Testimonials
Meg Durham is an experienced speaker who has been able to preserve her authenticity and natural connection to herself...
“to create an atmosphere of closeness and intimacy with her listeners. One loses all sense of time whilst listening to the engaging narrative of her true passion - the importance of teacher wellbeing.”
Olli-Pekka Heinonen
Director General, International Baccalaureate Organization
Meg’s purposeful messages, delivered in a light and humorous manner resonated with staff.
“We were delighted to welcome Meg Durham to Camberwell Girls Grammar School as we focus on the importance of staff wellbeing. Meg is an engaging speaker and connected with all staff in an authentic and enthusiastic way, evident by how well she understands schools through her own lived context. Our staff enjoyed both workshops as she reflected upon relatable work scenarios. Meg’s purposeful messages, delivered in a light and humorous manner resonated with staff. She skilfully highlighted common behavioural patterns (and pitfalls), followed by practical strategies to help prioritise personal wellbeing, self-care and fostering a positive environment within the messiness of a school setting. Her messages were easy to access, and staff left feeling more energised and with practical tools to implement in their own situations. A very worthwhile professional learning opportunity.”
Debbie Dunwoody
Principal, Camberwell Girls Grammar School
Meg delivered a half day whole staff professional learning on wellbeing.
“Meg delivered a half day whole staff professional learning on wellbeing. It was excellent. The real-life stories and applications were relevant to educators and school staff. While clearly evidence based the focus was on real connection and application. The following morning at the whole staff check in all were buzzing to share their wellbeing practice they had already implemented in the last 24 hours since hearing Meg's presentation. Highly recommended way to start the year or easily broach the vital topic of wellbeing with school staff.”
Megan Altenburg
Principal, Narrabundah College
The impact of our learning with Meg has been profound in our school.
“We have been fortunate to have Meg work with us throughout the year, in person and in the Thrive by Design work. The impact of our learning with Meg has been profound in our school. In my 21 years of teaching and leadership, I have seen huge shifts this year in the way I show up as a leader, as a teacher and more importantly as a human! Thank you Meg for seeing the complexity of the work we do in our schools and naming up and recognising the big-hearted educators who need to be well themselves, to thrive in this occupation and show up for our young people every day. You are doing such important work and I highly recommend Meg to work in your school!”
Bridget Field
Advanced Skills Teacher (AST)/Planning Coach - Lansdowne Crescent Primary School
We were absolutely thrilled to have Meg join us for a deeply impactful session on Educator wellbeing.
“We were absolutely thrilled to have Meg join us for a deeply impactful session on Educator wellbeing. With warmth, trusted expertise, and a relatable sense of humour, Meg had our entire staff (Teachers & Education Support Staff) both laughing and meaningfully reflecting throughout the entire presentation. A number of staff felt that Meg’s message spoke directly to them and deeply resonated with their own personal experiences and challenges. What truly set Meg apart was the way she acknowledged our individual responsibilities in caring for ourselves, empowering each of us to take ownership of our wellbeing. Her ability to blend humour with several key practical strategies made the session both engaging and transformative. Our staff walked away feeling seen, valued, inspired and more equipped to balance the demands of teaching with the need for self-care. We were incredibly grateful for Meg’s time, expertise and passion for supporting the wellbeing of the staff in our College.”
Jemma Morris
Director of Teacher Development, Saint Ignatius College Geelong
For 18 months I have been listening to Meg's podcast and thinking my colleagues need to hear this!
“For 18 months I have been listening to Meg's podcast and thinking my colleagues need to hear this! It was an honour to have Meg present to our staff on the first day back to Term 3. At a time when we are feeling weary from winter and having completed a semester of teaching, Meg provided us with the seedlings to let our wellbeing grow. Her Thrive by Design is easy to relate to, easy to use and no matter where someone may be at with their own wellbeing, there was something to take away. I loved the way she connects to all those working in schools, not just teachers. In the days following her workshop, I had so many staff tell me that was the best PL they had ever done and wished they had something like this 3 years ago. Thank you Meg for reminding us to be kind to ourselves and to take deliberate action.”
Georgie Erpisimidis
Deputy Principal, Professional Culture and Growth, Marist-Sion College Warragul
Meg's presentation hit the mark perfectly.
