Personal growth professional

Young alumna honoured for her people-helping skills

With a father and mother who encouraged her to “do whatever I put my mind to,” provisional psychologist Mikaela Matthes (BA, 2016) has put her passion for helping other people into practice “even when the opportunities have overwhelmed me.” So, trusting God to lead is an important spiritual discipline in her personal and professional life.

Her faith deepened at Avondale. As Mikaela developed more independence, “I appreciated being presented with information that challenged my worldview.” Learning about human behaviour, emotions and mental health also helped with personal growth because “you can’t help but use this knowledge as a new lens to look at your own life and relationships.”

With losses in her extended family, Mikaela called on these life skills when completing her Master of Professional Psychology through the University of New England. She graduated last year after also completing a Graduate Diploma of Psychology with honours at Monash University. Marrying husband Jeremy in 2019 brought a sense of balance to life.

Since graduating from Avondale, Mikaela has worked as a child and family therapist for Uniting and now as a counsellor at Heritage College Lake Macquarie, where she is helping establish counselling as a service. She also supports peer group leaders in the residences at Avondale and tutors counselling students. And she enjoys serving at Avondale University Church where her role is to help students feel welcome and at home. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to work at Avondale, to train other counsellors and to help in supporting future professionals. I hoped this would be something I would get to do in the future, but I get to do it now.”

Avondale Alumni honours Mikaela Matthes as its Young Alumnus of the Year for putting theory into practice as a way to help people improve their lives.