CoElevate Group

Name: CoElevate Group
Address: PO Box 3005, Geelong, VIC, 3218, AU
Telephone: +61480808897

Home
Australia
Geelong, VIC
CoElevate Group

CoElevate Group helps schools, and organisations grow through expert recruitment, HR consulting, and coaching. Let’s elevate your potential together.

We align talent with purpose to build strong teams, enhance culture, and drive lasting impact. With over 20 years of experience across the public sector, private enterprise, and global corporations, I’ve had the privilege of working within high-performing organisations that have shaped my passion for building empowered, curious, and dynamic teams. As the founder of CoElevate Group, I bring a deep

understanding of how organisations, regardless of size, can unlock performance and productivity by better connecting with their people. My career journey began in the public sector as a teacher, later transitioning into education recruitment, where I spent 14 years helping schools attract and retain top talent. This unique blend of experience has reinforced a simple truth: small gains in education can lead to significant impact. At CoElevate Group, we’re committed to playing a meaningful role in supporting schools to retain exceptional educators through a personal, collaborative approach. In addition to our work in education, I also partner with organisations across a range of sectors to deliver tailored HR and business consultancy services. I’m passionate about helping leaders build stronger workplace cultures, enhance employee engagement, and drive sustainable growth through people focused strategies.

30/08/2026

Some of the hardest interview questions aren’t difficult because we don’t know the answer.

They’re difficult because we haven’t worked out how to communicate it.

Why did you leave?

Why did you step away from leadership?

Why was that role so short?

Why are you looking to move again?

There can be completely understandable reasons behind these decisions. Circumstances change, roles don’t always develop as expected, and sometimes we make career decisions that we might approach differently with hindsight.

The challenge is often talking about them.

When an experience is still uncomfortable or frustrating, it’s easy to become vague, over-explain or focus too heavily on what someone else did.

But the person interviewing you doesn’t have all the context you do.

They’re trying to understand what happened, how you responded, what you learnt and what the experience means for the person they’re considering today.

Good interview preparation isn’t about creating the perfect answer or learning a script.

It’s about being able to reflect on your experience and communicate it clearly and authentically.

What happened?

What was within your control?

What did you learn?

What would you do differently?

And how has the experience shaped what you’re looking for next?

Sometimes the part of your career story you’re least comfortable discussing is the part worth spending the most time preparing for.

Not to change the story.

To make sure you can tell it with clarity, perspective and accountability.

18/08/2026

Are you preparing for your interview, or scripting it?

A recent online interview highlighted the fine line between being well prepared and being over-prepared.

At times, the conversation felt as though the candidate may have been relying quite closely on prepared responses. It’s impossible to know whether that was actually the case, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with having a few notes nearby during an online interview.

The challenge comes when preparation starts getting in the way of the conversation.

When you're focused on remembering the answer you've prepared, it can be harder to really listen to the question, respond naturally and adapt when the conversation takes an unexpected turn.

The strongest interviews rarely feel rehearsed.

Good preparation isn't about having the perfect answer ready for every possible question.

It's about understanding the value you bring, knowing the experiences and examples you can draw upon, and having the confidence to talk about them naturally.

That’s central to the approach to interview coaching at CoElevate Group.

Not scripts. Not perfect answers.

Instead, the focus is on helping people develop greater clarity around their strengths, experience and impact so they can communicate their value with confidence and authenticity.

If you have an interview coming up and would value some support with your preparation, send CoElevate Group a message for a confidential conversation.

13/08/2026

A successful project should leave more than a positive outcome.

Whether an initiative is led by a volunteer committee, a school team or an organisation, there is enormous value in capturing what worked, what could be improved and what others will need to take it forward.

When decisions, processes and learning are documented, future contributors do not have to start again. They can step in with greater clarity, build on the work already completed and focus their energy on making the next initiative even better.

Effective project management is not only about delivering what is needed today. It should also build stronger systems, shared knowledge and greater capability for the future.

When a project is completed, how well is the learning captured for the people who take it forward?

12/08/2026

Teaching opportunities across Melbourne

CoElevate Group is currently partnering with Independent schools to appoint educators for several vacancies commencing in Term 4.

Current opportunities include:

📘 English Teacher — Melbourne’s east
Full-time, fixed-term position through to the end of Term 2, 2027.

📘 English Teachers — Melbourne’s south-east, northern and western regions
Multiple permanent, full-time positions available.

🧪 VCE Chemistry Teacher — Melbourne’s western region
Permanent, full-time position.

🏃 Physical Education Teacher, Years 7–12 — Melbourne’s western region
Permanent, full-time position.

🏫 Primary Teacher — Melbourne’s northern region
Permanent, full-time position.

We also have teaching and leadership opportunities available for more immediate commencement and from the beginning of 2027.

View further details and apply through the CoElevate Group job board:

👉 https://www.coelevategroup.com.au/education-recruitment/jobs-in-schools

If you are considering a change or would like to understand whether an opportunity may align with your experience and plans, please send us a direct message for a confidential conversation.

