Janet Shaw

Author, Speaker & Freelance Writer

Home About Me Speaker Author Freelancer Testimonials Contact me Blog Links

Speaker Services

Janet Shaw sitting with Lucy, her guide dog.
Janet Shaw

Every audience has its own expectations from a presenter. In preparing my talks, I make sure I know what the audience want out of the session, and adapt my speeches accordingly. Some central themes I use include:

  • Mind over Matter: Overcoming obstacles
  • Insights into living with a disability, expelling myths and fears
  • Journeys to success
  • Goal setting
  • The power of self-belief

**********

New: Surviving Year 12

Year 12, the final year in high school, is a huge year for students. It’s the ultimate year, the one where that final mark really counts. There is much pressure on students to “make the grade”, pressure that can come from parents, teachers and even from themselves.

So what is the secret to survival, to reaching the finishing line?

In my presentation - Surviving Year 12 - I help students to break down their main goal of getting the best exam results, into smaller achievable goals that will make their year more manageable and less stressful. I show them how to get going, instead of quitting when it all becomes too hard.

How do I do this?

By telling them about times in my life when I wanted to give up, when adversity has threatened to swamp me. By hearing how I have survived these times, students can see that they, too, can change their perspectives on the challenges they face in their studies.

Kids these days need to be inspired to do their best, particularly with all the distractions around them - peer group pressure, a fast paced society and a constantly changing world. It’s easy to get lost and give up. My hope is to give them some direction and sharpen their focus.

It’s not about being the top student, getting the top marks. It’s about doing your best and feeling good about it. As one of my coaches always said to me before a cycling race, ‘Don’t die wondering’. What he meant was, put everything into the race so that when you cross the finishing line, you know you couldn’t have pushed any harder.

Click here to read students’ reactions to this presentation.

Contact me to book this presentation for your students.

**********

Lucy, my beautiful Labrador guide dog, accompanies me to all the groups I present to, including:

  • Corporate groups
  • Conferences and special events
  • Business Network Groups
  • Schools
  • Community groups and organisations
  • Sporting Groups

Speaking Engagements

In 2008, I have presented at the following major events:

  • February - Padbury Senior High School, Perth, motivational talk to Year 11 students.
  • March - Isolated Children’s Parents Association 2008 State Conference, Perth, Motivational speech.
  • April - East Perth Rotary Club, Perth.

In 2007, I have presented at the following major events:

  • January - All Saints College, Perth, ‘Surviving Year 12′.
  • February - Woodvale Senior High School, Perth, ‘Surviving Year 12′.
  • February - Corporate event for the Western Force, Perth.
  • March - Woodvale Senior High School, Perth, ‘Mind Over Matter: Overcoming Obstacles’.
  • March - Women With Disabilities WA Forum, Perth, ‘Writing Your Memoirs’.
  • April - Women on Wellness Committee, Perth, ‘Mind Over Matter’.
  • May - Perth Business Swap, Perth, ‘From the Depths to the Heights: Finding Gem Stones Amongst the Rubble’.
  • May - Smarter than Smoking Young Women’s Breakfast, Perth, ‘Follow Your Dream’.
  • June - Disability Awareness Training Workshop for Town of Claremont, Perth.
  • June - Disability Awareness Training Workshop for Dept of Indigenous Affairs, Perth.
  • July - Smarter Than Smoking Young Women’s Breakfast, Armadale, ‘Follow Your Dream’
  • October - Disability Awareness Training for City of Perth, Perth.
  • October - Presentation for Ausnet Real Estate Group, Quarterly Awards Function, Perth.

And in 2006:

  • March - National Young Leaders Day, Perth Convention Centre, Perth.
  • April - Horwath Chartered Accountants, Subiaco
  • May - Irene McCormack Catholic College, Butler
  • June - Every Woman Expo, “Talking Women” Program, Perth Convention Centre.
  • June - Corpus Christi College, Bateman
  • August - Muresk Agricultural College, Spencer’s Brook
  • September - Therapy Focus, “Help A Child To Grow” Event, Subiaco
  • November - Bencubbin Women’s Forum, Bencubbin
  • November - National Young Leaders Day, Perth Convention Centre, Perth.
  • November - Perth Glory Event, Perth.

…and in 2005:

  • Australian & New Zealand Studennt Support Association (ANZSSA) & the International Student Support Association (ISSA) 4th State Conference, Perth, Keynote Address.
  • Professional Development Day at Santa Maria College, Perth.
  • Collie High School students, Years 8-12 as part of Collie Health Expo, Collie, Western Australia.

I have also been Invited to speak to the following organisations and groups:

  • Plan B Pty Ltd, Financial Planners
  • Santa Maria College, Years 8 - 12
  • The Karrakatta Club
  • University of the Third Age
  • Nedlands Library
  • Chisholm High School, Year 10 Sports Science Students
  • Nedlands Primary School, Assembly, Pre-Primary and Year 1.
  • Collie Primary School, Years 1, 5 and 7.
  • Kings Park Volunteers Training Day
  • Adoption Research & Counselling Service, Adoptive Parents Group
  • Rotary Club of Nedlands
  • Rotary Club of Dalkeith
  • Nedlands City Council Access Awards

I am also available to conduct workshops on topics such as:

  • Disability Awareness: Taking the ‘dis’ out of ‘disability’
  • Self-esteem and Self-image: a workshop for adolescent girls.
  • Loss and grief: how to respond to someone who is expressing strong emotions.