Michelle tells young people that poetry is like "making magic with words" and her sessions typically involve audience participation, enacting of poems and a lot of interaction.

I'm passionate about poetry and its potential to bring some magic into our lives. I believe that poetry can allow both young and old to express themselves more fully, and to appreciate themselves and the world around them with new wonder. I want those I work with to go away feeling two things - firstly energised, and secondly, empowered by words and their endless possibilities in our lives.

I've published poetry for children, young adults and adults. My books include:

If The World Belonged To Dogs (Children's poetry) UQP, 2007

If Bees Rode Shiny Bicycles (Children's poetry) UQP, 2003

Renovating (Poetry) Picaro Press, 2002

The Angel Of Barbican High (YA Verse novel) UQP, 2001

Bloom (Poetry), Vagabond Press, 2001

Word For Word (An inspirational workbook for writers and teachers of writing), Queensland Writers Centre, 2000

First Language (Poetry), Five Islands Press, 1999

I've received a lot of awards including:

If Bees Rode Shiny Bicycles voted one of the Top Titles for 2003 by The Australian Centre for Youth Literature

Australian Family Therapists Award for The Angel Of Barbican High as a book useful for therapists

Harri Jones Memorial Prize (for an Australian poet 35 years or under whose work in the field of poetry is judged to be outstanding)

I specialise in several areas including:

Performance poetry, for preschool through to primary

Poetry workshops for primary, high school and adults

Workshops using creative writing to promote self awareness and self confidence

My performances for the young allow many opportunities for children to interact with the poems, both through words and movements. I am also able to bring many years experience as an occupational therapist working in mental health to my workshops. Regardless of what age group I work with, I encourage participants to abandon negative preconceptions of poetry and fears, and to reclaim poetry as their own.

Michelle is also an occupational therapist with over 20 years' experience in the fields of mental health and addictions helping people to feel empowered and to make meaningful changes in their lives. She has a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy and Masters of Arts Research. One key way Michelle helps people who are struggling to change and to get motivated is Motivational Interviewing. This approach was developed by Professor Bill Miller and over the past few decades has amassed a great body of evidence to attest to its effectiveness. In essence instead of us telling people what to do, Motivational Interviewing uses skills to help the person argue for their own change.

Michelle has undergone training in Motivational Interviewing with Bill Miller. She uses Motivational Interviewing regularly in her practice and is an experienced trainer teaching others how they can bring this approach to whatever area of work they are in - be it counselling, teaching, health, corrections, relationships, corporate.