Melbourne School of Millinery - Where skill and imagination meet.
MELBOURNE SCHOOL OF MILLINERY
Where skill and imagination meet.
Meet the Tutors
Whether you’re considering a career in millinery or looking to explore a rewarding new hobby, Melbourne School of Millinery (MSM) would love to help you discover and navigate this wonderful art form. We provide a welcoming, supportive and nurturing learning environment where you can develop your skills, explore your creativity and enjoy the art of millinery.
MEET THE PRINCIPAL - GEORGIA SKELTON
Georgia loves sharing her skills and playing a part in keeping the craft she loves alive. With more than 20 years of teaching experience across millinery, sewing, design and pattern making, she has a passion for passing on practical skills and encouraging creativity through making.
Georgia established the Melbourne School of Millinery to create a place where lovers of needle and thread, aspiring milliners and those simply curious to learn can come together in a supportive, friendly and creative environment.
At the heart of the school is a belief in the value of learning by hand — sharing knowledge, preserving traditional skills and giving students the confidence to explore their own creativity.
Whether you are completely new to millinery or looking to expand your skills, Melbourne School of Millinery is a place to learn, experiment, create and enjoy the wonderful craft of making hats.
Qualifications
Diploma of Fashion Design
Certificate IV in Millinery
Certificate IV in Clothing Construction
Transform and Construction Master Certificate - Shingo Sato
Intermediate Certificate in Embroidery - EGV
Master Certificate in Goldwork - EGV
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Georgia Skelton Designs
Georgia Skelton Millinery
Teaching and experience
Centre for Adult Education - Millinery & Sewing
Box Hill Institute - Fashion Design
Melbourne Fashion Institute - Millinery
RMIT - Sewing
Founder and principal of Melbourne School of Millinery since 2017
Founder and manager of the Millinery Australia Student Design Award since 2018
Millinery Association of Australia Design Award winner 2021
Fashions on the Field and Royal Melbourne Show judge 2015-2026
Stephen Jones Patron's Pick winner 2021
President of Millinery Australia 2025 and 2026
Highlights
Interview with Millinery.Info - Spotify
TRACEY TAU - TOOALI MILLINERY
Tracey’s interest in millinery began during her long career in the racing industry, where her work called for a constant stream of hats. What began as a practical hobby led her to commence her formal millinery studies at Kangan Institute in 2013.
With an earlier background in pattern drafting, design and dressmaking, Tracey brings a broad range of skills to the classroom. Her creative process often begins with a beautiful textile, a piece of vintage trim or a unique hat block, allowing the design to evolve naturally into something completely original. As a tutor, she encourages students to enjoy this experimentation while developing sound techniques, confidence and attention to detail.
Tracey served as Vice President of Millinery Australia in 2025–26 and is the proud owner of The Essential Hat, a retail store in Malvern where she showcases and supports the work of Australian artisans. She also leads Hatwalk Australia, promoting millinery and encouraging a love of hat-wearing across the country.
Tracey is the designer behind TOOALI—pronounced “Too-ar-lee”—an acronym for The Only One Around Like It. This philosophy is at the heart of both her work and her teaching: every piece should have its own personality and be as individual as the person who wears it.
FIONA COOPER - MILLINERY LAA LAA
Award-winning milliner Fiona Cooper is the name behind the brand Millinery Laa Laa, a Melbourne studio known for sculptural silhouettes, precise construction and an architectural use of colour.
Fiona combines traditional couture millinery techniques with a contemporary design sensibility, creating headwear that feels both modern and timeless. Each piece is meticulously handcrafted and shaped over wooden blocks, reflecting her strong understanding of craftsmanship, proportion and refined detail.
In 2025, Fiona received the prestigious Victorian Racing Club Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award, recognising her excellence in creativity and technique. She has also served as both President and Secretary of Millinery Australia, supporting the advancement of milliners and students alike.
As a tutor, Fiona shares her technical knowledge and thoughtful approach to design, encouraging students to work with precision while developing their own creative voice. Her teaching explores the relationship between fashion, art and modern couture, helping students transform their ideas into beautifully resolved pieces.
KATHY CAMPBELL - HATS OFF HANDMADE HEADWEAR MILLINERY
Kathy Campbell is an Australian milliner and the designer behind Hats Off Handmade Headwear, with a passion for fashion, colour, texture and beautiful craftsmanship. With 15 years of experience in millinery, Kathy creates distinctive headwear that balances timeless elegance with contemporary design. She believes in the enduring appeal of classic style while embracing individuality, experimentation and the unexpected.
Kathy began her millinery journey in 2011 while living overseas, spending time in Singapore and New York, before returning to Australia in 2019. These experiences broadened her creative perspective and continue to influence her approach to design. She completed her Certificate IV in Millinery at Kangan Institute in 2022, further developing her technical skills and knowledge of the craft. Combining traditional and contemporary millinery techniques, Kathy takes delight in exploring colour, form and intricate detailing to create headwear that is beautiful from every angle. From understated classic pieces to bold, fashion-forward designs, her work reflects a love of colour and a belief that headwear should be both individual and memorable.
From 2021 to 2026, Kathy operated her own retail millinery studio in Camberwell Junction, where she designed and handcrafted pieces for retail as well as bespoke creations for clients. She now works from her home studio in Camberwell, welcoming clients for personalised consultations.
Kathy is a Fellow Member of Millinery Australia and has served as Secretary of the association. In 2025, Kathy’s piece, ‘Sparks Fly’, was a Top 10 finalist in the Design Awards. As a tutor, Kathy is excited to share her knowledge, practical experience and enthusiasm for millinery. She encourages students to explore colour, develop their own creative voice and build confidence in their designs, while establishing sound construction techniques and an appreciation for quality craftsmanship.
Kathy often says that "the true measure of a quality headpiece lies as much in the craftsmanship you cannot see as in the beauty you can. Every stitch and detail matters.”
JO PETERSON - JO MAREE MILLINERY
Jo Peterson is the award-winning designer behind Jo Maree Millinery, based on Melbourne’s beautiful Mornington Peninsula. Bringing a unique blend of imagination, mathematics and technical precision to the craft, Jo creates bespoke headwear that is elegant, highly wearable and always distinct.
As a highly respected figure in the Australian millinery community, Jo has contributed to Millinery Australia as Secretary and dedicated committee member for eight years, and she was the founder and editor of the association's publication, Millinery Matters. Her exceptional craftsmanship has earned her numerous accolades, including being a national Top 10 finalist in the 2025 Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award, a multi-year finalist for Millinery Australia’s Design Award and the winner of the inaugural Stephen Jones “Patron’s Pick” Award in 2019.
In the classroom, Jo channels her creative curiosity and technical expertise into an encouraging, approachable and relaxed teaching style. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and helping students discover the satisfaction of creating something unique by hand while developing their skills, experimenting and finding their own creative style.