"I have had the great privilege of being able to observe Melanie across her career both as a colleague and an employer and have seen and experienced first hand her passion for adult education. For our business Melanie has been the primary person responsible for designing the only intensive pain management program available in the ACT. The feedback from both colleagues and participants has been excellent not only around content but personally in how Melanie is able to adapt a message to a range of lifestyles and participants. Her understanding of adult education principles is second to none and Melanie translates this into a supportive and comfortable environment that is respectful of those from a diverse range of backgrounds and that delivers on the values of the business."
Matt
Keeping Safe and Active with Pain
This is my signature topic; to help people who find it hard to keep up an exercise routine due to niggles, persisting pains, recurring injuries or "getting old".
Aches, Pains and Injuries that Impact Work
I help people to understand common workplace pain complaints and injuries and to stay productive at work and participate in life despite the limitations of pain.
Nutrition for Health and Healing
Following Australian Dietary Guidelines, I help people to embrace a non-diet approach to healthy eating so that they can enjoy food for both nourishment and pleasure.
Six Weeks to Better Sleep
I help people to create a sleep routine and to use purposeful rest to reduce nervous system tension and to manage stress so that they wake up refreshed.
Managing Stress and Preventing Burnout
I help people to master the art of successfully managing normal life stresses while recognising and stopping the path towards burnout.
Staying active during menopause
I help women to stay well and to keep active while understanding and embracing their body and brain through the changes that occur during the transition years.
The Antidote to Office-Based Work
I help people to counteract the harmful effects of prolonged stressful and sedentary work by making small , acheivable daily habit changes towards healthier lifestyle choices.
“Mel has an immediate engaging style. She disarms her audience with passion and enthusiasm on each topic and uses humour and a light approach to great effect, even though the topics are often complex and scientific. She is always thoroughly prepared, and has great ability to adjust on the run based on her audience’s questions or concerns. She personalises her approach through simple (but important manners) such as remembering names, bringing people into the topic based on her memory of their issues and as a result, keeps people fully engaged. She manages that space beautifully
Her use of analogies to distil complex pain science has aided my understanding of chronic pain immeasurably and has been a significant gain for me during the course. She uses a combination of teaching skills; PowerPoint presentations, white boards, video content as required, and physical demonstrations.
"Mel was very engaging and spoke with real enthusiasm. While she covered all of the content she had planned, so was able to provide practical, evidence-based advice on the questions without notice that we asked her. Her workshop was enjoyable as well as informative. "
"Mel delivered an excellent workshop on stress and burnout to a small group of senior leaders, focussing on how to manage yourself and support your teams to manage their own stress. The workshop really drew out the physical, physiological and mental impacts of stress (and chronic stress), spelt out the difference between stress and burnout, and provided practical techniques to manage your own stress, and help people who are experiencing stress. She covered a lot of ground in just three hours and I learned a lot! "