Hi, I’m Mel!
I've spent 30 years helping people understand what they do best and how to use it.
My work has taken me across classrooms, statewide programs, organisations and coaching spaces — always with the same focus: helping people recognise their strengths and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
I bring together my experience as an educator, positive psychology practitioner and coach, but at the heart of my work are real conversations — the kind where people feel understood, discover what matters, and work out what comes next.
My story
I’m a country girl at heart, having grown up in country South Australia. My career has taken me across both metro and regional settings, along with an incredible teaching experience in Canada.
I’ve always been curious about people and what lights them up. Travelling has only deepened that curiosity, exposing me to different cultures and perspectives, and the many ways people find meaning and connection. Along the way, there’s been plenty of good food, chasing quality coffee, attempts at other languages, and more than one moment of being slightly lost on trains or highways!
Outside of work, I love spending time with family and dear friends, being in nature, listening to music and getting absorbed in a great story. I value honesty, genuine connection, and conversations where people can simply be themselves.
Like many people, I’ve spent a lot of my life chasing perfection.
As a teacher. A leader. A parent. A partner. A colleague. A friend. A sister. A daughter. A coach.
Often striving to show up as consistently capable and reliable - sometimes at the expense of my own wellbeing.
Over time, through periods of change and uncertainty, I realised that trying to be good at everything wasn't bringing out my best. Instead, it was quietly draining my energy and resilience.
I had to pay closer attention to what actually helped me cope and keep going.
During those times, the same qualities kept showing up.
The things that energised me.
Those qualities were my strengths - my best bits.
As I started to notice them, I became clearer about where I wanted to direct my energy, and when it was time to shift course.
Once I started using my strengths intentionally, life didn’t suddenly become easy - but I felt more like myself again, with more energy for what mattered.
Key qualifications & credentials
Bachelor of Education, with 27 years’ experience in education
Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing
Accredited Skills Discovery Practitioner
Registered Teacher - South Australia
Youth Mental Health First Aider
Professional Member, International Positive Psychology Association
"Once I started using my strengths intentionally, life didn't suddenly become easy but I felt more like myself again, with more energy for what mattered."
The Skills Discovery Tool
I’m accredited to deliver the Skills Discovery, and it’s a tool I genuinely love using with clients who want a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of themselves.
It looks beyond what you’re good at, helping you see what gives you energy, what drains you, and how your strengths show up day to day - so you can make more intentional choices about how you live and work.
What’s shaped my approach
I’ve spent many years in secondary education before moving into teacher development, where I led a statewide program, working closely with graduate and early career teachers, mentors, and leaders.
This work deepened my interest in strengths, leadership, and how people perform at their best - while also building resilience and supporting teacher wellbeing.
Through both my time in the classroom and this work, I saw that for educators to perform well, they need to feel well first - and that understanding and using their strengths is central to both performance and wellbeing. Of course this is not just relevant for teachers, but for people in any role, personal or professional.
My work has since expanded beyond education into coaching, facilitation, and consulting across schools, organisations, not-for-profits, and youth-focused settings, and is grounded in strengths-based coaching and evidence-based approaches, including positive psychology.
A consistent thread throughout my work is supporting people to understand how they work at their best and apply that in practical, real-life ways.
I’m guided by a strong belief in the importance of connection and community, and the role that feeling understood plays in shaping wellbeing, confidence, and growth - reflected in my practical, strengths-based approach.
Let’s start with a conversation
If you’re curious about working together, we can begin with a short, no-pressure chat to talk about where you’re at and what you’d like to focus on.
You don’t need to have it all figured out before reaching out.
Supporting you to bring your best.