Melanie Joosten, Author

Past pupil Melanie Joosten (class of 1999) is a much-celebrated author. Her very poignant and informative second book, A Long Time Coming was published in 2016.  Melanie was a very promising English student who received a perfect score for VCE English. Melanie combines her expertise as an author with her background as a social worker and delves into the lives of some willing elderly participants. The result is a beautifully written collection of non-fiction essays on old age.

Melanie’s first novel, Berlin Syndrome, 2011, saw Melanie named as Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Novelist and awarded the Kathleen Mitchell Award for Young Writers. Berlin Syndrome has been turned into a film which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival this year and is directed by Cate Shortland.

Melanie holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours), a Master of Arts (Editing) and a Master of Social Work. She has had work published in Best Australian Stories 2014, Meanjin, Kill Your Darlings and Sleepers Almanac.

Melanie was surrounded by family at school as not only did her three younger sisters Bridget, Hannah and Stephanie also attend Loreto, but her father, John Joosten and her uncle, Pat O’Shea, were also on staff during this time. Melanie now lives in Melbourne with her husband who is also an author and has recently become a mother to a beautiful baby girl.