Meet Our Trainers

 

Carol Marcroft

Carol trained as a celebrant and ritual maker, and is very experienced with all types of ceremonies. She believes that inspiring celebrants have the potential to enrich people's lives through meaningful ceremonies and rituals. Carol enjoys mentoring new celebrants and sharing her experiences, and is a creative writer. She has been associated with AssentTECS since 2003 assessing aspiring celebrants, as well as delivering OPD and writing quality electives. Carol has 20 years paralegal experience and was one of only 12 OPD trainers approved by the Attorney-General's Department to deliver the compulsory legal topic in 2008-9.


Melissa Halliday

Encouraging celebrants to keep the bar high in terms of Code of Conduct, Melissa has traveled around Australia, writing and delivering practical OPD topics since 2007. She has worked independently as a Heart & Soul Celebrations trainer, as well as for the ACQ and International College of Celebrancy and is delighted to be part of the enthusiastic, close knit and professional team at AssentTECS in 2010.

Melissa is an inspiring, hands-on marriage celebrant, Certificate. As a solicitor and one of only 12 OPD trainers approved by the Attorney General's Department to deliver the Compulsory Legal topic in 2008-9, she is very mindful of the need for legally accurate, quality OPD education and training.

  • BA (Hons) LLB (Sydney University)
  • Dip MC (International College of Celebrancy)
  • Member NSW Law Society Founder of Heart & Soul Celebrations

Carol Astbury

Carol Astbury was appointed as a Marriage Celebrant in 1974. She has enjoyed 35 years celebrating nearly 4000 marriages in Western Australia. Carol promoted professional development for celebrants long before it became a requirement of registration; encouraging celebrants to develop and share skills and knowledge to offer a range of creative ceremonies to their clients.

She was the WA representative of the national committee of the AFCC for many years, and is still a member of both AFCC and MCA (Inc. WA). Carol provided approved OPD to celebrant colleagues in Perth metro, Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton from 2004 – 2009; adding Broome to the list last year. She is pleased to join the professional team at AssentTECS and looks forward to returning to regional areas in WA as well as catching up with colleagues in the Perth metropolitan area.

  •   Grad Dip Celebrancy (International College of Celebrancy)


Karen Faa

Karen Faa has a wealth of experience as a celebrant and trainer.  Karen was appointed as a marriage celebrant in 1994 and has officiated over 900 weddings.  For the past couple of years, Karen has been a trainer for AssentTECS, and prior to that, for the AG Department.

Karen has become renowned for her genuine energy, and her ability to keep OPD sessions lively and interactive.  Having experienced a variety of jobs, including working in the Australian Consulate Office in Vancouver, representing the Australian Government as an attendant at World Expo 86 (Vancouver), and in marketing with QANTAS, Karen's passion is working with people.  Enriching the knowledge and meeting with fellow marriage celebrants Australia wide is a rewarding experience for Karen as a trainer with the AssentTECS team.

''Karen, you made the day interactive and enjoyable.  Lots of laughs and genuine camaraderie in the group.  That is because of your leadership and ease with the facilitation.Jeanette, 2011"
"Hi Karen, I did so enjoy the day's training. You made the boring, interesting, and the tediuos, fun! Regards, Chris ..." 2010

Karen has qualifications and experience in celebrancy, training, small business, and marketing.

Get ready to have some fun, laugh and learn when Karen comes to town!

Toni Richards

Toni Richards has been an active and enthusiastic celebrant since 2004.  She has officiated at a total of 860 weddings, funerals, namings, commitment and renewal of vows ceremonies. 

As a trainer, Toni brings with her a wealth of life experiences from diverse roles she has done over the years from being an Assessor/Trainer for NSW Police Service for 10 years, to working and training technical aspects within the live theatre industry since 1978.

She is delighted to join AssentTECS and looks forward to offering celebrants a rewarding and exciting experience within the training sessions.

  • BA UNSW, majoring in Drama and History
  • Dip Marriage Celebrancy;(Distinction). International College of Celebrancy
  • Dip Funeral Celebrancy; (Distinction), International College of Celebrancy
  • Cert iv Training & Assessment (TAE)  

Georgia Mills

Georgia Mills comes to us directly from the Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages where she was Marriage Services Coordinator of the Marriage Registry.  Dealing with over 4,000 couples each year, Georgia has extensive expertise in all matters related to marriage documentation, certificates and marriage ceremonies.  She has trained and mentored many marriage celebrants over the past three years.  She is passionate about facilitating training that is meaningful to the participants, engaging, fun and practical.

Georgia has performed 350 wedding ceremonies and counts the ceremonies she wrote and delivered for her brother and her best friend as some of her most special and memorable marriages.

She is passionate about celebrancy and the special role ceremony holds in honouring and celebrating significant events. She believes communities benefit from celebrancy that connects people and in doing so brings us closer to one another.

Georgia has previously worked as a yoga teacher.  She also works as a voluntary counsellor for the Cancer Council and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.  All of these roles have helped developed her strong listening, communciation and presentation skills.  She looks forward to sharing her passion, knowledge and enthusiasm in the delivery of the Marriage Celebrant OPD.