About me
I am an Italian Australian cultural researcher and interpreter, bilingual author.
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My work explores the relationships between migration, identity, place and community through research, writing and creative collaboration. Working alongside artists, illustrators, publishers, cultural organisations, libraries, museums, schools and community groups, I develop books, exhibitions and public programs that transform research into accessible experiences, helping people better understand themselves, their communities and the world around them.
"Mamma mia, ItAliens!"
The Graphic Novel about Italian Migration to Brisbane & Surrounds, in the 1950s
Between 2023 and 2026 I researched, developed and published three original works in both English and Italian, resulting in six published editions.
Each publication is the outcome of extensive research, collaboration and project development, created to engage communities and preserve cultural knowledge.
A Rainbow Story with Sofia & Matisse: celebrating culture, belonging and connection to place. Through a simple story, this project encourages children to value diversity, respect Country and recognise that everyone has a place where they belong.
What My Readers Say
"Elisa's documentation and dedication to research has offered me an understanding of how rich Queensland is with Italian history and how Italians left their mark in shaping this country. It has offered me reignited cultural pride.
Letizia C. De Rosa
Writer archived in the De Rosa Collection
at James Cook University Library,
Special Collections.
"I would like to warmly thank the author, Elisa Mele, originally from Sardinia, and the illustrator, Alessia Castiglioni, from Mantua, both now living in South-East Queensland, who together have brought to life a visual narrative piece that beautifully merges memory and contemporaneity, roots and dreams.
Luna Angelini Marinucci, former Consul of Italy in Brisbane
"I wish to extend my sincere congratulations for your book More Than Spaghetti, which I had the pleasure of reading with great interest and appreciation.
The stories you have gathered — full of warmth, resilience, and identity — are not only a tribute to the Italian migrants who helped shape the Gympie Region, but also a powerful reminder of the cultural richness our community has brought to Australia.
Francesco Giacobbe - Senator of the Italian Republic
