Master of Ceremonies

“What is so moving about Rachel’s story is not about how close to death she’s come, it’s how close to life.”

She’s been described as a great leveler of people. She’s deeply passionate about the dynamics of interpersonal relationships, and how understanding others and drawing out their strengths are the embodiment of the skills necessary to communicate effectively in high context cultures. She brings art, science and lived experience to help people collaborate effectively, achieve positive outcomes, feel seen, heard and understood and communicate clearly.

Rachel Callander is a TEDx presenter, and the author of the New York IPPY Outstanding Book of The Year Award 2015 "Super Power Baby Project". This exceptional book celebrates the lives and abilities of children with chromosomal or genetic conditions, and was inspired by Rachel's late daughter Evie, who was born with a very rare condition herself. In the two and a half years of Evie's life, Rachel learnt a lot about the use of language in the health system, and has spent the subsequent years continuing to explore the impact and implications of how it is used by health professionals - To positive and negative effect.

Rachel is a highly sought-after speaker at conferences around Australia and NZ. Her audiences are mostly made up of health professionals and educators, and she speaks about the need to communicate using open hearted language, especially at diagnosis. She teaches how the first words used at diagnosis critically shape how a parent perceives their future: The words can allow the parent to be their best, and find meaning even in pain; or they can create anger, mistrust, frustration, and can break down the crucial relationship between the parent and the health professional. It's a conversation about empowerment - For the parent, patient, and health professional.

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Keynote Presenter

Clare Bowditch is a world-renowned musician, speaker, entrepreneur, and best-selling author.

 

Her first book, a partial memoir entitled Your Own Kind Of Girl, is a testimony to the long-tail of childhood grief, and how our experiences of palliative care can play out over a lifetime. Her words bring powerful recognition to the little-discussed reality of sibling grief, and offer insight into the struggle of not having the language or cognition to deal with acute loss at a young age. 

 

Clare is a master storyteller who draws you in with her attention to detail, hilarious humour, and ruthless honesty.

 

We look forward to welcoming Clare as our keynote speaker and sharing in her lived experience with paediatric palliative care, her journey of grief and the power of healing.

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Workshop Presenter

Annie Love is a Certified Life & Business Coach, creative spirit, podcaster, wife and Mum to three beautiful boys. Through her motherhood journey, she’s navigated significant health challenges with two of her children and grief following the death of her youngest son, so she understands that life doesn’t always look like a fairytale. Annie is passionate about helping others find light and joy in their lives, even when things feel hard, and absolutely loves her work coaching incredible women. You can connect with Annie through her website here, as well as on Instagram, and Facebook .

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