Georgie Swan

“Teachers helped us step up and have a go and you can take that with you in anything you do.”

Georgie joined Yarra in Year 11 – in the early days of girls at the school.

“I’d been to primary school with many of the boys in Year 11 and it didn’t take long to reconnect. That was one of the things I loved about Yarra – I felt our year level came together as a whole.

“I remember the formals, the parties and the dress up days, everyone wanted to be part of those experiences. Our final year was special and we made the most of it.”

In the classroom, Georgie enjoyed graphics, English and literature and played hockey for Yarra, too. She recalls being covered head to toe in mud after Saturday morning sport!

She says the Yarra Spirit and camaraderie endured throughout her time at school.

“I was proud to wear the uniform and I still have friends from Yarra. We know we can reconnect at any time and it’s like we saw each other yesterday. We definitely developed long lasting friendships.”

After Yarra, Georgie studied History and Politics at Monash University. Her career path has led her into the world of human resources.

“My work involves working with and understanding people, reflecting on metrics and understanding numbers. People used to think of HR as ‘fluffy’ but if you don’t connect the two, you don’t get the outcomes you want. It’s about bringing data together with the people element to tell a compelling story,” she says.

Most recently, Georgie’s role has seen her working with a disability agency to build partnerships and break down employment barriers that exist for people with disability.

“I currently support that work within Victoria and South Australia and am encouraging other states to get on board.” she says.

Georgie says many of the values and attributes she relies on day to day were nurtured during her two years at Yarra.

“Yarra provided opportunities to build confidence and resilience and to try different things and I still believe it’s important to step outside your comfort zone because that’s where you learn and grow,” says Georgie.

“Every opportunity is a chance to develop new skills and knowledge. Things won’t always work out, but if you commit to having a go and putting yourself out there, you’ll be better off for the experience.”