11/08/2026

What happens to your communication under pressure?

A recent interview provided a valuable reminder of how easily experience can lose its impact when the listener has to search for what is relevant.

The educator brought considerable experience, an engaging personality and a genuine ability to tell a story. However, questions seeking a concise overview often led to lengthy responses and additional background that moved away from what was being asked.

This didn’t reflect a lack of experience or value. The challenge was recognising what the moment required and selecting the information that would help the listener understand what they could contribute.

Pressure affects people differently. Some become quiet. Others speak quickly, overexplain or try to communicate everything at once.

A strong interview response isn’t about delivering a perfectly rehearsed answer. It is about understanding the question, identifying what matters and communicating it with clarity and purpose.

This is where thoughtful interview coaching can help.

The goal isn’t to create an “expert interviewee.” At CoElevate Group, the focus is helping professionals better understand their value and communicate it authentically when the right opportunity arises.

07/08/2026

Challenging conversations aren’t only a leadership responsibility.

Across schools and organisations, people may need to provide difficult feedback, clarify expectations or address an issue that would be easier to avoid.

One helpful shift is to reframe these as important conversations.

This doesn’t remove the discomfort involved. It helps us focus on why the conversation matters, what could improve as a result and what may happen if the issue remains unaddressed.

When people understand the purpose, they are often better prepared to approach the conversation with clarity, care and intent.

Having an important conversation is not in conflict with caring about someone. In many cases, it is an expression of that care.

What helps people in your organisation feel prepared to have important conversations?

05/08/2026

New Leadership Opportunity | Director of Student Wellbeing

An opportunity is available for an experienced educator to join a growing Catholic secondary school in Melbourne’s west.

This is a permanent, full-time teaching position, with the Director of Student Wellbeing leadership appointment continuing through to the end of 2028.

Commencing in Term 4, 2026, the role may suit an educator with experience in student wellbeing, pastoral care or engagement who is ready to take the next step in their leadership career.

Learn more about the opportunity and express your interest through the CoElevate Group website:

https://www.coelevategroup.com.au/education-recruitment/jobs-in-schools

28/07/2026

Education Opportunities | Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs

Several permanent, full-time teaching opportunities are available in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, commencing at the beginning of 2027.

Current opportunities include:

• Product Design Technology (Wood) and VET Building and Construction
• Italian
• Specialist Mathematics
• Junior Mathematics

The Product Design and Technology and VET Building and Construction position may also suit someone with relevant industry experience who has the qualifications and capacity to secure Permission to Teach.

If you’re considering a change for next year, you can learn more about the opportunities below:

👉 https://www.coelevategroup.com.au/education-recruitment/jobs-in-schools

You’re also welcome to contact David McVilly directly for a confidential conversation.

Please feel free to share this post with anyone in your network who may be interested.

23/07/2026

A new Head of Advancement opportunity is now available within a Catholic secondary school in Melbourne’s outer east.

This newly created position will play an important role in strengthening the school’s long-term growth and sustainability across:

• Enrolment growth and student retention
• Alumni and community engagement
• Philanthropy and fundraising
• Partnerships and sustainable income generation

The role would suit an experienced relationship-builder from an advancement, fundraising, philanthropy, business development, partnerships or community engagement background.

The successful applicant will have the opportunity to establish the advancement function from the ground up, work closely with key leaders across the school and make a visible and lasting contribution.

The position also offers seven weeks of annual leave each year.

View the full advertisement and apply via the link below:

👉 https://au.seek.com/job/93522894

Please feel free to reach out if you would like to have a confidential discussion about the position.

22/07/2026

Some of the most important interview questions are the ones you ask.

Recently, we worked with an experienced leader who had already interviewed for a senior position.

She wasn't looking for help presenting her experience.

She'd already demonstrated that.

What she wanted was greater confidence in her decision.

As we spoke, it became clear that what mattered most wasn't the salary or the title.

It was understanding the environment she would be joining.

She wanted greater clarity around the organisation's direction, the owner's leadership approach, how decisions were made, the level of autonomy the role would genuinely provide, and whether the opportunity aligned with the way she wanted to lead.

Our conversation wasn't about finding questions that would challenge the employer.

It was about identifying the questions that would help her make an informed career decision.

One of the biggest misconceptions about interviews is that they're simply an opportunity for an organisation to assess a candidate.

The strongest interview processes are genuine two-way conversations.

Yes, it's important to communicate your experience and demonstrate the value you can bring.

It's equally important to leave with enough information to decide whether the opportunity is right for you.

At CoElevate Group, interview coaching isn't only about helping people present themselves effectively.

It's about helping them communicate their value, ask thoughtful questions, and make career decisions with confidence.

Address

PO Box 3005
Geelong, VIC
3218

Telephone

+61480808897

Website

https://www.coelevategroup.com.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when CoElevate Group posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your business to be the top-listed Business in Geelong?