Meet our Trainers
See below for a list of current NHI Australia Trainers in Australia. To organise any support or training please feel free to reach out to any of them directly using the details on their profile or reach out to NHI Australia and we will find the perfect person to meet your needs.
Bart Traynor- Clinical Psychologist
(Gold Coast, QLD, Worldwide on request)
As part of the NHI Australia leadership team, Bart is a positive and dedicated clinical psychologist, and operational leader. He is a Fellow of the Australia College of Clinical Psychologists, AHPRA Board Approved Clinical Supervisor, and Member of the Association of Applied Sports Psychology.
Over the past 10 years, Bart has presented nationally and internationally helping professionals and parents on how to embed the NHA into their practice. Passionate about health and fitness and the interplay between all aspects of what makes us 'healthy', Bart has a particular interest in helping athletes, men's mental health and helping men become the very best version of themselves (be it in the home as a partner or father, the workplace or the sporting field).
Bart works across the lifespan with individuals, teams, and organisations, and utilises evidence-based interventions, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Activity-based Psychotherapy. He focuses holistically to help clients achieve their goals. Additional areas of interest are: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Anxiety and disruptive behaviours, and mental performance. In his spare time, Bart enjoys golf and any sport that challenges the mind.
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P: 0432 6687 152
Lillian Reekie
(Gold Coast-QLD, Worldwide via TH)
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Lillian is happily married to husband Andrew for over 33 years with 2 amazing adult sons. Originally a Primary School Teacher she became a Parenting Strategist because of her journey with her youngest son who was diagnosed over 27 years ago with ADHD, ODD & Childhood Depression at aged four.
Over the past 25 plus years Lillian has been featured many times on TV, radio and as an expert guest on parenting summits and podcasts. She has written 6 books based on her family’s journey and has also conducted many hundreds of seminars, workshops, and courses both live and online.
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Being a Mum of a now adult son who was diagnosed in preschool, she has many years of experience and now specialises in helping other parents and caregivers of children who are neurodiverse or who may have special needs.
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Lillian has been sharing & teaching the NHA for over 10 years. She specialises in assisting all caregivers, parents, educators and allied health professionals through her online courses, coaching sessions and live trainings.
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Through NHA she teaches all participants to develop positive and heart centred relationships and to help nurture, grow emotional stability and social connection with their children.
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NHA is a beautiful heart centred way of communicating and relationshipping that Lillian believes EVERY family should understand and learn. She LOVES to share her passion for NHA with as many families as possible!
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E: lillian@parentsupportnetwork.com.au
W: www.parentsupportnetwork.com.au
P: +61 418 393 298 ​
Monica Munro - Counsellor
(Northern NSW, Southeast QLD)
Monica is a key part of the NHI Australia leadership team. Monica is a Counsellor registered with the Australian Counselling Association and Parent Educator specialising in supporting parents and teachers caring for children who are neurodiverse, gender diverse or experiencing challenging behaviour. Monica provides a non-judgemental, safe nurturing space for the whole family to speak their truth, to feel heard and supported.
She started on this journey as a solo parent to four boys, three of whom are neurodiverse, ADD, have generalised anxiety, auditory processing disorder and one who is transgender. Early in her journey as a mum of children with disabilities she felt completely alone and overwhelmed. It has been Monica's personal mission and driving force to ensure other families know they are not alone, to have a strong ally.
Monica came to explore The Nurtured Heart Approach® 10 years ago when every other parenting program had left her feeling like a failure. For her family this was a game changer. Relationships became stronger and they moved out of the crisis they had been in for so long.
She has lived experience with mental health and childhood trauma and has been working with individuals and families for over ten years now either one on one, in schools and within groups. Monica is an advocate for the rights of children with disabilities and/or diverse genders in the education system.
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P: 0420 934 992
Trish Landsberger
Brisbane (South QLD)
Trish joined Kyabra in 2001 as the teaching Director of Kyabra’s Early Years Centre and is still employed at Kyabra as Manager of the Group Work and Training team. Her background was Infant Primary teaching. Trish attended her first Nurtured Heart Certified Training Intensive (CTI) in 2014 and became an advanced trainer in 2015.
Trish has also completed train the trainer in many relational parenting groups. In addition, Trish holds a Graduate Diploma in Creative and Experiential Arts Therapy and a master’s degree of Gestalt Therapy. Trish has worked in several teams across Kyabra, including the Foster and Kinship Care Team, Early Intervention and Training.
Her passion is supporting community members, her team and others in the organisation in the areas of parent child relationships; lifting up the vital importance and role that parents play in a child’s early years’ physical and emotional development. She also has a passion to support all involved in child, youth and adult work to appreciate the importance of recognising individuals strengths and to develop connected nurturing relationships.
The one training that she knows supports this approach so completely is The Nurtured Heart Approach.
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Gordon King
(Northern NSW, Southeast QLD)
I am a passionate, enthusiastic Advanced Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) trainer who is facilitating positive change in the lives of people. I completed Certification training in 2014 and Advanced training in 2021. Having completed a Social Science degree and after a short but unfulfilling spell in Child Protection with FACS I worked as a Family Support Practitioner from 2013-2019.
