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A sense of calling brought Maria Bradford to her position as chaplain at
Gippsland campus.
"I always envisioned myself working in the educational area but not necessarily as a teacher in the classroom," she said.
She grew up in a "fairly religious family" in Canada where she was often involved in church activities and where she completed a masters of divinity from the Ecumenical Toronto School of Theology at the University of Toronto.
She worked as a chaplain at a small university college in British Columbia before migrating to Australia in 1993 to start a new life with her partner Michael.
Her desire to work in the education sector while pursuing her interest in life issues remained - hence she took up the chaplain's position at Gippsland when it became available in 1997.
Her role involves being available to and supportive of staff and students who need pastoral care and counselling.
Maria says she encourages those who seek counselling to balance their lives between work or study and other important aspects of their lives such as family and hobbies.
"I remind students who come to see me to take care of themselves - they need to have regular breaks from study, to have some way of relaxing and to eat healthily so their minds are clear and they remain passionate about why they are here," she said.
Maria enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, bushwalking, gardening and needlework.
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