James Parker
Child and Youth Counsellor. Senior Developmental Educator
Positive Minds Australia are specialists in Counselling and Professional Development.
We provide uniquely tailored services, recognising individuality and personal character strengths.
We are an experienced and professional team of experts who provide a compassionate and inclusive service, meeting each individual and organisation where they’re at and tailoring a service to fit. Madhavi Nawana Parker and her team will work together with you to find the right solution for you, your family, school, or organisation.
Our warm, genuine and impactful team, proudly deliver on our values of humility, honesty, compassion and connection.
Keynotes and Professional Development for organisations on wellbeing, stress management, avoiding burnout and creating happier workplaces, are delivered by Madhavi Nawana Parker, Director of Positive Minds Australia. Madhavi has addressed conferences and events around Australia and overseas for over two decades.
Professional Development for schools and kindergartens on ‘Inclusive Classroom Culture’, ‘Neurodivergence in the classroom,’ and ‘How to Connect with Students to improve productivity and behaviour’ are delivered by Senior Teacher, and Workshop Facilitator, Nikki Wadewitz.
Practical workshops for young people are offered in schools and kindergartens. Topics include: How to be a pro social friend, Bullying and what to do about it, Build your resilience and wellbeing from the inside out, Social emotional literacy skills, Emotional regulation and Resilience. Led by Nikki Wadewitz, Madhavi Nawana Parker, Katie O’Reilly and a team of allied health and education professionals, these sessions use evidence based and globally published programs, ‘The Resilience and Wellbeing Toolbox’, ‘The Confident Minds Curriculum’, ‘Educator Wellbeing’ and ‘What’s the Buzz? social-emotional literacy programs,’ to help create class and school cultures of kindness, empathy, connection, social awareness, self awareness and emotional regulation.
Our skilled team offer the following services at our Unley rooms and in Schools:
Counselling for 4-18-year-olds.
Group counselling and Social – Emotional Confidence Building for 4-18 year olds.
Parent Coaching sessions with Madhavi Nawana Parker.
Behaviour Support sessions teaching emotional regulation and social confidence skills, using Role Modelling, Role Play and Counselling.
Whole Classroom Workshops for students on Emotional Regulation, Friendship Skills, Conflict Resolution, Resilience, Wellbeing, Confidence and much more. (Three to five visits per School package).
Counselling for children after family separation. Parent sessions on co parenting and blended families.
Mentoring for Autistic Teenagers and Adults.
Counselling support for disengaged high school students.
Programs offered include, ‘What’s the Buzz?’ ‘The Resilience and Wellbeing Toolbox,’ and ‘The Confident Minds Curriculum.’
Madhavi Nawana Parker, Director of Positive Minds Australia, is one of Australia’s leading experts on Wellbeing and Resilience. Madhavi is known for her warm, optimistic, and compassionate attitude towards others. She is a passionate supporter of young people, their families, and schools, and as a widely published author, Madhavi’s books and programs are implemented in schools, homes, and allied health care settings around the world.
Madhavi specialises in Workplace Wellbeing, Mindset training and Parent Coaching.
Madhavi was proud to recently launch, Thriving Minds, an online wellbeing program, the first of its kind in South Australia. Thriving Minds equips Teachers, Students and Parents with practical tools to support their Mental Health, Wellbeing and Connection to each other, through an online program that fits in with the Australian Curriculum and meets the Professional Standards for Teachers. https://positivemindsaustralia.com.au/thriving-minds/
Madhavi is a regular podcast and radio guest and writes for a broad range of magazines. Madhavi can be contacted at madhavi@positivemindsaustralia.com.au
Madhavi is married with three children and lives in South Australia. Madhavi consults in Unley on a Wednesday and at other locations throughout the week.
Yet another wonderful CPD experience with Madhavi today. We are so lucky to have such an inspirational woman right here in Adelaide, championing the way to a more positive and kind future. A wealth of knowledge and experience!
Where it began.
Madhavi Nawana Parker and James Parker met in 1999 at Autism SA, where Madhavi was writing and developing Social Confidence Building Programs, fresh out of studying Psychology and Counselling at University. They shared a genuine interest in finding creative and respectful ways to teach Autistic children and adults. This led to the development of a pilot program in Art therapy, utilizing Madhavi’s background in Psychology and Counselling and James’s background as a Graphic Designer and Youth Worker.
A first of its kind Art program for Autistic children and teenagers was launched and successfully delivered across South Australia in 2000. James returned to University to qualify in Developmental Education (and in 2023, James will complete a Masters in Education), pursuing his commitment to understanding and supporting neurodivergent children and adults. James continued professional work at various organisations in Developmental Education, Counselling and Family Separation.
Madhavi established her private practice in 2001 at the Behavioural Medicine Institute of Australia, extending her work to involve Schools, Organisations, Families and Young people, specialising in Resilience, Confidence, Social Emotional Intelligence and Wellbeing tools.
Positive Minds Australia was launched in 2019 in response to Madhavi’s year long waiting lists, with the aim to find other like minded professionals to serve the growing list of families and organisations waiting for services.
Enter, those who Madhavi affectionately calls, ‘the world’s best team,’ Child and Youth Counsellor and Developmental Educator, James Parker, Senior Teachers, Nikki Wadewitz and Katie O’Reilly, Early Childhood Specialist and Social Worker, Millie Grant, followed closely by Workshop Energiser and Wing-Chun Teacher, Nick Bennett. These outstanding professionals bring humility, compassion, warmth and humour to work every day, and share the Positive Minds vision of a more compassionate, connected and happy world.
The Positive Minds Australia team not only share a deep sense of meaning and purpose in our work, but we are also great friends with enormous amounts of gratitude and mutual respect for each other. Will we keep growing? Of course, but only when the time is right, so we can continue honouring the sensitive work we carry, to the highest and best standards.
