Cordelia (he/they)

Cordelia joined The Pinnacle Foundation as scholar in 2024, and in 2025 has been awarded The Sidney Myer Fund Scholarship.

In 2024 Cordelia will commence a Master of Social Work at RMIT University. This 2-year degree continues into 2025 and involves 1000 hours of fieldwork placement. Before transitioning to social work, Cordelia built a successful career in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space. Specialising in Disability and LGBTIQA+ portfolios, and excelling in project delivery, policy development, and program design across public, nonprofit, and private sectors. This professional journey has equipped Cordelia with a robust understanding of justice, equity, intersectionality and health issues related to the LGBTIQA+ community.

As a queer trans person, Cordelia is deeply involved in community and has extensive experience in community organising and development. Cordelia brings a wealth of experience to his current role as a lived-experience peer worker at Orygen, providing emotional and social support to trans and gender diverse young people experiencing mental health challenges.

Cordelia’s approach to practice is person-centred, strengths-based approach is person-centred, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and strengths-based, grounded in the principles of social justice. As a successful recipient of the Pinnacle scholarship Cordelia looks forward to being part of a network of passionate LGBTQIA+ leaders and champions. This scholarship will support Cordelia to achieve his aim of becoming a qualified Social Worker and further their dream of creating inclusive, equal, accessible and healthy futures for LGBTIA+ people to thrive.