Speaker Services

I am a published author, qualified Social Worker and a Paralympic tandem cyclist. I’m proud to say that I won two bronze medals at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games.

My experience in dealing with many kinds of challenges and overcoming adversity has led me to my role as a speaker.

Born with a rare form of eye cancer which left me with very limited vision, I knew no other world than that of coping with barriers and obstacles. Right from a young age, I was determined to create my own pathways and refused to submit to the restrictions society tried to place on me.

Then one day, at age thirty-three, a sudden and unexpected crisis plunged me into a world of total and permanent darkness. Faced with even bigger and more daunting challenges, I had a choice: give up or get going.

I used this crisis as a catalyst for change. Since losing my sight, I have published an autobiographical book, “Beyond The Red Door”, entered the world of elite sport, representing Australia at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games; and started my own small business as a motivational speaker to help change people’s lives.

Janet's guide dog, Lucy

I don’t regard myself as just another motivational speaker. My presentations have some special qualities, which include:

  • Powerful and emotive stories, delivered naturally and straight from my heart, captivating the audience and leaving them with the belief that they can make significant changes in their lives.
  • Personal life experiences of major adversities: surviving cancer; living with a vision disability and coping with all its related challenges; being adopted and struggling for self-identity; overcoming the sudden onset of blindness; managing future health risks; and entering the world of elite sport with no sporting background.
  • My skills as a writer and published author of an autobiographical book, Beyond The Red Door, published by Allen and Unwin.
  • A degree in Social Work (graduated in 1991), with excellent skills in communication, listening and empathy.
  • My philosophy of never quitting or giving up that is passed on to the audience.

Every audience has its own expectations from a presenter. In preparing my talks, I make sure I know what the audience want out of the session, and adapt my speeches accordingly. Some central themes I use include:

  • Mind over Matter: Overcoming obstacles
  • Insights into living with a disability, expelling myths and fears
  • Journeys to success
  • Goal setting
  • The power of self-belief

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New: Surviving Year 12

Year 12, the final year in high school, is a huge year for students. It’s the ultimate year, the one where that final mark really counts. There is much pressure on students to “make the grade”, pressure that can come from parents, teachers and even from themselves.

So what is the secret to survival, to reaching the finishing line?

In my presentation – Surviving Year 12 – I help students to break down their main goal of getting the best exam results, into smaller achievable goals that will make their year more manageable and less stressful. I show them how to get going, instead of quitting when it all becomes too hard.

How do I do this?

By telling them about times in my life when I wanted to give up, when adversity has threatened to swamp me. By hearing how I have survived these times, students can see that they, too, can change their perspectives on the challenges they face in their studies.

Kids these days need to be inspired to do their best, particularly with all the distractions around them – peer group pressure, a fast paced society and a constantly changing world. It’s easy to get lost and give up. My hope is to give them some direction and sharpen their focus.

It’s not about being the top student, getting the top marks. It’s about doing your best and feeling good about it. As one of my coaches always said to me before a cycling race, ‘Don’t die wondering’. What he meant was, put everything into the race so that when you cross the finishing line, you know you couldn’t have pushed any harder.

Click here to read students’ reactions to this presentation.

Contact me to book this presentation for your students.

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Lucy, my beautiful Labrador guide dog, accompanies me to all the groups I present to, including:

  • Corporate groups
  • Conferences and special events
  • Business Network Groups
  • Schools
  • Community groups and organisations
  • Sporting Groups

Speaking Engagements

In 2009, I presented at the following events:

  • September: Ray White Real Estate Group Breakfast Function, Perth Convention Centre – Motivational Presentation.
  • October: Edith Cowan University, Joondalup – Presentation to Occupational Therapy students.
  • November: Belmont Library Breathing Books, Breaking Barriers Event.

In 2008, I have presented at the following major events:

  • February – Padbury Senior High School, Perth, motivational talk to Year 11 students.
  • March – Isolated Children’s Parents Association 2008 State Conference, Perth, Motivational speech.
  • April: Curtin University of Technology, Perth – Guest speaker at Creative Non-Fiction Writing Course – “Memoirs: Reinventing Yourself and Your Life”.
  • April – East Perth Rotary Club, Perth, motivational speech.
  • May: Rosalie Children’s Writers Festival Perth – Workshops on doggy dialogue for upper primary kids.
  • September: Victoria Park Library – Author Talk on ‘Writing Blind’.

In 2007, I have presented at the following major events:

  • January – All Saints College, Perth, ‘Surviving Year 12′.
  • February – Woodvale Senior High School, Perth, ‘Surviving Year 12′.
  • February – Corporate event for the Western Force, Perth.
  • March – Woodvale Senior High School, Perth, ‘Mind Over Matter: Overcoming Obstacles’.
  • March – Women With Disabilities WA Forum, Perth, ‘Writing Your Memoirs’.
  • April – Women on Wellness Committee, Perth, ‘Mind Over Matter’.
  • May – Perth Business Swap, Perth, ‘From the Depths to the Heights: Finding Gem Stones Amongst the Rubble’.
  • May – Smarter than Smoking Young Women’s Breakfast, Perth, ‘Follow Your Dream’.
  • June – Disability Awareness Training Workshop for Town of Claremont, Perth.
  • June – Disability Awareness Training Workshop for Dept of Indigenous Affairs, Perth.
  • July – Smarter Than Smoking Young Women’s Breakfast, Armadale, ‘Follow Your Dream’
  • October – Disability Awareness Training for City of Perth, Perth.
  • October – Presentation for Ausnet Real Estate Group, Quarterly Awards Function, Perth.

And in 2006:

  • March – National Young Leaders Day, Perth Convention Centre, Perth.
  • April – Horwath Chartered Accountants, Subiaco
  • May – Irene McCormack Catholic College, Butler
  • June – Every Woman Expo, “Talking Women” Program, Perth Convention Centre.
  • June – Corpus Christi College, Bateman
  • August – Muresk Agricultural College, Spencer’s Brook
  • September – Therapy Focus, “Help A Child To Grow” Event, Subiaco
  • November – Bencubbin Women’s Forum, Bencubbin
  • November – National Young Leaders Day, Perth Convention Centre, Perth.
  • November – Perth Glory Event, Perth.

…and in 2005:

  • Australian & New Zealand Studennt Support Association (ANZSSA) & the International Student Support Association (ISSA) 4th State Conference, Perth, Keynote Address.
  • Professional Development Day at Santa Maria College, Perth.
  • Collie High School students, Years 8-12 as part of Collie Health Expo, Collie, Western Australia.

I have also been Invited to speak to the following organisations and groups:

  • Plan B Pty Ltd, Financial Planners
  • Santa Maria College, Years 8 – 12
  • The Karrakatta Club
  • University of the Third Age
  • Nedlands Library
  • Chisholm High School, Year 10 Sports Science Students
  • Nedlands Primary School, Assembly, Pre-Primary and Year 1.
  • Collie Primary School, Years 1, 5 and 7.
  • Kings Park Volunteers Training Day
  • Adoption Research & Counselling Service, Adoptive Parents Group
  • Rotary Club of Nedlands
  • Rotary Club of Dalkeith
  • Nedlands City Council Access Awards

I am also available to conduct workshops on topics such as:

  • Disability Awareness: Taking the ‘dis’ out of ‘disability’
  • Self-esteem and Self-image: a workshop for adolescent girls.
  • Loss and grief: how to respond to someone who is expressing strong emotions.