Hello & welcome!

Hello there, I'm Olivia Rose Matthews, you can call me Liv, Olive, Olivia Rose, what ever works! I'm not entirely sure how you stumbled upon my little corner of the internet, but I'm genuinely thrilled that you did. I thought it'd be nice to share a piece of me, to let you in on where I've been, where I'm headed, and everything in between.

Now, who am I? Well, that's a wonderfully complex question, isn't it? I could tell you where I hail from – a tiny farm nestled about an hour's drive from the nearest rural city in country Victoria, a charming dot on the map known as Banyena. That's where my story begins, in the middle of nowhere, where my family worked the land, nurturing grains and tending to thousands of sheep each year. My childhood was a whirlwind of motorbike rides, sheep shearing, and driving that massive harvester during harvest season (even if I did miss a bit of the crop). Lunchtime meant helping my mum whip up meals for the shearers. I called this place home until I was around 12 when I officially became a city girl – well, sort of – by moving to Horsham, that rural city I mentioned earlier.

In Horsham, I wrapped up my high school journey, sporting the titles of Sports house captain, Age Champion for Swimming, Captain of the Winning National Volleyball team (in Division 3, not quite MVP material, but hey, it counts!), a member of the school student representative council, and a devoted student trying to crack the code to life. As I searched for my future path, I stumbled upon a double degree called "Commerce and International Studies." I had no clue what it meant, but it sounded impressive, and I had the ATAR to get in. So, I packed my bags and embarked on a new chapter in Melbourne.

Melbourne, is the city that stole my heart almost instantly. Its diversity, lifestyle, people, and oh, the food – the food alone was a stark contrast to what I was used to. After my first semester, enriched by newfound friends, a few extra kilos from foodie adventures, a fresh job at the iconic Chocolatier, Koko Black, and a newfound understanding of "Commerce and International Studies," I was ready to roll.

For four years, I called Melbourne home, where I saw myself climb the ranks at Koko Black (that's a story for another time), make progress in my degree, braved the challenges of a global pandemic, and juggle multiple shared houses. I fell in love, I got my heart broken, I partied and I enjoyed all the things. I was your typical twenty-something trying to navigate this unpredictable journey called life.

Then came the pandemic, leading me back home to Horsham, where I continued my career in management roles. This time, I joined a family business, Una Sosta, where I started to explore the world of social media management. It was my first chance to build a business from the ground up. What an adventure! But I also learned a valuable lesson: the hardest part of running a business is the people, and the best part is also the people – quite a paradox, isn't it? With my blood being 90% caffeine, and 10% the important stuff, I was able to gain invaluable experience in business, that continued to grow my confidence and love for the business management sector.

During this period, I lost sight of my purpose – a sentiment many can relate to during the pandemic, I'm sure. I became obsessed with the idea of becoming a pilot, following in my grandfather's footsteps. I bought the training books, found a mentor, and embarked on a 20-hour journey from all my loved ones to start pilot training in Brisbane, post-vaccine and post-lockdown. That brings me to the question: Why travel so far for something I'd never done before? Could a bit of support have made a difference?

Nevertheless, driven by unwavering yet somewhat unearned confidence that only an early 23-year-old would have, I ventured forth, only to arrive in Brisbane and realise that I didn't want to be a pilot. It was a humbling, embarrassing moment, and a life lesson. The takeaway: don't just say you'll do the thing; do it first, and then share the thing with the world – simple, really.

With that realisation, I set my sights on a new goal: solo travel. After four months of exploration, from Hawaii to Turkey and finishing in Bali, I returned home with a few extra kilos (again), life-long friends, the pangs of loneliness, and a deep appreciation for the beauty of strangers and their stories. I also embraced the cliché of a young traveller – no special snowflake here, just a humble adventurer.

Back at home, I was at a crossroads, having faced the frustration of a shattered pilot dream. With management experience, four-fifths of my degree completed, and social media management skills, I pondered my next career move. That's when my mum, always a beacon of support, introduced me to Home Instead. This local business in Horsham, dedicated to aged care, was my new calling. I started at the reception desk, juggling phone calls and office tasks. Then, I took charge of their social media platforms, where we witnessed remarkable engagement. Along the way, I embraced scheduling which is a meticulous and unforgiving job and tackled every job that came my way. Busy? Absolutely, but I was thriving.

My ability to grow Home Instead's social media presence garnered positive feedback. It led me to ask, "How can I stay in this industry while combining my commerce degree, social media background, and industry knowledge?" The answer? Start a consulting business specialising in social media marketing for the Aged Care Industry. And that's where I am now, a completed double degree in Commerce and International Studies and at the beginning of an exciting new business venture, poised to learn new skills and create something I'm truly proud of.