She completed her tertiary studies in Adelaide gaining a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), a Graduate Diploma of Education and a Master of Arts (with a thesis entitled: "Migrant writing and beyond: the voice of four Italian- Australian poets: Lino Concas, Mariano Coreno, Enoe Di Stefano and Luigi Strano"). In 1995 she was awarded an Italian Government Scholarship to undertake studies at the University for Foreigners of Siena.

In 1993, while undertaking her Masters studies, she began teaching Italian part-time to students enrolled in the department at Flinders University. She has continued to teach Italian in the tertiary sector and to adults and since 1996 has also been working with Italian Studies at the University of South Australia.

Since 1995 she has taught a number of Beginners Italian courses to Nurses organised by Filef. This led to the publication in 1999 of "L'italiano with patients: an Italian course for Health Care Professionals", published by Insegna publishers thanks to funding received from the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Paola has been a committee member of Filef since 1996 and presently represents second generation Italian-Australian women on Com.It.Es in SA.

Her many interests include: second language learning and teaching; reading; Flamenco dancing; travelling and learning about world cultures.

August 1999