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I applied the Nurtured Heart Approach throughout my service as a family support worker both with individuals and in running NHA group trainings. The 3 Stands of the Approach proved beneficial for people experiencing domestic violence, those living with disabilities, young people, single parents, foster parents and my coworkers.
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I have taught the Approach to professionals working intensely with at risk families, early childhood educators and to groups of interested parents. Feedback includes: “Gordon provided a strong clear approach that really transforms the way you relate to children” – Steve Gallen, Director/ECT; “Gordon is a well-rounded presenter who is able to provide experiential examples on how the Approach has worked for his family, very worthwhile and rewarding course” - Karen, Specialist DV practitioner.
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My adult children use the Approach within their families, seeing some remarkable positive changes in their relationship dynamics. I also use NHA in my role as a grandparent, soccer goalkeeping coach and supporting people in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Personally, NHA has provided the rocket fuel for my personal development and growth. The Nurtured Heart Approach gives me choice in the quality of relationship I want, with others and with myself.
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I live in Northern New South Wales and deliver life affirming, life transforming NHA courses predominantly between Coffs Harbour and the Gold Coast and west out to Tenterfield. I can be contacted via email or mobile phone.
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P: (61) 0429 200 955
Dale Mcleod- School Counsellor
(Gold Coast, QLD)
With over 20 years of experience working with children, teenagers, and their families, I've dedicated my career to helping young people realise their potential as a school counselor.
As a Certified Nurtured Heart Trainer, I believe the Nurtured Heart Approach is the heart of all approaches, transforming challenges into successes.
I offer individual support to teens and children, parenting support, assistance to young people in reaching full potential at school, and am also experienced to support transitioning from school to further learning or employment.
I especially love working with children and young people with complex needs, finding joy in every small victory and moment of growth. When I'm not supporting students, I'm spreading positivity and encouragement wherever I go!
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P: 0424 243 566
Donna Fraser
(Brisbane South-QLD)
Donna Fraser began working with Kyabra in 2015 when she arrived in Australia from the UK. Her initial work included facilitating playgroups in the community and collaborating with a local Child Safety Service centre facilitating family contact playgroups. Donna began facilitating parenting groups in 2018 and completed the Nurtured Heart Approach Certification Training Intensive in January 2023. Donna has since been delivering the Nurtured Heart Approach parenting group settings at Kyabra.
Prior to her work in Australia, Donna received a Degree in Design Craft and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Secondary Education which led to a career in both Primary and Secondary School education. Despite enjoying working in the education system, Donna realised that her passion to support children and their families was leading her in a different direction.
As a parent to two teenagers, Donna is familiar with the success and the struggles that comes when embracing our children’s intensity and can offer first hand experiences of how the Nurtured Heart Approach can and has made a difference.
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Jean Tally
(Brisbane South-QLD)
Jean Tally began with a career in arts practice and education including full time lecturer in several Australian Universities. She has had the privilege of performing, travelling, teaching and sharing arts practices working with diverse communities culturally, remote to urban across Australia, and internationally in Hong Kong and Spain.
Her entry into early intervention activities with families and children began in 2009 at Kyabra which launched collaborations in working with Multicultural Australia, Cultures in Mind, QPASST, PCYC where she was able to extend her skills in working in group settings. In recent times, she spent 6 years working in residential settings with Brisbane Youth Services and providing intensive support for families at Anglicare Homelessness Services for Women and Families.
She is an advanced trainer and mentor in the Nurtured Heart Approach. She loves sharing a good laugh, and her varied experiences are deepened by ongoing and robust practices in body mind knowledge, dance, and working with amazing staff and community members.
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W: https://kyabra.org/nurtured-heart/​​​​
Debra Whiteoak
I am an advanced trainer in the Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) with a wealth of lived experience as a special needs and solo parent. Proudly I am also a breast cancer thriver. As an oncology patient I have gained unique insights and resilience, which I bring to every session I conduct.
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I have successfully run both individual and group NHA training sessions, helping parents, carers, and young people harness the strengths within themselves. Currently, I integrate NHA into my therapeutic practice as a student psychologist, working towards completing a Masters of Professional Psychology.
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My passion lies in supporting others discover their inner wealth to reveal the light within and confidently bring that light to the world.
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Rod Schofield
Adelaide (SA and Australia wide via telehealth)
It was the youngest of four, now adult, children that inspired Rod to find another way to parent and teach a child displaying challenging behaviours fuelled by our traditional approach.
My Nurtured Heart Approach journey began in 2010 with a despairing and life changing call to the Parent Helpline and admitting that I was at my wits end, desperately needing to find another way. Following the sage advice of Albert Einstein who famously said, “Doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity”.
Making a fresh start using foundational aspects of the approach immediately turned the tide. This significant shift in the relationship with our son inspired me to travel first to Tucson in 2011, and then New Jersey in 2018 to learn and then deepen my understanding of the Nurtured Heart Approach as an Advanced Trainer.
Drawing on direct Lived Experience based in Adelaide, Rod is available to compassionately support you to implement a new way and get those different results via group and individual sessions including the availability of online options.
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P: 0407 406 312