"As Project Officer of IPSHA, Victorian Branch, I had the pleasure and privilege of engaging with Meg for our Branch meeting. I found Meg to be responsive to messages of an organisational nature and extremely generous in contributing ideas about how we might structure the event.
Meg's presentation hit the mark perfectly. Heads of Schools enjoyed the humorous stories, the challenge to reflect on their own habits, set goals and engage collegially with their peers. The pace Meg set allowed time to take on new information, ask questions and challenge ourselves to consider how we could move from surviving to thriving."
Louise Peyton
Head of Junior School, MLC Kew
Meg presented to 70 of our primary school staff, initiating a staff wellbeing strategy.
"Her ability to provide critical information and facts regarding the topic of wellbeing, through engaging narrative and in a relatable way, is outstanding. Her presentation was dynamic; moving staff through light hearted ownership of our strengths and challenges, into the critical importance of the impact healthy wellbeing practices can have on our personal, professional and relational selves. As a school principal seeking to initiate a whole of staff strategy, I couldn't have asked for the initial presentation to go better."
Glen Bucklar
Principal, Siena Catholic Primary School
I wanted to express our gratitude for the fantastic whole staff wellbeing session that you presented recently.
"Your presentation was both timely and relevant, it provided us with valuable insights into how we can prioritise our own wellbeing to avoid exhaustion and burnout and has left a profound impact on all of us. We were especially impressed by the way you connected with us on a personal level, and shared your own experiences and insights. This made the session feel very relatable, thoughtful and practical. Overall, we feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work and learn with you."
Kathryn Quinn
Deputy Principal and Wellbeing Leader, Clairvaux Catholic School
Her voice in the teacher wellbeing space is long overdue, but worth the wait!
"Meg's presentation is more than inspirational. It is actionable, authentic, and respectful of the complex role educators play in our human ecosystem. She leaves you feeling empowered to take small steps toward building resilience in both your personal and professional life. Her voice in the teacher wellbeing space is long overdue, but worth the wait!"
Georgia Heffernan
Pedagogy Coach, Parade College
If laughter is the best medicine, then our staff session with meg was the most wonderful medicine we have taken as a staff team.
"Over time, we have explored many places/spaces/options to promote staff wellbeing with varying but often limited success. Taking a principal colleague's timely advice to book Meg has paid dividends for our team!
Meg's passion for the wellbeing of all 'big-hearted educators' is centre front in her presentation. She speaks with honesty; she knows the world of teaching and school so well! Our staff noted how easily they could hear and see themselves in the many examples Meg provided about the life of a teacher and the complex work we do in education. We all laughed our way through the personal recognition of our own truths, as to who we can sometimes be both personally, and in our staff community.
Meg imparted practical wisdom and advice to us for not only managing our own wellbeing, but prioritising our wellbeing. I highly recommend to school leadership teams to get in touch with Meg and see how she can help you to create a safe space to talk about and put in place strategies for improvement in wellbeing for all staff."
Jo Scott-Pegum
Principal, St Patrick's Primary School
Right from the start, Meg formed an instant connection with our audience, making every person feel seen and understood.
"She has an impressive ability to grasp our emotions, nuances and experiences and deliver them as a reality-check wrapped in humour and warmth. Meg created a safe environment for our audience to recognise unhelpful habits and thinking patterns, that might have previously gone unnoticed, and walk away with practical and easy interventions for breaking them."
Lisa Davias
CEO, Positive Education Schools Association
we extend a heartful thanks to meg for her wonderful contribution to our community.
"As a part of Billanook College's continuous commitment to Staff wellbeing, we had the privilege of hosting an inspiring guest speaker who left a lasting impression on our Staff. The insightful and practical presentation delivered by Meg was a breath of fresh air. It left our Staff with a renewed motivation to prioritise their own mental health and wellbeing, so that they are better positioned to support and serve our College community.
Meg exuded a genuine understanding of our unique and caring community and spoke with consideration, compassion and a level of humour that captured our attention from the very beginning. Meg's background in education, combined with her knowledge and expertise in wellbeing was evident and allowed her to translate concepts into practical advice. The positive impact of her presentation is evident in the continued lively discussions and reflections in our workplace since the workshop.
We extend a heartful thanks to Meg for her wonderful contribution to our community."
Georgina Mullarvey
Head of primary school, Billanook College
She (Meg) is a true advocate for all educators!
