James Parker
Developmental Educator and Child, Youth Counsellor and Associate Director
Welcome to Positive Minds Australia. We’re proudly Australian owned and operated, building confidence, resilience, social emotional intelligence and wellbeing in young people, their families, schools, and organisations.
We provide holistic services in uniquely tailored ways recognising individuality and personal character strengths. We are a compassionate and inclusive service meeting each individual where they’re at and tailoring a service to fit.
With over twenty years of experience in counseling, education, and writing programs, Madhavi Nawana Parker and her team will work together with you to find the right solution for you and your family, school, or organisation.
Working with children and adults, we address the needs of young people, families, schools, health care and corporate settings.
Keynotes and Professional Training are delivered by dynamic speaker Madhavi Nawana Parker, Director of Positive Minds Australia. Madhavi has addressed conferences and events around Australia and overseas for almost two decades.
Social Emotional Literacy, Resilience and Mindset training programs for 5 — 18 year olds are offered to schools and community centres for young people. Led by Madhavi and her team of allied health and education professionals, these sessions use ‘The Resilience and Wellbeing Toolbox’, ‘The Confident Mind Curriculum’, ‘Educator Wellbeing’ and ‘What’s the Buzz?’ social-emotional literacy programs.
Individual Counselling sessions for 5-18-year-olds in collaboration with their parents.
Mentoring for Teenagers and Adults on the Autism Spectrum.
Counselling support for disengaged high school students on the Autism Spectrum.
Social skills training, mindset coaching and resilience building as well as counselling for children after separation.
Madhavi Nawana Parker has provided young people, families, and schools with lifelong tools to develop resilience, confidence, wellbeing, and social-emotional intelligence through counseling, professional development, parent workshops, online training, and an extensive range of published works for over 20 years. Madhavi is broadly recognised in Australia and overseas, for her compassionate, strength-focused approach to improving mental health, confidence, resilience, and wellbeing.
Madhavi studied Psychology and Rehabilitation Counselling at University, developed and delivered social skills programs at Autism SA and for two decades has consulted in private practice working closely with young people, their families, and schools. With a strong track record for equipping people with confidence, emotional regulation tools and improved relationships skills, Madhavi also brings these skills to leadership and executive teams, helping to improve their ability to manage stress, improve wellbeing and use a positive mindset in the workplace.
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!
Madhavi and James met in 1999 while working at Autism SA. Their interest in developing social emotional literacy in young people on the Autism Spectrum led to the development of a pilot program in Art therapy utilizing Madhavi’s background in Psychology and social emotional skills programming and James’s background as a Youth Worker and Graphic Designer.
Together they developed an Art program for children and teenagers on the Autism Spectrum which was successfully delivered to young people on the Autism Spectrum. James returned to University to qualify in Developmental Education, pursuing his interest in working with neurodiverse young people. James continued professional work in Developmental Education, Counselling and Family Separation while Madhavi continued her work in private practice working with schools, families and young people.
Madhavi and James partnered together professionally, launching Positive Minds Australia in 2019, where together they collaborate on creative ways to solve the many challenges facing young people today. Madhavi brings her strengths in compassion, optimism, writing and creativity to their working partnership. James brings his strengths in problem solving, practice based research, focus and policy planning.
Madhavi and James are married with three children and are delighted to be working together again, after focusing on their individual careers over the past twenty years. They enjoy time together and with their children at home and in nature.
