevant, and always listening.

“If you're not in community, you're out of touch,” Eileen said. “And if you're not collaborating, you're not moving forward.”

Greg agrees. “You need to know how to teach and assess,” he said. “But you also need to carry the real-world knowledge with you, every day. That’s what makes it work.”

From low enrolments to packed classrooms, from student goals to real-world impact, the work of Eileen Newman and Greg Latham is changing lives – one student, one placement, and one partnership at a time.