"I first heard Meg speak at ACU's Teachers Health and Well-being Symposium. She spoke authentically of teachers' difficulties in this current climate, including identifying the enablers and barriers impacting teacher's mental health and wellbeing. The meaningful way Meg detailed these factors helps to validate anxieties and reassures teachers they are not alone in their struggles. Meg provides teachers with strategies to mitigate these factors and steps to sustain better mental health. She is a true advocate for all educators!"
Dr Kim Rowston
Lecturer, Australian Catholic University
Meg has the rare capacity to make meaningful connections to participants
"I have had the pleasure of being a part of Meg's wellbeing journey since 2012 when she designed and delivered a program aimed at building resilience in adolescent girls. These days, I have been very pleased to work with Meg again, this time through her Thrive by Design program, delivering to school leaders across our statewide network throughout Tasmania. Whether her participants are young or older, girls or adults, professional or not, Meg has the rare capacity to make meaningful connections to participants in her programs by providing insightful content that really hits the mark. I have had countless responses from attendees of Meg's programs indicating the significant positive impact her sessions have had on their wellbeing, a critical focus area for leaders managing complex school roles. Meg is the consummate professional - knowledgeable, personable, passionate and considerate of the worlds that her participants occupy. I was so pleased to be able to engage with her again in this timely and important work and hope that our professional collaboration continues to grow."
Donna Evans
Principal wellbeing leader, Department for Education, Children & Young People
Meg’s warmth, humour, and talent for sharing stories and anecdotes deeply resonated with our staff.
“Meg’s warmth, humour, and talent for sharing stories and anecdotes deeply resonated with our staff. She has a strong understanding of the complexities schools face, along with the challenges and pressures we encounter today. Her sessions not only created a space for staff to connect and develop a shared language around wellbeing, but they also fostered a sense of collective responsibility to promote positive wellbeing actions. The gratitude expressed by staff afterwards reflected their appreciation for feeling valued, both through the dedicated time and focus on their wellbeing. Thank you, Meg, for your humility and for making wellbeing concepts and strategies more accessible and relatable to our community.”
Jacinta Janssens & Jahanna Parry
Head of Campus & Head of student wellbeing, Wesley college elsternwick
The importance of this work cannot be underestimated.
"On behalf of the Iona teaching and LSO staff, I want to express our gratitude for the enlightening session Meg led this morning on the importance of staff wellbeing. Meg's insights and humour resonated deeply with our staff, with lots of positive comments and affirmations. The importance of this work cannot be underestimated. Meg's passion and expertise shone through as she shared practical strategies for maintaining balance, managing stress and fostering a positive work environment. The visual of the battery will continue to be part of our practice as a staff moving forward. Highly recommend."
Kylie Power
Deputy Principal Wellbeing, Iona College, Geelong
Meg has the ability to connect with each person in the room and allow them to connect with themselves and others.
"Meg provided the staff at St Catherine's with three meaningful sessions, allowing them to acknowledge that they can make themselves a priority. The sessions provided valuable tools and strategies for staff to help themselves and a safe environment for staff to share their experiences and areas of focus. Meg has the ability to connect with each person in the room and allow them to connect with themselves and others, and it is okay to prioritise themselves while caring for the students in their care. I look forward to working with Meg in the future."
Gina Peele
Deputy Principal School Operations, St Catherine's School
Meg presented at our Staff Wellbeing Professional Learning Day.
“Having listened to Meg’s podcast and connecting with her, I was excited for our staff to hear Meg’s wisdom and strategies on how we can all look after ourselves, and she did not disappoint. From the get go, Meg connected magnetically with our staff and her sense of humour, wit and ability to understand exactly what we are feeling and experiencing was not only a wake up call but refreshing. Meg cut through the nonsense and gave us practical strategies on how we can better our wellbeing in small steps. In just 1 hour, Meg was able to challenge our thinking and help us to reflect on the why’s and how’s of personal wellbeing and many of our staff walked away already setting personal and collective goals.”
Liana Colaluca
Head of Students, Catholic Ladies College
Meg is an excellent speaker and presenter, with a very realistic approach and outlook.
