Captain Tecla Makoni grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe where she completed her bachelor degree in Nursing Science at the University of Zimbabwe. Upon graduating in June of 2005, Captain Makoni began her nursing career with humanitarian Non-Governmental Organization – Medicines Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders), providing rapid response to communicable disease epidemics and public health threats in the developing country. It was through this experience that Captain Makoni developed, early in her nursing career, a strong passion to serve others, living by the quote by Albert Pine “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.” 

In 2009, Captain Makoni moved to New Zealand where she worked with cancer patients for 2 years before relocating to Australia in 2011. In Australia, Captain Makoni worked as a clinical coordinator in Community Palliative Care New South Wales prior to joining the Australian Regular army. She was also involved in the coordination of Palliative care Clinical studies collaborative at Calvary Research Centre in Sydney New South Wales.

Her passion to serve others and the community eventually led her to enlist in the Australian Regular Army as a Nursing Officer in September 2017. Her first posting was to the First Close Health Battalion as Nursing Officer for 2 years. She is now currently posted to 2 General Health Battalion as a Nursing Officer. Captain Makoni holds a Bachelor of Nursing Science (Hons). She is currently studying a dual master’s program of International Public Health and Health Management. She is married to her husband Edmore and they have two young boys. She follows most sports, tennis in particular, and enjoys family holidays.