About Melinda

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Hello and welcome to my website. I’m Melinda J. Irvine, an Australian freelance writer and textile artist, serving small business and community organisations with copywriting, optimised web content, business documents, and training materials.

I also write for independent professionals who need resumes, cover letters, personal statements, and selection criteria writing.

Professional Background

My background is in hospitality operations management, HR and consulting. From 1996-2006 I worked in management roles in the NSW and Queensland Club Industry. Because I could write well, along with my management functions, I took care of all the areas that needed a lot of documentation — such as compliance, human resources, recruitment, training, and workplace safety.

It was back in the day when small to mid-size organisations didn’t have a lot of administrative infrastructure and I was at the forefront of developing operational policy, work procedures, employee handbooks, recruitment tools, and safety manuals for registered clubs around Brisbane and regional Queensland.

In 2006, I transitioned from the Assistant General Manager of the Redlands RSL (Cleveland, QLD) to an independent Management Consultant, completing assignments for Club Training Australia and DWS Hospitality Specialists (Indooroopilly, QLD). It was there I learned all about VET training and compliance as I wrote the content for all their online training programs and project managed the implementation of their first ever Learning Management System (LMS) and integration to eCommerce.

For the next 7 years I wrote VET qualification content and assisted with management consulting projects. I completed all types of written work: submitting tenders, writing reports, developing organisational documents, conducting employee inductions, and working directly with their clients.

One of my proudest achievements was co-writing an award winning customer service program, which was a joint initiative between Club Training Australia and the Brother’s Leagues Club in Townsville.

As much as I enjoyed my work, in 2014 I was feeling burned out and took a break. So I packed my bags for the Philippines and went off to complete a volunteer assignment in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). I never went back.

Becoming a Full-time Writer

It was mid-way through 2015, that I met a small boy in a fishing village in the Philippines. He was only 7 years old and had lost his home in the typhoon as well as both his parents.

He asked me — someone who had never EVER had children — if I would be his mum.

At first I said no!

And yet somehow, I found myself in my mid-forties a mum for the first time. He couldn’t speak English and I could barely say hello in his mother tongue Hiligaynon (Ilonggo).

I wish I could say it’s been easy.

Rewarding? Yes. But easy? Not even a little bit.

Realising I needed a way to support him into adulthood, and missing my professional life and career, in early 2017 I launched Melinda J. Irvine Writing and Design, and reinvented myself as a full-time writer.

Since that time I’ve completed hundreds, maybe thousands, of writing assignments for mostly Australian clients. I’ve written web content, blogs, resumes, LinkedIn profiles, award applications, press releases, business capability statements, company profiles, VET courses that comply with AQF protocols, employee handbooks, event management plans, selection criteria questions, visa applications, eBooks and white papers, safety manuals, personal statements, professional bios, product descriptions … and the list continues.

Now, in 2025, I’ve been a dedicated writing professional for more than 8 years. I have established work systems as well as supporting documents and templates that enable a hassle-free enagement with my clients. I work from my dedicated home office and easily connect with clients using the latest video conferencing and communication technologies.

If you have a writing assignment you need completing this year, please reach out. Big or small, I’d love to write the documents and content that streamlines your business processes, or increases your sales, or upskills your staff, or gets you the job, or shouts out to the world an important message, or solves a challenging problem.

If you need something written in 2025, I’m just an email away.

Let’s talk soon.

Melinda.

Cross Stitch, Embroidery, and Sewing

Before I head off, just a quick word about cross stitch patterns. You might have seen the links to my online shop in the menu bar and wondered what that was about?

In my spare time I develop digital cross stitch, embroidery, and sewing patterns, and then sell them here on the website.

I know it’s a bit left field, but during pandemic I realised it had been decades since I’d picked up a needle and thread. In my youth I was passionate about fashion design, sewing and embroidery and the COVID19 lockdowns reconnected me with my favourite hobby.

Maybe if I’d kept sewing and doing my art I would never have burned out in 2014. Who knows? But now in 2025 I’m thrilled to have a fun hobby and side-hustle alongside my writing business.

And my son Jerry loves art and design too.

So if you see links to cross stitch patterns here on the website, please don’t freak out if you aren’t a crafter. I’m still a professional writer, I just happen to like sewing clothes and designing cool stuff on the weekend.

Maybe try it for yourself. It’s very relaxing and fun.

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Mission Statement

Business Goals

Personal Goals

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Thanks for visiting my site today

LAST UPDATE: 14th JANUARY 2025

STOCK IMAGES: Canva Premium.