Narelle Lewis

About me
I grew up on the Gold Coast, have spent most of my adult life in Europe, and speak fluent French and Spanish (and a handful of other languages badly!). I love travelling and have always been passionate about event organisation and building community.


Let’s dig deeper
I got a (very useful) Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Southern Queensland, then spent a misguided year in the US before hopping over to Scotland, where I transitioned from reception work into web design — but mostly learnt about whisky, ceilidhs, and heilan coos (those shaggy Scottish cows with horns).

A few years later, I moved to the south of France where I got into teaching English at universities and engineering schools, acquired a taste for strange cheeses, and discovered a love of wine. To make friends, I set up a community called English in Toulouse and ran it for eight years. I hosted two weekly events and regular experiences like vineyard tours, walking tours, and snowshoe hikes. It’s still going and is now run by a lovely Aussie from Sydney called Zoe.

After 8 years in Toulouse, I became a French citizen, did a brief stint as a waitress in Paris for two years, and moved down to Andorra, where I got back to teaching with a full-time position at a language school. I stayed there for six and a half years until just after Covid, when the school closed down.

In the aftermath of Covid, with Australia being closed and the rest of the world being complicated, I spent a year back in France before eventually deciding to come home to the Gold Coast. I moved back here in July 2022.

Having spent 22-years in Europe, I found Australia to be confusing and isolating. Everyone and everything I know is in Europe, and it has been difficult to reestablish any sense of career. But, travel makes us resilient and I am not one to sit and dwell on my problems.

The Gold Coast International Club began about the same week I arrived back in Australia. I didn’t know anyone here, but I knew exactly how to fix that!

The more challenging problem was to get my career on track in a country riddled with rules and redtape. My 15 years of teaching experience was not accepted in Australia, so over the past two and a half years I have worked in content writing, copy editing, film, and accounting. I even started studying accounting at TAFE! But, I am pleased to say, I have now come full circle and am getting back into teaching English.

I am enrolled in a postgraduate degree at Griffith University, where, from March 2025, I will be studying for a Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Gold Coast International Club

The Gold Coast International Club is a community I created in July 2022 for travel enthusiasts, polyglots, and people who love cultural diversity. The idea is to do fun things together and make new connections. With nearly 4,000 Instagram followers and 500 active members in the WhatsApp group, we are growing bigger every day. While many members are students or on working holiday visas, the club also attracts locals who want to expand their friend circle and practise languages. Events include hikes, game nights, barbecues, monthly dinners, and road trips. I am now expanding into curated tours that showcase the uniqueness of the area.

Professionally speaking

About me

I offer transferrable skills from web & database design, copywriting & editing, language teaching, social media management, and world travel. I have lived in the US, Scotland, France, and Andorra, speak fluent French and Spanish, and have dual French/Australian citizenship. I am motivated, creative, and dedicated with a car and clean drivers’ licence.

Location
Gold Coast, Australia

Qualifications & Studies

  • Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
    Griffith University, March 2025
    Currently enrolled in a full-time postgraduate degree.

  • Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping
    Robina TAFE

    Currently in my second of two semesters. Working towards Xero certification and will then move on to budgeting. I am on target to graduate in June 2025

    My first semester was completed in November 2024 with 100% on all assessments.

    This course will certify me to work as a bookkeeper, accounts clerk, payroll officer, or BAS agent. It covers how to use Excel and Xero, how to prepare and lodge business activity statements, prepare financial reports, establish payroll systems, and advise taxpayers on activity statements.

  • Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Public Relations and German
    University of Southern Queensland

  • Screen Onboarding (Short course)
    Coomera TAFE (Complete)

    In this intensive four-day course led by industry experts, I learnt:

    • Who’s who on a production (including the hierarchy from key creatives down to entry-level roles and all about the different departments)

    • What happens in pre-pre-production, pre-production, during production, on a shoot, and in post production (including details on rushes, timeframes, VFX, delivery items)

    • How to be a valued member of the team (etiquette, communication skills, attitude, protocols, chain of command, and how to earn your stripes)

    • How the different departments and teams work together (including art, production, accounting, assistant directors, unit and script supervising teams, locations, camera, sound, visual effects and special effects, director of photography, camera, lighting and grip crew)

    • Résumé writing for the screen industry.

Screen Experience

Accounts Clerk, Voltron (Film)
December 2024 to January 2025

Initially brought on for two weeks to assist the assistant production accountant at VRS, I was asked to stay on for a while longer. I finish at the end of January. During this experience I learnt new software and procedures, processed petty cash and fuel claims.

Software used: Eclipse (TPH Global), AirWallex, Amazon Studios Originals, Box

Accounts Clerk, Good Cop/Bad Cop (TV series)
February to May 2024
I was awarded a Screen QLD attachment placement to work in the production accounting department on the Stan TV series, Good Cop/Bad Cop. Initially funded for six weeks, the production department opted to extend my contract to three months.

During this experience I learnt how to audit petty cash claims, set up trade agreement accounts, monitor, file and respond to the department inbox and assist in maintaining the department’s Dropbox.

Software used: MyDaes/MoneyPenny, Dropbox