MEET OUR GUEST SPEAKERS
All of our guest speakers have been carefully chosen to help you leave every session with CLARITY, CONFIDENCE and CONNECTION.
We believe that you are the expert in your baby and know your baby best, so they’re not here to tell you what the ‘right’ or ‘only’ way is, instead they will aim to help you leave with one great idea to try in your unique motherhood journey and to have the confidence in the choices you are making. Most of them are mums themselves so they get what the journey can be like, they are small local business owners and we are very proud to be partnering with them.
Dr alana merkel
Osteopath at Northside Therapies
0-6 MONTH SESSION: What to expect in your postpartum pelvic floor and body recovery. 6-12 MONTH SESSION: Milestones and reflexes for your baby as they grow.
Dr Alana is an osteopath who has recently moved to Brisbane from Melbourne to join the exceptional team at Northside Therapies. She has a passion for women’s health and paediatrics and especially loves to be able to follow families through their pregnancy and postpartum journey and assist with any treatment the babies may require.
During pregnancy the body’s adaptation to the growing baby often creates different movement and breath patterns. Along with this the pelvic floor undergoes physiological changes in preparation for birth, so regardless of how you birthed your baby, your pelvic floor and breathing may need a little attention.
Dr Alana’s session will discuss the functions of the pelvic floor, it’s connection to breathing, along with some of the issues that are common during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This interactive session will have you loving your pelvic floor and walking away with great tips to help in your postpartum recovery.
FIONA HASSON
Counselling service coordinator and senior counsellor at Thryve Health
0-6 MONTH SESSION: Thriving mentally in your first year of motherhood: A guide 6-12 MONTH SESSION: Navigating change in your first year of motherhood and beyond.
Fiona is the Counselling Service Coordinator and Lead Counsellor at Thryve. Her goal is to support individuals in overcoming life’s challenges and achieving personal and relational growth, healing, and resilience. She is committed to helping her clients discover their strengths and guide them towards their authentic selves. Fiona believes that every individual has infinite value, and she holds this belief for them until they can recognise it themselves.
Fiona’s sessions with both groups of mum are always driven by kindness and have a wonderful way of bringing the group together, our mums love her and we’re sure you will too!
“I'm excited to support mums on their motherhood journey, nurturing their growth and guiding them in self-care to become the best mums they can be.”
Naomi Westerman
Certified Infant Massage Educator and owner of Baby Love Massage Spa
SESSION: Practical baby massage taster session
Naomi owns the award nominated Baby Love Massage Spa business which serves families all over South East Queensland. After a tough journey with her own bub in the early weeks and months she discovered the power of baby massage to sooth, support and bond with her bub and now dedicates her time to teaching those same techniques to other mums.
We are really excited to have Naomi facilitate a baby massage taster session in our 0-6 month group. She will help answer any questions you might have and will do a guided massage session with you and your Bub talking you through proper technique, her top tips for embedding massage into your routine and the benefits of baby massage for both you and Bub. It’s a practical hands on session for you with your Bub and we will let you know the full details of what you’ll need to bring for the session.
Mim Rodda
Paediatric Occupational Therapist at Exceptional Kids
SESSION: How to avoid the comparison trap with your baby’s development
Mim has been working as an Occupational Therapist for over 20 years in government, NGO and private practices in the UK and Australia.
She has always had a passion for children and their families, particularly children with additional needs. Mim has four children of her own ranging from kindy to grade six which keeps her on her toes and enjoys exploring new places and winning at board games.
Mim’s session is a wealth of information for our 6-12 month group helping every mum know what the wide range of normal is and giving every mum confidence to support their bub as they get on the move. Our mums love Mim and we’re sure you will too!
BECK STEIN
Business owner of Ebb and Flow Sign Language
SESSION: A practical introduction to baby sign language
Beck is the owner of Ebb & Flow Sign Language a small business teaching baby sign and AUSLAN in the Moreton Bay Region.
This is not just a business to me but a lifestyle, starting just under 20 years ago when my third baby was born diagnosed with Down Syndrome. As you are fully aware, whether you've had your first or fourth baby you get bombarded with so much information so, as you can imagine, receiving this diagnosis brought on a constant flow of both positive and negative advice. One of the more positive ones was the opportunity for me to learn AUSLAN (Australian Sign Language) in order to assist my son with his communication throughout his life. Like any new Mumma I threw myself in 100%, today, nearly 20 years later I can look back and see how this skill has not only assisted my son, my extended family and others around him.
We’re excited to welcome Beck to deliver a practical introductory session to baby sign language.
I can't wait to come and meet you all, and your little ones and extend an invitation to you to learn so that you can teach your precious son or daughter how to communicate in a natural and easy way.
CANDICE Neal
Bloom & Shutter Photography Co.
SESSION: How to capture your motherhood moments and a mini photoshoot with you and your baby.
Candice is a talented photographer who is in demand across the northern suburbs of Brisbane for her incredible family, maternity and newborn shoots. Bringing encouragement and fun to every session, she’ll be your own personal hype woman making you feel incredible as she captures you and your bub on film.
We are so excited to have her come and do a mini photoshoot with not one but ALL YOUR PHOTOS printed for you to take home in your end of term gift bags. She’ll also do a mini tutorial on how to capture the day to day moments on your phone so you have some great candid shots of you and your Bub to look back on.
Jo Field
Patient Consultant at Beyond Dental Care
SESSION: Dental care in your bub’s first year and beyond.
Jo is one of the well loved Patient Consultants at Beyond Dental Care. She has been working in the dental industry for over 20 years which is a testament to how much she loves her job and is passionate about oral health and how excited Jo gets when she has a hand in transforming our patients’ smiles.
We’re excited to have Jo deliver a brilliantly informative session for our 6-12 month group that will answer all of your questions around dental health for your bub. Her patient and informative approach will help you have the confidence to know you’re setting up habits that will last a lifetime and lead to great dental health.
CUSHLA COONEY
Clinical Nutritionist and owner of NuBubba
SESSION: How to start your bub’s solids journey with confidence.
Cushla is a qualified clinical nutritionist and devoted mother, Nu Bubba is dedicated to supporting expectant and new mothers, as well as parents with young children, on their journey to achieving optimal health and wellbeing through nutrition.
In her brilliant session for our 0-6 month group, Cushla brings helpful tips, easy options to implement and a commitment to support each family where they are at in their solids journey.
Her practical, down to earth approach makes her a favourite with our mums and brings confidence and clarity in this often confusing area.
TIA Dinsey
Exercise Physiologist at Allied Health Hub Morayfield
SESSION: How to manage an rehab lower back pain in your post partum recioery
Tia is an Exercise Physiologist with a special interest in neurological disability, hypermobility, women’s health and paediatric clients.
She believes exercise should be an important part of everyone’s lives and loves individualising treatment plans to suit each client and their needs. Tia’s practical session helps our mums with easy to do exercises that they can do at home to help the aches and pains that come with motherhood. Always a favourite with our mums we love partnering with this fantastic local service.