Michelle Combo’s natural leadership skills, outstanding academic abilities and strong work ethic meant she was always destined to achieve great success, according to former Wee Waa Public School teacher Kath Hamilton.
“I look at her academically and she was always top of the class – she had some competition too,” added Mrs Hamilton.
“She was a leader, who was accepted and respected by all the kids.
“She knew where she was going, how she was going to get there, and nothing was going to stop her.
“Michelle is one of the best role models for our local children.”
Mrs Hamilton is a familiar face to many in Wee Waa – a teacher in the town at various schools for about 40 years, she has left a lasting impression and made a huge difference in the lives of many students.
However, there are some children who leave a special imprint on teachers too, the students who help to make the (sometimes) challenging job, a very rewarding vocation.
For Mrs Hamilton, one such student is Wee Waa Public and High School graduate Michelle Combo who is now a registered psychologist working for the Queensland health department.
“I had her in Year 3 and Year 6, and to be invited as the surprise guest to her 40th birthday party at the end of last year, to me, was one of the biggest honours,” said Mrs Hamilton.
“I remember when she was voted school captain at Wee Waa Public School, and she took that leadership role right in her stride.
“And today, she hasn’t lost that empathy and getting to meet her son at the party, I could see her qualities had been passed onto him.”
Mrs Hamilton described Michelle as a ‘motivated student’ who stayed focused and worked hard.
“We knew she had talent because of the way she worked; you didn’t always have to try and motivate her – she was motivation.
“It’s so satisfying when you see one of your students from Wee Waa, a small country town, go on and achieve things on her own merit and be where she stands now.”
While Michelle still considers Wee Waa home, she is currently living in Brisbane with her family, where her career progression continues to go from strength to strength.
“I am a registered psychologist, and I am currently working at the Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategy and Planning Branch as the manager, First Nations.
“This is a brand new position for Queensland Health, so I am honoured to be the first to fill this role,” Michelle told The Courier.
“I chose this career pathway around Grade 9 after our grade was advised to choose our senior classes to line us up for university entry and the prerequisite criteria for whichever degrees we wanted to study.
“Psychology was already an idea I had in mind, so I chose my classes to ensure I would be able to apply for psychology or behavioural science degrees.
“I wanted to pursue psychology because people had been coming to me for pseudo-counselling during high school years, possibly due to my personality or just being able to listen to their problems.
“I also had grown up observing what I perceived to be mental health issues around our community and wanted to find a way to help, especially for Aboriginal people – being mindful of historical trauma and the ongoing impacts of colonisation.
“Seeing and experiencing the difference I can and have made as an Aboriginal woman working in mental health and addictions – has been incredibly rewarding and confirmed my initial thoughts that more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people would access mental health help if they could do so with someone who they felt safe and comfortable to speak to.”
A true testament to the saying ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’, Michelle has stepped up as an incredible role model and confidante to many, creating positive changes while providing professional guidance and comforting assistance.
Growing up in Wee Waa, Michelle said she was fortunate to have some fantastic mentors and good people to look up to during her childhood and through her teenage years; in fact, their support is something the 2001 WWHS graduate still values and carries with her today.
“It does mean a lot to me to make my family and community proud, hopefully showing others what is possible and also that any support over the years hasn’t gone to waste,” said Michelle.
“I do love going home to Wee Waa and still think about moving back there one day.
“For now, my career ties me to Brisbane, but you never know what the future holds.
“I am sure my upbringing in Wee Waa had the most influence on who I am today, outside of my family, and I continue to link back to that influence every time I come home.
“I was back in town at the end of 2023, we had my 40th birthday celebrations between Christmas and New Year’s, organised by my mum Colleen, my brother Luke, and my cousin Bernadette.
“We wanted to keep it limited to close family and friends of the family, and my old school teacher for Grades 3 and 6 – Mrs Kath Hamilton – was invited as a surprise special guest.
“It was a great celebration, made even better by Mrs Hamilton attending along with others who played a significant role in my life.
“The people who influenced me the most while I was growing up in Wee Waa would be my mother (Colleen) and her siblings, key extended family members and family friends, and a few teachers who encouraged me to live up to my potential.
“I am touched if and when any of these significant people have positive thoughts or comments on my career and achievements.”
Mrs Hamilton said she believes Wee Waarians think the world of Michelle and the ‘respectfully quiet’ way she has pursued her endeavours.
“She hasn’t lost that sereneness or empathy,” said Mrs Hamilton.
“I think the way the community feel about her reflects what she has achieved – there’s none of this pull the poppy down”.
When asked to share any words of wisdom with the current crop of local students, Michelle said: “My advice to anyone studying at Wee Waa High would be to keep in mind that there is a big world outside of our hometown with many opportunities, whether you want to go to university, get a traineeship, or travel and experience other places.
“Getting the highest grades isn’t the only way to pursue your goals, there are other pathways for kids from rural areas, and once you start your career nobody asks what grades you got in high school or even university for that matter.
In 2016, Wee Waa High School featured an article about Michelle, one of their star graduates from 2001.
In the profile piece, Michelle recalled her favourite subjects were English, biology and music.
“I have a lot of happy memories of my time at WWHS including; spending breaks with friends, some great excursions (e.g. Paralympics in Sydney), as well as opportunities to participate in fun activities like dance groups,” she said.
“I also had some really great teachers.”
Keen on pursuing child psychology while at school, Michelle spent her first four years after high school at Griffith University (Brisbane) studying a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons).
Michelle said: “I was fortunate enough to obtain a cadetship during my second year at university which led to work experience, and later employment, with Queensland Health.”
Initially after moving to Brisbane, Michelle found getting homesick was the biggest hurdle she faced; but that got better with time, and many visits home.
“Interestingly, I discovered while studying and undertaking work placements that I preferred working with adults, so I shifted my focus to adult mental health instead of child psychology.”
Currently working as a senior Psychologist in an Indigenous medical centre in Brisbane, Michelle said: “This has always been my goal, to work in mental health and counselling/ therapy, especially for Indigenous people.
In order to achieve my career progression goals, it’s been both about gaining on the job experience, plus ongoing education through workshops and conferences.
“The key purpose of my role is to provide culturally appropriate counselling and therapy to clients of our service.
“I love being able to make a difference to so many people’s lives.
“It is very rewarding to see people grow and their life improve because of the work that I have done with them,” explained Michelle.
When asked what she thinks is the secret to success in life and work, Michelle was quick to say ‘balance’.
“You have to be able to leave work at work (as much as possible), and make time for fun, friends and family outside of work.”
On the question of motivational and inspirational quotes, Michelle said; “These are something I quite often use with my work, a few favourites are: ‘No pain, no gain’, something that applies to a lot of situations, while ‘good things come to those who work hard’ and ‘thoughts are not facts.’”
Fast forward eight years and Michelle’s passion for her family, work, and drive to help others has remained constant.
And of course, her love for Wee Waa lives on.
“Wee Waa will always be my hometown, no matter how many years I live away,” she added.
“I am proud to come from Wee Waa and I have a lot of great memories of the town and the people in it.”
