Melbourne tutor in Creative Writing, English, English Literature, Essay Writing, Reading

4.8  (31 student reviews)

CURRENTLY WELCOMING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR 2026

"An understanding heart is everything in a teacher, and cannot be esteemed highly enough. One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feeling." — Carl Jung

I have always believed that while the Australian curriculum offers the necessary structure, it is the quality of human connection that shapes a young person’s sense of possibility. Confidence, imagination and resilience grow not from worksheets, but from feeling genuinely seen, understood and supported.

My name is Di Caia. For more than a decade I have worked at the intersection of education, counselling and creative communication, guiding young people aged 12 to 18 as they find their voice, as writers, speakers and emerging adults navigating a complex world. My approach blends academic excellence with emotional attunement, ensuring that learning feels both rigorous and deeply human.

I finished secondary school in 2010 with a raw study score of 50 in English and 49 in Literature. I hold these results close not for what they signify on paper, but because they marked the beginning of a lifelong devotion to language, critical thinking and the transformative power of story. Since then, my work has taken me through theatre, television writing, public speaking, youth mentoring, and tertiary teaching.

I have led writing and communication workshops one-on-one and for major organisations including Orygen and Beyond Blue, as well as within juvenile justice centres, prisons, and corporate environments such as Telstra, NAB and ING Direct—helping teams understand one another through clearer, more empathetic communication.

As a regular VCAA English and Literature assessor, I bring detailed insight into current curriculum expectations, assessment practices and the inner mechanics of high-scoring responses.

I hold a PhD in Creative Writing and Education from RMIT University, where I was honoured to receive the Dean’s Award for Most Engaged PhD Candidate (2022 & 2023) and the 2024 Student Leadership Award. I currently lecture and tutor across RMIT (Media and Communications), Deakin University (screenwriting and research theory), and the University of Melbourne (Screenwriting Cultures).

I provide academic support in English and Literature from Years 7 to 12, offering guidance in analytical essays, creative writing, text interpretation and exam preparation. Every student receives a personalised approach: a balance of structure, spaciousness and emotional safety so their ideas can flourish and their voice can grow in clarity and confidence.
For those who need a gentler, more holistic form of support, I also offer counselling as a standalone service or integrated within tutoring sessions of 1.5–2 hours. Many young people benefit from this combined approach, especially when school-related anxiety, perfectionism, or personal challenges affect their learning.

Qualifications & Checks
? Police Check
? Working with Children Check (valid until 2027)
? Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
? Mental Health and General First Aid
? Registered member of the Australian Counsellors Association (ACA)

If your family is looking for support that honours both the intellect and the inner life of your young person; rigorous, compassionate, and deeply attentive, I would be truly honoured to go on this journey with you.

Warmly, Di Caia

Contact

Experience

Exam preparation
SAC preparation
Essay writing
Language analysis
Text analysis
Creative context writing
Literature

Qualifications

Lecturer and tutor in the department of Media and Communications at RMIT and the department of Education at Melbourne University. External assessor for Masters in writing and editing Deakin University.

DEGREES

2025- PhD Philosophy (Creative writing, pedagogy)
2023 - Professional certificate Adolescent Counselling (Monash University, registered with ACA)
2015 - Masters of dramatic art VCA
2014 - postgraduate studies dramatic art, NIDA
2013 - Bachelor of Arts (creative writing)

Rates

ONLINE / IN PERSON
The fee is $95.00 dollars per hour and this includes all outside communication, marking and extra reading.

*Please note, that ample notice is required for any cancellation of appointments, and
cancellations will incur the above fee, if done so at the last minute.

Gender

Female

Registered

Joined Tutor Finder on 28-Dec-2012 (updated profile on 17-Aug-2026)