Jess Paton was born and raised on her family farm at Melville Forest, Coleraine, and is a proud mother of three. After finishing school, Jess worked for nine years as a Legal Secretary at Melville Orton & Lewis, specialising in Family Law and Police Prosecution.

Driven by a passion for supporting children and families, Jess later completed a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. She worked part-time and casually for around six years at Good Shepherd Early Childcare Centre, Kindergarten, and Outside School Hours Care at Gray Street Primary while raising her young family.

In January 2024, Jess returned to full-time work with are-able as an Employment Mentor, managing the Transition to Work program. Through this role, she was invited to join the Southern Grampians Youth Network, further strengthening her involvement in supporting local young people.

Jess joined Standing Tall in Hamilton as a mentor in mid-2025 and is excited to step into her role on the Committee of Management in 2026, continuing her commitment to empowering young people in our community.