About Me: Nicky Hood
If I were a food, I’d be a bag of mixed lollies. Because, as a human, I’m a jumble of differing qualities and quirks. I love being colourful with both my hair and fashion, but I’m a rule follower. I love cupcakes and coffee but will eat plain toast if someone else makes it for me. I’m a massive fan of action movies, specifically anything from the 90s; Bruce Willis can rescue me any day. I’m an avid fan of automobiles, dogs and making people laugh. I’m also an introvert, yet I love public speaking… work that one out! I’m very precise and diligent with my work (and the way the pantry is organised) and I colour code my wardrobe. However, I often forget to water the plants or put the bins out.
Ok, so, I’m a little bit weird, but I’m ok with that because I finally feel like I’m playing to my strengths here. I have diagnosed OCD tendencies, which translates to I’ll work my butt off until we’re all 100% happy with your ceremony. My sense of humour can be dialed up or down depending on the ceremony. My fashion sense (and wardrobe collection) means I can colour coordinate to pretty much anything, except burgundy, I hate burgundy.
I’m in my 40s and grew up in South Australia before jumping the border to Victoria about a decade ago. I live in Belmont with my wife Brooke and our 2 dogs (furbabies). We have a male Chinese Crested Powder Puff named Spike and a female Maltese x Shih Tzu called Coco.
I've always loved writing, words and language. When I was younger I was a 'highly commended' winner in The Advertiser's Young Writer of the Year Award and while at the University of Adelaide I had my work published twice.
I'm also a dab hand at a chainsaw & can make jewellery, see, mixed bag!
Why I became a Celebrant
I’ve always been a rule follower; I’ve lived most of my life doing jobs I was good at. I worked hard and put up with a lot of crap over the years. However, just because I was good at them doesn’t mean it brought me any joy. The things I was passionate about (and excelled at) weren’t traditionally seen as career making things, so I pushed them aside, until I could no longer ignore the pull.
Being in front of an audience is my happy place, when I was a kid, I was called a show-off. Writing creatively, both poetry and prose, has been a long-time passion of mine. For years, I’ve had people telling me to get into Celebrancy after hearing me speak at funerals and various functions, or reading my writing. In 2022, I finally did something about it; I enrolled in Certificate IV in Celebrancy at The Gordon TAFE and began studying earnestly. I’m now fully qualified and have a lot more life experience than when I was a show-off!
I truly believe that our love, lives and losses should be marked and celebrated with our friends and family. The union of two people in love who are committing to each other for life is a beautiful celebration marked with traditions and rituals in many forms. Coming together to honour a loved one’s passing and remember the life they have lived can be difficult, but it helps us to share memories and begin to heal.
These ceremonies are remembered for how they make us feel, not the colour theme or the flowers chosen. The emotions they stir within us and the memories they create is what lasts. Love and life, in all its forms, deserves to be celebrated and commemorated through shared stories and memories.
Training & Education
Most importantly, I'm legally, and suitably, qualified to perform your ceremony. I completed my Certificate IV in Celebrancy through The Gordon TAFE in Geelong, Victoria. Everything else listed here just adds to my development & experience. Over the years, I have completed many training sessions & courses, I have roughly grouped them below:
Those that help me understand & adhere to legislation:
- Working with Privacy laws (Australian Privacy Principles)
- Responsible Record Keeping & Document Handling
- Ethics & Fraud Awareness
- Work Health & Safety Responsibilities
Self-Development & Awareness:
- Defining & Leading with Emotional Intelligence
- Practical Resilience, Accidental Counselor
- Coaching & Coaching Conversations
- Business & Essential Writing Skills
- Indigenous Cultural Awareness
- Inclusion - LGBTQIA
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
- Presentation Skills
- Cyber Security Awareness
Qualifications:
- Certificate IV in Celebrancy (The Gordon TAFE)
- Mental Health First Aider (standard) (Open Arms)