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I am so glad you are here!
I am a Public Speaker, Storyteller
&
Creative
with a wicked sense of humour and a massive lease on life.
My passion for sharing my story as a speaker and an artist grew after I contracted meningococcal septicaemia as a 17 year old.
At that point in my life, I had already dealt with hard things. However, losing my hands and feet threw me into the world of disability, significant trauma and mental health.
“I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we will ever do”.
Brene Brown
Close to my heart is mental health. Something we all have, yet many of us deal with in private.
I struggled with many dark days where I felt lost and alone. I didn’t share how I was feeling out of shame and fear. This led to a breakdown that forced me to tackle my traumas, process pain and learn new skills.
I have since completed a Diploma in Mental Health and have had the privilege to work alongside others in their recovery.
My two girls are my why.
They inspire me to model the way I want them to be able to live. One where they are empowered, live without fear, and the freedom to choose their way.
Our core beliefs developed when we were kids. In our child mind we made sense of the world by our limited experience. Our world and greatest influence at this time is our caregivers.
What I say, how I live, what I do or don’t do, is all being observed by these two girls and will shape their life going forward.
“I’m not shiny and perfect, I have good days and bad days too”
I share my story in a way that is real, open, shows vulnerability and honesty.
My belief is that we all have the capacity to survive big things and grow from them. Whether that is grief and loss, relationship breakdown, physical health, mental health and financial hardship. I believe healing is integral to living the life we want. I share my experiences, what I have learned, and the power we have within ourselves to live more in line with our authentic self’s.
If you want your audience to feel the hairs prick on the back of their neck, if you want to give them the opportunity to turn inwards and start or continue their journey of growth, then,
I AM YOUR GAL.
Book me for your next event.
I have presented my story in a variety of settings including schools, medical field, conferences, international womens day, international day for people with disability, rotary clubs and much more.
Testimonial
“For many years she worked for the Amanda Young Foundation in Health Promotion and Survivor Support roles and more recently she has been a guest speaker at our annual Young Leaders Camp.
As she relates her life story, she leaves her audience spell bound in awe as she recounts the challenges that she has encountered and overcome. This year she related for the first time her mental health problems which have been significant but not obvious to her casual acquaintances.
Once again, her audience was inspired by her courage and indomitable spirit in addressing and overcoming this confronting challenge.”
Barry and Lorraine Young
Founders of the Amanda Young Foundation
Being thrown into the world of disability opened my eyes to the daily challenges that myself and many others struggle with.
We deal with things we shouldn’t have to because of a lack of awareness or willingness to make life accessible. We shouldn’t have to fight as hard as we do just to ‘DO‘ life.
This fed my drive to bring awareness for the needs of people with disability.
Being creative has been an incredible healing outlet for me. It’s in art that I have been learning to let go of ‘the rules’ and be free. To put the breaks on my thoughts that grab hold and runaway with me.
It is a place where I get to practise mindfulness for my mental health.
I see people for who they are and have a huge capacity for empathy and holding space for others.
Spending time with other open hearted people lights me up and drives me to speak up for those who aren’t heard.
