Just two weeks ago, past VICSEG student, Grace Nnajieze was called on by The Salvation Army (TSA) to represent the charity at a meeting of some of the biggest names in Australian politics and community services!   

It was just the latest step in Grace’s meteoric rise at The Salvos since graduating from New Futures Training with a CHC62015 Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management in December 2021.   

“There I was. Eight of us are sitting at a round table with Minister Amanda Rishworth MP (Federal Minister for Social Services) and Joanne Ryan MP (Federal Member for Lalor). We had the CEOs from Unison Community Housing, IPC Health and others. And then the Minister asks us this question, ‘What’s happening on the ground?’ And I got to turn to them and say, ‘This is what’s happening. Please put more money into Unison because there’s a cost-of-living crisis out there.’ And then you could see the discussion take off! Everyone started speaking their mind. It was such a useful time that we had last week. So that’s how far I’ve grown with The Salvation Army, for them to delegate to me to meet with [leaders] from government and our sector!” 

Yet, only a few years beforehand, Grace’s career had been at the cross-roads.  

Like for so many others in Victoria, the pandemic had a profound impact on Grace and led to some soul searching surrounding the road ahead. At the height of COVID, Grace worked as a nursing assistant in a residential aged care facility while studying towards a Diploma in Nursing.   

“At that time, I just felt like I’d had enough. It was time for something different,” Grace said.  

“I was looking for something else that would make me happier. I did a Google search, and that’s when I saw New Futures Training. I called the Braybrook Campus and got to hear about the Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management and said, ‘I think I’m ready for this!’  

But was New Futures Training ready for Grace?  

“I remember asking how long the course will take. They said eighteen months. But they didn’t know at that stage that the person asking them loves to study! I go at a fast pace with this stuff! When I started, I said ‘No. Not eighteen months.  I want to finish this as quickly as possible.’ I finished in 8 months!”  

So impressed were all at VICSEG that Grace was announced a category winner at the 2021 New Futures Training Awards in December that year!   

The same lightning speed that defined Grace’s approach to studies has coloured her career growth ever since. On 28 January 2022, barely a month after graduating, Grace was appointed Team Leader at the Salvation Army, coordinating community services in the inner-city area. Only months later, she assumed the role of Acting General Manager, responsible for twenty-one branches extending from Melbourne all the way to the South Australian border!  

“It’s been such a wonderful story,” said Grace.  

“From January 2022 up to now, I’ve done a lot. I’ve done so much. And the whole story started with what I did with VICSEG, which was to do that beautiful course. Because how good is that to have finished by December 2021. And a month later, got a job! And the story now just keeps going on.”  

Nowadays, Grace manages TSA’s Doorways program in Wyndham, which places the provision of emergency relief within holistic wraparound supports. Headquartered in Werribee, her expansive catchment extends inbound to Sunshine and Altona, and as far outbound as Melton and Geelong. She’s also part of The Salvo’s small executive team that oversees the coordination of relief and welfare efforts across the entire state!  

At a time when housing affordability and the ‘cost-of-living crisis’ constantly steals the headlines, Grace holds a unique vantage point on people doing it tough in our community.  

“There’s a broad age group. Really, anyone can struggle. Just recently, there was this gentleman who drove into our carpark. Really nice car, nicely dressed, and I was the one who attended to him. Eventually, he said to me, ‘Grace, for the last three days I have not eaten. The reason is, I was ashamed to come in here and ask for help.’ So, I sat him down and said to him, ‘Please don’t be ashamed. That’s why we’re here’. I spoke to him in a very nice way to make him feel confident in himself, and he started coming in regularly to pick up a food parcel after that,” Grace said.  

“He didn’t have any money. There’s no room for judgement in this work. You never know what someone’s going through.  Sometimes, I’ll even see someone who’s in a full-time job, and they’re still struggling. How much worse for people who have lost their job or are on Centrelink. People with a mental illness. Or people experiencing domestic violence. We have to open up our hearts and reach out to people who come in,” she said.  

Despite witnessing real struggle on a daily basis, the mother of two children remains a big believer in the transformative power of opportunity - something she seeks to share with others at every turn possible.  

“I’m happy to refer anybody to VICSEG New Futures, because I want them to get the same benefit I got from studying there. It was an amazing opportunity and experience for me”, Grace said.  

Grace extends the same spirit to helping build the next generation of community services professionals.   

“If VICSEG or anyone else ever have students who are studying community services or community development, you can send them to my office for placement. In the past year, I’ve had more than 30 students. Just last week I had eight – three finishing this week, and I’m about to bring in more. I love students, because you’re part of their journey. At the end of it, you become their referee on a new part of their journey. I love doing that. I love to be part of people’s story. It’s one of the things about me that led me to do the course that I did. That’s all I can say!”