Kids are little sponges. They mimic what we physically do, but they also learn and internalise what we model for them in our behaviour and attitudes.
Childhood is where we start to build resilience, find a sense of belonging and learn to accept others. The earlier kids are showen and taught to embrace difference and challenges, the more resilient they’ll be later in life. And the more we expose them to other viewpoints and ways of living, the more compassion and understanding they’ll develop.
TOPIC
Feed your curiosity
Kids are so curious and, at this age, often don’t have a filter. And that’s ok! It’s incredibly powerful to go into a group of young people and say proudly, ‘This is me. You can ask me anything you want, and nothing is off limits.’
Through this session, I teach young kids that people are people. No matter what another person looks like, we treat them the same as everyone else. There’s beauty in difference, it’s not something to be scared of.
WHO IT'S FOR
Schools, community groups, hospitals, day care centres
​
FORMAT
Interactive, starting with a short talk (guaranteed to keep the littlies’ attention!) and then an Ask Me Anything session
​
LENGTH
60 minutes
​
TOPICS COVERED
Acceptance, thinking outside the box, challenging stigma and stereotypes, it’s ok to be different
TOPIC
Rollercoaster to resilient
As humans, we learn early that you can fit in by blending in. But this isn’t something to strive for.
This session will help people see that difference – whether it’s disability, mental health, the way we look or the way we learn – is something to be celebrated. This goes for accepting yourself as well as other people.
TOPIC
Find your inner strength, spark and belonging
Adolescents & young adults face more pressure than ever before – increased academic expectation, pressure to fit in, concern about identity and appearance, and comparison to peers.
I talk about what we do have control over, like the words we use and the stories we tell ourselves. Changing our mindset can be a powerful way to build resilience, a sense of belonging, and acceptance of others.
WHO IT'S FOR
Schools, youth groups, community & sporting groups, support groups, health care organisations
​
FORMAT
Interactive presentation and Q+A session
​
LENGTH
90 minutes
​
TOPICS COVERED
Resilience, identity and belonging, anxiety, inclusion, bullying, body image, how our language and attitude affects others
TOPIC
Road safety
I share the story of why I’m in a wheelchair and use this to drive home the importance of road safety.
You can feel invincible at that age, especially when you add hormones and peer pressure to the mix. But you take on a big responsibility every time you get behind the wheel.
“Your story was an invaluable and realistic component of our Road Safety Program. The enthusiasm you displayed to help others was obvious and your contribution was invaluable.”
Dr Harvey Hunt AM, Retired Emergency Doctor and
organiser of Mt Tamborine Road Safety Program
TOPIC
Your child’s uniqueness is their superpower
It can be challenging if your child has learning difficulties, struggles with their mental health, or has received a diagnosis of any kind. But the way they see the world is their very own superpower.
You’ll leave this session with a toolkit to help teach your child to be proud of their uniqueness. I’ll give you practical strategies and tools to help you understand what triggers their anxiety and depression.
And we’ll explore some ideas for how to support and affirm your love for your child when they need it most