Local Faces: Sue Ellson — Quiet Changemaker & Champion for Lifelong Learning
A lifelong educator who’s helped thousands find their place, their confidence, and their voice.
Sue Ellson has spent more than two decades building communities, supporting newcomers, and guiding people — particularly those over 50 — as they step into new skills and share their stories. Her work spans education, publishing, career development, and grassroots community support, but the thread running through it all is simple: she helps people feel capable and connected. In this conversation, Sue reflects on her journey, her passion for lifelong learning, and why Melbourne remains the perfect home for curious minds.
From Banking Halls to Big Ideas
Sue’s career began at just 17, when she became a “career recruit” at Westpac in Adelaide. Like many women starting work in the early 1980s, she faced a lot of assumptions — including the idea she’d step back once she had children. Instead, she worked full time and studied part-time, eventually completing a Bachelor of Business by correspondence.
Her Westpac years were steady but not particularly exciting until she moved into a training role, the spark that set her path toward educating and supporting others.
Life changed again in 1994 when Sue and her then-husband moved to Melbourne. She found a new job quickly, discovered she was pregnant shortly after, and then — shockingly — was sacked. It took her six and a half years to recover from that experience.
But as Sue explains, difficult periods often plant the seed for new beginnings. Her final university research project, surveying newcomers to Melbourne, opened her eyes to how isolated people feel when relocating to a new city. The findings led to her first social enterprise, Newcomers Network, in 2001 — long before social enterprise was a popular concept.
“I haven’t had a ‘real job’ since,” Sue laughs. Instead, she’s carved out a flexible portfolio career, picking up aligned projects, building digital community spaces, and supporting thousands of people along the way.
Two decades of meaningful events
Many Melburnians will remember Sue’s monthly Newcomers Network gatherings, held for nearly 20 years. She also ran the Camberwell Network for a decade, keeping her connected to her local community and offering a regular touchpoint for people who work alone or are new to the area.
“Since completing my university studies in 2000, I have been attending between one and four events every week to keep myself up to date,” she says. “Connection and learning matters — it always has.”
Her events have always balanced the practical with the personal: clear information, open conversation, and the comforting knowledge that someone understands your transition because they’ve lived it.
Why she loves working with people over 50
Sue lights up when she talks about supporting older adults.
“I admire their commitment to learning, their courage, and their tenacity,” she says. Coming from an analogue generation herself, she knows firsthand how daunting today’s fast-moving online world can feel. Her role, as she sees it, is to teach the essentials in a way that builds confidence — not overwhelm.
One of her favourite teaching moments is hearing someone proudly announce they’ve worked something out on their own. “That’s the goal,” she says. “We don’t need permission to give things a go anymore, and we don’t have to understand how everything works before we start using it.” Then she laughs and adds, “No pen licence required these days!”
For her consulting services, Sue offers a Seniors Card discount of 15%, fully aware that many older adults live on tight budgets, and that ageism continues to push people out of traditional workplaces long before they want to retire.
“My grandmother played lawn bowls until 90,” she says. “I don’t plan to retire, either.”
A library session designed to empower first-time publishers
Sue’s upcoming library workshops focus on helping people think about what they want to publish online — and why.
She promises a no-nonsense session:
- choosing what to write
- understanding your readers
- learning where to publish for free
- and discovering how to archive your writing so it lasts
“It’s not about becoming a New York Times best seller,” she says. “It’s about being read. Getting your ideas into the world.”
Her most rewarding work? Helping others grow
Sue has worn many hats over the years — author, consultant, educator, career development practitioner — but “Educator” is the one that feels most like home.
She’s particularly moved that her poetry, especially her widely shared Domestic Violence Poem, has brought comfort to people far beyond Melbourne. And while she’s run countless special events, the one that stands out is her 2019 book launch at the Wheeler Centre, hosted by her son and daughter.
“To have my children involved made it unforgettable,” she says.
Practical advice for first-time publishers over 50
Her advice is simple:
- Start — even if it’s messy.
- Don’t spend money early on; use free tools first.
- Publish consistently, not once.
- Give yourself time — at least six months.
- Step outside your comfort zone.
“Practice will teach you more than perfection ever will.”
What she loves about Melbourne
“There’s so much to do — so many groups, so many generous people, and so many free or low-cost activities,” she says.
Sue has always been deeply connected to her local council, libraries, community groups, and professional associations. She credits Melbourne’s famously unpredictable weather for producing residents who are resilient, adaptable and resourceful. “You can make things happen here.”
What’s next for Sue in 2026
Sue hopes to travel to New Zealand for the first time — mixing work with adventure. And she’s aiming to finally publish two long-awaited poetry books.
“I need a week away,” she laughs. “Three days to switch off work mode. Four days to switch on soul mode.”
In true Sue fashion, she’s not slowing down — she’s simply continuing to build a life filled with learning, sharing, connecting, and supporting others.
A perfect fit for Melbourne, and a wonderful example of the kind of local story we’re proud to share.
Upcoming events with Sue Ellson
Online Publishing Options for Over 50s
Date: Saturday 10 January 2026 11:00am – 1:00pm
Venue: Melbourne City Library (not the State Library) 253 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, 3000
Tickets: $39 include comprehensive written notes
Special offer: Save 50% with promo code SeniorsInMelbourne
Bookings: online.
Description: A workshop for older adults eager to learn how to publish their stories, poetry or research online with lasting visibility.
Find more at sueellson.com
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