Rachael Dumonic

Rachael Dumonic lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, Robert, and youngest son, Jay. Rachael is a qualified florist and transitioned to a teaching role as a trainer and assessor at Holmesglen Institute of Tafe in 2012. She has been teaching students across all demographics, skills and abilities and has a passion for teaching adolescents, specifically with special needs. The tragic and sudden passing of her son, Callum, on November 7, 2015, changed her world and the family unit forever. After many years of soul searching and trying to make sense of loss, she embarked on many hours of study to keep herself busy. In 2018, she completed her diploma in TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Initially, her qualification enabled her to recognise the typical learning styles and improve her teaching abilities within Australia and her current job role. She harboured a personal goal to live and work abroad to help support others learning the English language. Rachael has worked tirelessly over the years within the community, contributing to numerous volunteer programmes, one notably the Chinese Community at Crossway Church in Melbourne. This project encapsulated teaching new immigrants English. Rachael, in addition, facilitated volunteer floral workshops at mental health clinics for patients and shared her skills to support patients in a small way on their journey of recovery. In 2017, she established SMUK Foundation Limited in memory of her first-born son, Callum. SMUK Foundation is a charity established solely as a not-for-profit organisation, and the aim is to assist and support other not-for-profit charities by assisting with funds to be distributed to vulnerable youth over numerous genres as required. Some of these areas within the constitution are mental health factors, youth from low socioeconomic backgrounds, those up to the age of 25 at risk of homelessness and educational programmes to assist young people with skills to integrate and function within society. SMUK Foundation has been supporting programmes, such as The St Duke of Ed Award and, in 2020, a local educational programme for youth at St Kilda PCYC to collaborate and learn basic everyday skills to function normally within society for job prospects, but also general communication skills to connect generally in mainstream. Her achievements have been notable and rewarding, although clearly, much more could be achieved. Rachael has requested that all proceeds of her book be donated to the SMUK Foundation Limited in memory of Callum. All aspects of the publishing process have been fully funded personally, and she wishes to continue to support programmes close to her heart. Rachael embarked on this project as a form of therapy, but also her philosophy has always been I cannot change the world, but maybe we can turn some lives around for the better.

All proceeds from the book will be 100% donated to the foundation.

www.smukfoundation.com.au