“Meg's presentation was engaging and allowed time for reflecting, thinking and sharing. She spoke in a way that was inclusive of all and did not focus solely on teaching staff. Meg gave us a lot of food for thought and the feedback from teaching and non-teaching staff has been extremely positive, with people referencing Meg's words, quotes and anecdotes since her day with us at Santa Maria. Staff were grateful for the opportunity to work with Meg and to be introduced to Meg's podcasts, too.”
Nadia Petrocco
Deputy Principal Operations and Staff, Santa Maria College
Meg’s passion for walking with our educators through the challenges of caring for our wellbeing was outstanding.
"Her years of experience supporting educators in many different contexts which has given her numerous first hand stories she has lived, gives her an insightful knowledge and understanding of wellbeing in schools, which strengthens her genuine warm connection that inspire educators to want to learn more. Meg’s presentation on wellbeing for our school leaders was engaging, real, impactful, fun and timely for educators who continue to face growing challenges of self-care, as the need for connection and care for young people in schools grows."
Josh Culverhouse
President, Brisbane Metropolitan Deputy Principal Network
Meg demonstrated a deep understanding of the challenges facing school staff in today's world...
"and provided practical tools and strategies to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for all. What stood out to me most was the passion and enthusiasm that Meg brought to the table and her knowledge backed by personal experience allowing her to connect to the audience. The presentation was engaging, interactive and thought-provoking, and left many of us feeling motivated and inspired to make positive changes. I highly recommend Meg to anyone looking to promote wellbeing in a school setting. Thank you for this enlightening experience."
Steven McKnoulty
Deputy principal, Red Hill Special School
Meg has a great style of delivery, weaving humour and lived experience and practical activites into her important messages.
"I attended Meg's session where she shared practical, thought provoking information about how we can support our own wellbeing. Meg has a great style of delivery, weaving humour and lived experience and practical activities into her important messages. Her years spent teaching give her incredible insight into some of the pressure and challenges teachers and schools face and the critical importance of supporting teachers' own wellbeing to ensure they can fulfill their own potential and in turn support students and other staff."
Hilary Shelton
Chief Executive Officer, ACHPER Victoria
Meg did not disappoint with excellent, practical and relatable information.
"Meg spoke to our staff at the beginning of the school year; it was great to invest in our staff. Meg did not disappoint with excellent, practical and relatable information. I would highly recommend Meg to speak and inspire your people."
Vicky Fraanje
Deputy principal, belgrave heights christian school
I feel more connected with the staff thanks to discussing our shared experiences collectively.
"I love listening to Meg's presentations. Personally, I feel more connected with the staff thanks to discussing our shared experiences collectively. Acknowledging the complications and difficulties of balancing everything in life and the demands on educators in the modern day is so meaningful and vital to our well being. Enormously grateful for the support. Thanks Meg."
Blaza Nikolic
LSO, Clairvaux Catholic school
Meg's passion, expertise, and genuine care shine through in every session, making it easy to invest in and connect to the content being shared.
"Meg Durham has been the guiding force behind our school's transformative year-long journey titled "Thrive by Design". Meg's unwavering commitment to our well-being and her insights have had a profound impact on our lives, both personally and professionally.
Throughout this program, Meg led us on a journey of self-discovery, encouraging us to explore our limits, understand the importance of taking time for ourselves, and providing us with the tools to navigate the daily challenges of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Her approach is not just theoretical; it is a practical, hands-on approach that has given us the tools to implement positive changes in our lives.
Meg didn't just facilitate sessions; she actively listened to our needs, and then tailored her guidance to meet the unique context of our school. Meg's ability to create a safe and open space has allowed us to share our challenges and triumphs, fostering a sense of community among us.
Meg's work is powerful. Her teachings go beyond conventional well-being practices, offering a holistic approach that addresses the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of our lives. Through her guidance, we've not only learned to prioritize ourselves but also gained the language and understanding to support our colleagues on their own well-being journeys.
I, wholeheartedly recommend Meg Durham and the "Thrive by Design" program to anyone seeking a profound and lasting impact on their well-being journey. Meg's passion, expertise, and genuine care shine through in every session, making it easy to invest in and connect to the content being shared.
As educators, the demands of our profession are unique and often overwhelming. Meg has provided us with the tools and mindset to prioritize ourselves without guilt, recognizing that by doing so, we are better equipped to bring the best versions of ourselves to our work each day. The ripple effect of Meg's teachings is felt not only in our personal lives but also in the positive atmosphere she has helped create within our school."