Nicholas Leslie
Summary
I am an accomplished communications wordsmith seeking the next exciting step in my career. With experience across some of Victoria's largest and most prestigious health organisations, I am excited to bring my skills and knowledge to a new team. I have a passion for creative writing, internal and external content creation, community engagement, accessible language, brave, progressive ideas and uplifting marginalised voices. I am a firm believer in the power that communication, language and art hold in bettering our community and our world.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Internal Communications Producer
cohealth
05.2022 - Current
- Wrote 100+ original articles promoting the work of client service teams, including Child & Family Health, Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs, Women's Reproductive Health, Homelessness Health and Support and NDIS Specialist Support
- Revitalised cohealth's internal content strategy, increasing staff engagement with content, social media and communications by 40%
- Maintained and supported org-wide staff event and training calendar
- Collaborated regularly with internal stakeholders across whole organisation of 1,200+ staff
- Amplified cohealth's advocacy on key social issues including supervised injecting services, #ChangeTheDate, drug and alcohol policy reform, the Voice to Parliament, and Reconciliation for First Nations communities
- Implemented a staff recognition and reward campaign, increasing visibility and collaboration between otherwise-unrelated teams
- Professional development includes Transformational Ethical Story Telling (TEST), Aboriginal cultural safety, and Plain English engagement techniques for CALD communities
- Nominated for Lydia Kauzlaric Award (see below), recognising advocacy for vulnerable communities and marginalised clients.
Mental Health Program Facilitator
St Vincent's Health
02.2021 - 04.2022
- Worked closely and compassionately with residents living with complex mental health conditions
- Devised and facilitated programs focusing on increased social interaction and skill development, including gardening, creative writing, meditation, mindfulness, fitness and LGBTQ+ support
- Assisted with implementing recommendations from the Royal Commission Into Victoria's Mental Health System.
Community Health Educator
Star Health
07.2019 - 07.2020
- Spearheaded several community safety and development projects for Melbourne's male sex worker community
- Established new connections with health organisations, political groups, lawmakers, politicians and venues
- Professional development includes HIV and intersectionality, sexual health promotion, and LGBTQ+ experience of the AOD sector.
Education
Course - Copywriting Essentials
Australian Writers Centre
2022
Diploma - Film
SAE Creative Media Institute
2020
Diploma - Business And Management
Swinburne University of Technology
2016
Skills
- Content Writing
- Accessible Language
- Interpersonal Communication
- Story Development
- Editing and Proofreading
- Vision6
- Microsoft Sharepoint
- Canva
- Internal Stakeholder Management
- Prioritising Multiple Tasks
- Collaboration
- Presenting
Memberships
- A2Z Committee, cohealth
Working group for LGBTQIA+ employees and allies to promote inclusion and cultural safety
- Reconciliation Steering Committee, cohealth
Working group to help cohealth tangibly progress our goals for Reconciliation with First Nations peoples
- LGBTQIA+ Portfolio Reference Group, Victoria Police
Consultation group working towards shared solutions for the LGBTQIA+ community
- Writers Victoria
Awards
- Lydia Kauzlaric Award (nominee), cohealth staff awards, 2023 – the Communication team's leadership and perseverance in advocating and raising awareness about some of Victoria's most disadvantaged people, namely people who inject drugs and have died from overdoses; in particular, ongoing leadership and advocacy for Melbourne's Overdose Prevention Services
- Teamwork Award (nominee), Star Health Group Awards, 2019 – for fostering an environment for vulnerable communities to feel supported and championed
- Positive Youth Award (nominee), City of Ballarat Youth Awards, 2014 – for my work with Zaque, the local LGBTQ+ youth support group
- Young Mentor's Award (nominee), City of Ballarat Youth Awards, 2014 – for my work mentoring a young transgender girl to come out to her parents and local community.
References
- Kim Parkinson
Internal Communications Manager, cohealth
kim.parkinson@cohealth.org.au, 0410 596 414
- Michelle Schwensen
Director of Communications & Stakeholder Relations, cohealth
michelle.schwensen@cohealth.org.au, 0417 536 662
- Dr Kerrie Clarke
Team Leader, St Vincent's Health
kerrie.clarke@svha.org.au, 0409 787 818
Hobbies and Interests
- Writing
- Weight training
- Bodybuilding
- History of cinema
- Pop culture
- Indoor plants
- Video games
Timeline
Internal Communications Producer
cohealth
05.2022 - Current
Mental Health Program Facilitator
St Vincent's Health
02.2021 - 04.2022
Community Health Educator
Star Health
07.2019 - 07.2020
Course - Copywriting Essentials
Australian Writers Centre
Diploma - Film
SAE Creative Media Institute
Diploma - Business And Management
Swinburne University of Technology
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