Melissa Kingham is the Assistant Director of Social and Emotional Well-being, Policy Partnership at Gayaa Dhuwi. Melissa is a proud Wiradjuri woman born in Griffith, NSW, with family connections in Darlington Point and Coleambally.

Melissa has spent most of her professional life working in various capacities within the Health Department. After leaving school, she began her career in the healthcare sector by working in a pharmacy until 2013. Following this period, Melissa then ventured into specialised areas, including Mental Health, Justice Health, Alcohol, and Drug Services. She worked across the Alexander Maconochie Centre and the Mental Health Unit, where she worked for nine years as an Administration Officer and a Tribunal Liaison Officer. In 2023, Melissa transitioned to a Project Officer role at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO). This role paved the way for her to join Gayaa Dhuwi in April 2024, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her professional journey.

As Assistant Director – Social and Emotional Wellbeing Policy Partnership at Gayaa Dhuwi, Melissa focuses on policy and project management for mental health and suicide prevention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. She leads project implementation and stakeholder engagement, evaluates impact, and ensures community consultancy shapes policy development.

Melissa brings a unique blend of administrative expertise and dedicated involvement in providing Social, Emotional, and Wellbeing support to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Her excitement about joining the Gayaa Dhuwi team stems from a desire to leverage her accumulated skills for meaningful impact. At Gayaa Dhuwi, Melissa aims to contribute significantly to the organisation’s objectives and looks forward to growing alongside it, harnessing her years of experience for collective success.