The Wonders of Wellbeing Podcast

Life is too short. You need to set then chase outrageous goals. Invest in your time. Now.  I had the pleasure of chatting with Kate Christie. Kate is Australia’s top time management expert who has supported organisations including BUPA, Westpac, Specsavers, L’Oreal, Women in International Security, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, The European Union - and now us, here on the Wonders o...

We must pause and contemplate the most efficient and productive method for managing our workloads. I had the pleasure of chatting with Andrew Cowley. With nearly 30 years in the classroom, many years on SLT and eight as Deputy Headteacher, Andrew draws upon his experience of teaching in every year group across the primary school range and upon leadership of a number of subject areas and a range of...

What would be the impact if every conversation in your school was a better one? Even just a little bit? I had the pleasure of chatting with Julie Keyes, a highly experienced educator and coach with more than fifteen years in the field. In 2021, Julie established The Educational Coach. She meticulously handpicked a team of exceptional coaches and educators, and introduced The HELP Method, a transfo...

A positive workplace is a powerful thing. I had the pleasure of chatting with Dr Suzy Green, the CEO & Founder of The Positivity Institute, a positively deviant organisation dedicated to the research and application of Positive Psychology in workplaces and schools.  She is a leader in the complementary fields of Coaching Psychology and Positive Psychology, having conducted a world first study...

New national regulations in Australia reflect the outcomes of an independent review of Australia’s model Work Health and Safety laws in 2018, which recommended more specific guidance on how to identify and manage psychosocial risks. Psychosocial hazards are hazards that may cause psychological harm. These new regulations are part of a significant national effort to better address the risks caused...

Thriving Workplaces. Flourishing Schools. Stronger Communities. I had the pleasure of chatting to Dr. Michelle McQuaid, a best-selling author, workplace wellbeing teacher and playful change activator. An honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Graduate School of Education, in addition to hosting the highly acclaimed weekly podcast, Making Positive Psychology Work, which features leading r...

A modern approach to nutritional wellbeing without extreme approaches. In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Michele Chevalley Hedge, a former teacher and Microsoft marketing manager turned nutritionist, who brings a unique perspective to health and wellness, understanding the challenges faced by time-strapped corporate and education professionals.  Known as the "modern-day nu...

A mission to create thriving workplaces and foster positive cultures by empowering others to overcome their own hurdles and achieve their full potential. In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Ali Flynn, Director and Founder of Tri Altitude Performance. With a background in psychology, trauma counselling, business strategy, and fitness coaching, Ali delivers impactful presentations...

The art and science of making those honest conversations possible because when we create the right conditions to bring our humanity out into the open. That’s when people feel a strong sense of belonging and that’s when communities thrive. In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Mike Dyson, a human skills facilitator, consultant and keynote speaker. After 15 years working with individ...

"I book end my day with quiet practices, which is the biggest thing I have learnt over time" - Nicole I had the pleasure of chatting with Nicole Nolan, the current Leader of Kindergarten to Year 2 at Hills Grammar, north-west of Sydney. Nicole is a dedicated education professional with a strong passion for promoting Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in educational settings. She is comm...

Discover how recognising and leveraging individual strengths not only empowers educators but also enhances the overall learning experience for students, fostering a culture of continuous growth and success in the classroom. In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Alison Mitchell, a high-impact leadership and career coach with over 30 years of experience in international and UK school...

The most important asset in any organisation is… the brains of your people! In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Dr Mark Williams, a Neuroscientist, Author, International Speaker and Facilitator and Director of Rethinking the Brain. Mark’s passion lies in  improving learning, productivity, and wellbeing.  He is an internationally recognised professor of cognitive neuroscience, wit...

Educators, are you emotionally exhausted? What strategies do you have in your toolkit to support your emotional wellbeing?  In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Madhavi Nawana Parker, the Managing Director of Positive Minds Australia, an Author, Coach and Speaker. Madhavi is one of Australia’s leading experts on Wellbeing and Resilience. Madhavi is known for her warm, optimistic,...

Focusing on student mental health is vital for holistic development. By supporting parents, teachers and the collective school community, we create a nurturing environment that fosters wellbeing, academic success and lifelong resilience. In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Toni Medcalf, an integrative psychotherapist and the Director and Founder of the Schools Counselling Partner...

The importance of building a culture where teachers and students work together, and where student voice, agency and leadership are understood as inter-related factors that contribute to the notion of empowerment and sense of school pride. In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Lennon Rego, Head of Positive Education at The Australian International School in Singapore. He who works w...

The Launch of Well-Nest | Episode 50! I have some exciting news to share... thank you so much for your support. It truly means so much to me! Visit our NEW website: www.well-nest.com.au LinkedIn:  aimee-parkinson Instagram: well_nest_collective_co

"The purpose of my work is to help all humans understand themselves better and be inspired to live the life they desire" - Lael Stone.  In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Lael Stone, an educator, TEDx speaker, author, mother and parenting counselor who has been working with families for over 20 years. Her work as a birth educator, post-natal trauma counselor and parent...

Saying yes is a finite resource; as is your time. When you say “yes” to one thing you are inevitably saying “no” to another.  In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with David Bott, a sought-after speaker, author and education consultant who works with government organisations and some of the world’s leading schools to help guide wellbeing vision and strategy. As an expert in applied wel...

Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning and behaving and differences are not viewed as deficits.  In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Dr Claire Hepworth, an HCPC Accredited and Chartered Clinical Psychologist. She additionally holds an MSc i...

An important element of addressing educator and school leader burnout is to foster a positive school culture and create a staff wellbeing action plan. In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Adrienne Hornby, a Health and Wellbeing Consultant who works alongside school leaders and their staff to build and embed a tailored ‘Staff Wellbeing Action Plan.’ Each plan is specifically design...

Are you an educator or parent who is struggling to understand teenagers? As children move into adolescence, their brains are continuing to grow and change, which affects their thinking and behaviour. Understanding these changes can help you understand teenagers. In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Marie Vakakis, a highly skilled Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Family Ther...

With the explosion of cyber technology, the issues of cyberbullying and  ‘sexting’ are emerging as the number one issue confronting the safety and wellbeing of young people and the wider community.  In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Susan McLean, Australia’s leading expert in the area of cyber safety and the most highly qualified Federal Government eSafety certified educator. S...

There is so much to be said about wellbeing and culture, yet it is hard to know what to do. In a time where workloads are increasing, burnout is on the rise, and we look for ways to be more flexible and to support staff, we are often left to our own devices to try and make sense of what is needed and how we can support ourselves and others. The same can be said for our own wellbeing; we know it ma...

"If you believe wellbeing matters, then important change needs to happen at a system level. The truth is wellbeing is a responsibility AND a strategy. It needs to be at the foundation of all decision making. Leaders should be questioning, how will this decision and structural change impact the wellbeing of people within our organisation? Integral to this is the care and attention given to nur...

In today’s busy life with too many choices, schedules and too little time, more and more children and teenagers present with anxiety disorders, behavioural concerns and an alarming rate of suicidal tendencies. Parents often feel overwhelmed by their daily routine and there seems to be a paramount disconnect between parents and their children. In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with S...