A Force for Compassion; Alessia Maio

Alessia Maio (Class of 2019) has dedicated much of her life to helping others – you might’ve seen her featured on the Village Green mural in Karawara, which celebrates youth leadership and community contribution. 

We reached out to Alessia for her insight into the experiences that have shaped her path from Penrhos student to community volunteer, advocate and aspiring healthcare professional, and the lessons she has learned along the way. 

Seeing my face painted alongside current Year 9 Penrhos student, Laura Burton (recipient of the 2025 Young Writers Award), is not something I ever imagined for myself, especially during some of the more difficult periods of my life.

The mural celebrates youth leadership, community and positive contribution, and I feel incredibly honoured to be part of something that represents those values so publicly. What makes it even more special is sharing that recognition with another young woman from Penrhos who is already making such a meaningful impact at such a young age.

At almost 25 years old, my life has taken many unexpected turns since graduating from Penrhos in 2019. Like many students leaving school, I wasn’t entirely sure where life would take me, but I knew I wanted to pursue a career centred around helping others. Looking back now, although my pathway has been far from linear, every experience has shaped the person I am today.

Some of my favourite memories at Penrhos came from being involved in school life. I loved dance, performing arts and volunteering opportunities, and I still remember performing in the 2017 production of Mary Poppins alongside some of my closest friends. 

During Year 12, I started a small lunchtime initiative called Cards for a Cause, where students created handmade cards for residents in aged care facilities. At first, it seemed like such a simple idea, but seeing the reactions from residents when I delivered them reminded me how powerful small acts of kindness can be. That experience stayed with me long after I left school and it is something I still think of now.

I was also incredibly fortunate to have teachers who genuinely cared about me as a person. Their encouragement helped shape my confidence and resilience during a time when I often doubted myself. 

After graduating, I initially studied a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Italian Studies, with three years of French Studies, in the hopes of one day becoming a language teacher. Languages have always fascinated me, and during my studies I had the opportunity to work in several schools in a range of roles supporting students and staff. Working alongside young people was incredibly rewarding and further strengthened my passion for helping others.

However, at 19 years old, my life changed dramatically when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, a chronic and incurable autoimmune disease affecting the digestive tract. The years that followed involved countless surgeries, hospital admissions and ongoing medical treatment. At times, it completely altered the direction of my life and challenged me in ways I never could have anticipated.

But through those experiences, I also discovered something incredibly important: some of the hardest moments in life can shape your sense of purpose. Spending so much time within the healthcare system gave me a completely new perspective on medicine, compassion and patient care. I developed a profound appreciation for the healthcare professionals who supported me during some of the most difficult moments of my life, and I realised I wanted to provide that same support to others. 

I am now in my final year of paramedicine and if my health improves, I hope to one day transition into medicine and pursue my dream of becoming a paediatrician. 

Living with a chronic illness has given me a level of empathy and understanding that I now carry into every volunteering, advocacy and healthcare experience I undertake.

Volunteering has become one of the most significant parts of my life. I am now in my sixth year volunteering at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH), where I support children and families across various wards, including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Emergency Department. I have also volunteered on diabetes camps through PCH, youth advocacy initiatives, the Walk for Women’s Cancer, St John WA Event Health Services and numerous community events over the years. Over the past six years, participating in and volunteering for the Walk for Women’s Cancer has had a profound impact on my life, strengthening my commitment to community service and allowing me to honour those affected by cancer. During this time, I have raised over $25,000 for the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.  

In 2024, I was elected co-Chair of the Ministerial Youth Advisory Council, an experience that pushed me far beyond my comfort zone and helped me grow enormously in confidence. Through the role, I have had opportunities to advocate for young people across Western Australia, contribute to important conversations and work alongside inspiring community leaders. This year, I was also honoured to receive the City of South Perth Young Community Citizen of the Year Award and be selected as a Youth Week WA Ambassador. I have also recently been nominated for two awards for the WA Youth Awards.

Whether it is supporting a family in hospital, volunteering at a community event or simply showing kindness to someone having a difficult day, I have learnt that even small actions can have a lasting impact.

If there is one thing my journey has taught me, it is that purpose does not always come from following a perfect plan. Sometimes, it comes from continuing to show up for others despite setbacks and using your experiences to positively impact the people around you.