About Michelle
Michelle is an award-winning speaker, author and educator.
Michelle started her career as a primary school teacher. Her passion for life skills education led her to leave teaching and found a harm prevention charity, called Youth Excel. Youth Excel initially delivered small group support programs for girls ‘at risk’ of dropping out of education. For the next 20 years Youth Excel continued to grow and work with schools, alternative education and child safety. One of Michelle’s most successful projects was opening a private practise which offered psychology, counselling and mentoring services to young people aged 6 – 18. Her team of 12 staff serviced 120 families and 50 local schools with tailor made care.
Michelle worked as manager and mentor of this clinic and became well known for successful outcomes with teenagers who did not flourish under more traditional forms for therapy. As a result, she had the privilege of working alongside of psychiatrists, social workers and psychologists to help young people and their families overcome significant challenges.
Michelle’ work has been featured on The Today Show, Today Tonight and Channel 10 Morning News, as well as countless print media including The Age, The Courier Mail and Daily Telegraph. She is a regular contributor to radio.
Michelle presents to parents, students and professionals in schools and conferences. Her down-to-earth, energetic and passionate style resonates with a broad range of people and enables her to transfer years on hands on experience to others in practical and honest way.
As an author, Michelle has incorporated years of grassroots experience into her resources for parents, tweens and teens.
She is a registered teacher and lives with her husband and two teenagers, in Brisbane, Australia.
Michelle Mitchell
Educator – Author – Speaker
(B.Teach, Founder Youth Excel)
What people are saying about Michelle
Michelle’s insight and knowledge about teenagers and their experiences are invaluable for parents. Her ideas are practical and sensible while being loving and understanding. I highly recommend Michelle’s expertise to parents who are embarking on these challenging years.
Carmel Nash
Executive Director - Queensland Parents & Friends Federation, Catholic Education
Michelle has a way of telling parents how it is, why it is and what to do about it! This practical empowerment guide is essential reading for every parent with teens and pre-teens, especially girls. The passion poured into this book should be enough to get every parent inspired to not just survive, but thrive through the Twilight Zone years!
Dr Robi Sonderegger – Humanitarian Activist and Clinical Psychologist
Michelle has a marvellous way of speaking the truth in a way that parents can all appreciate. Sometimes shocking, yet straight from the heart. Parents will know they are not alone in the battle.
Dale Dearman – Guidance Office
Student Counsellor, Grace Lutheran College
I stand in awe of Michelle’s incredible energy, passion and relentless desire to empower our girls. Her latest book contains real life stories, relevant advice and researched facts that will assist parents in the roller coast ride of parenting a teenager. As a mother of girls and a women’s health care professional for over twenty years, Michelle’s book is one you do not want to miss.
Karen Spatuzzo - Registered Nurse / Mother of Teenage Girls
The teen years can be a daunting and confusing time for parents. Thank you Michelle for giving us such insight into some very complex issues and for helping us to build resilience into our children. Your work on the frontline of youth issues is to be highly commended.
Joanne Hobbs
Executive Director of Teen Challenge QLD