Creativity comes in a surprising range of shapes and sizes in Australia and is often the inspiration behind people becoming involved in their local community.

Suzie was thrilled to learn she would appear on the cover of the Goulburn and surrounds directory after being nominated by members of the local community to represent the entire region as the epitome of this year's theme - Creative Australians: Inspiring our Communities.

For many years, Suzie has volunteered much of her time to work with children throughout the Goulburn region, assisting them in their development of important life skills through the creative arts.

Suzie co-founded an education through arts program for Mulwaree High School, encouraging students to use metals to create works of art whilst developing their numeracy and literacy skills through their participation in visual learning.

Other schools in the region have also recognised the benefits of Suzie's unique approach to education through the arts, with Braidwood Central School also incorporating the metal arts program into their curriculum.

"The metal art program has been extremely effective in helping the children gain confidence in their abilities. It's amazing to see how some kids who struggle to develop in the regular school system really flourish in a creative environment. A lot of the skills they learn in the art program are transferable to the classroom, paving the way for them to approach their studies with conviction," Suzie said.

Suzie is also a renowned artist in her own right, receiving national acclaim for her recent work for the Sculpture by the Sea exhibition in 2008.

Group Manager, White Pages(r), Jane Blackley, said the theme Creative Australians: Inspiring our Communities provided Sensis with a great opportunity to recognise Australians who are helping to build stronger community relationships through their advocacy of the arts.