Melissa Westcott, Facebook Trainer

Way back three years ago, Facebook Australia came up to Mackay to do a 'boost event'. I was so very lucky on that night to be invited to speak and share all about our story at Big On Shoes, being in a regional town like Moranbah and running an international e-commerce business. It was such a humbling night and I was so lucky to have my mum there with me (first time I think she ever got to see me talk and tell our story like that). Fast forward 6 months later and I was invited to attend the first Facebook Australia Advisor Council event, which saw some incredible Aussie e-commerce businesses fly down to Sydney (in a style I have never traveled or been treated to before) to share all about our business, how we work with Facebook, how it does and doesn't work with us and how can it be made better. I got to do a few of these trips (pre-covid) and they were honestly some of the best trips. I found myself being built back up after all the life had, at times,  been sucked out of me in having a small business. But best of all I made the most amazing connections with people that I can still reach out to today to chat and ask for help and support. 

From being on the Advisory Council I was talking to the Policy team and mentioned my background as a teacher and that on the side I was also doing some small business training. I said how I thought it was my second calling, by linking together what I have learnt with BOS and my love of teaching others.  From there I was invited to apply for the Facebook Community Trainer Network (now Meta) and boy oh boy did that change some things in my life. I got to become part of this group of trainers across Australia and NZ (everyone of them are the nicest and happiest people I have ever been with, I found that every conversation made me want to do better in my life and my work) , but most of all we got to travel all around Australia into regional businesses to teach all about Facebook and Instagram and how to use it for your business. 

Then of course, Covid hit and took away all our travel fun and saw the last 2 years looking a little differently. We have changed to online (best one was for AMEX where I got to work with Jules Lund- yep I def had a crush on him in his Getaway days and his laugh). But a few weeks ago I got to get on a plane and guess what... I crossed a border and together with the remarkable Dante St James, delivered some great training with Boost with Facebook x Sydney Gay & Lesbian Business Association Hosted at the Beresford Hotel (Talk about old amazing buildings, this one Dante used to live in in his hay day). 

I got to talk to businesses in tourism, retail, medical, dental, and hospitality and everyone is working so hard right now to get through the flow-over effects of Covid (the side effects of what we have been through are going to take years to get over in small business). Oh and my work office got to change for a few days as I checked out and enjoyed the outside dining, cafes and cool air of Sydney. I am so very grateful to be able to do this sort of training and fingers crossed there is lots more to come.