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QLD CHAMPION

Michelle Worthington.jpg

Michelle Worthington (she/her)

LIVED EXPERIENCE
Chronic Illness, Maternity, Neonatal (Carer), Pediatrics (Carer), Disability (Carer)

KEY INFORMATION

Place of Birth: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Current location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Age: 46 years old
Language/s: English only
LGBTQIA+: No
NDIS Participant: No
Diagnoses: Endometriosis, Postnatal & Prenatal Depression, Fibromyalgia, High functioning anxiety, Menopause, Functional Cognitive Disorder, Bowel and Bladder Dysfunction, Sensory Processing disorder (carer), Auditory Processing disorder (carer), Premature Birth (carer)
Healthcare Access: Primary Health Care, Allied Health, Mental Health, Secondary and Tertiary care

AWARDS & AMBASSADORSHIPS

BIO

Michelle Worthington is an international multi award-winning author, screenwriter and business woman. Shortlisted twice for the Children's Book Council of Australia's picture book of the year, two-time winner of the International Book Award and finalist in the USA Best Book Awards, Michelle also received a Gellett Burgess Award and a Silver Moonbeam Award for her contribution to celebrating diversity in literature. Michelle was the recipient of the 2018 AusMumpreneur Gold Award for Business Excellence and the winner of the 2018 Redlands BaR award for Best Start Up Business. 

Michelle has lived experience of chronic illness, and experience as a carer of sons with disability, who all spent time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) after birth. All three of Michelle's sons were premature; two are on the autism spectrum and one has sensory and auditory processing disorders. Personally, Michelle was diagnosed with endometriosis at 18 years old, and has experienced chronic pain for decades. With understanding of accessing the health system for a combination of services for herself and her sons, Michelle has great insights into improving experiences. 

Michelle's experience of advocating for her son's healthcare from NICU babies to their diagnoses to their current life and management, has grown her interest in creating improved models of care in paediatric services, and interests in the first 100 and 1,000 days of life - and what impact, if any, the NICU environment and follow up services may have.

Beyond her interests in improving systems that interact with people with chronic illness and disability, Michelle has been widely recognised for her achievements in business, as an author and in the Film industry. Michelle is an accomplished international speaker, has featured on ABC4Kids, designed and delivered workshops and been a panelist at events. This year alone, Michelle is an ambassador for Children's Rights Queensland, Hook into Books, Life's Little Treasures Foundation and a Books in Homes Role Model. 

Michelle wishes to create meaningful change using her lived experience and experience as a carer to change perceptions, discover new knowledge, advocate, create, educate and share.

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Notable Picture book of the Year

  • Finalist in Speech Pathology Awards

  • Winner of the AusMumpreneur Award for Business Excellence for Share Your Story

  • Finalist in the Women’s Writers of NSW Awards

  • Winner of the Redlands BaR awards for best Start Up Business

  • MC at the Australian Film Industry Night Awards.

  • 2019 International Guest Speaker at the Charlotte Huck Children’s Literature Festival in Los Angeles

  • Finalist in the What’s on 4 Kids Australia’s Favourite Author Award 

  • Finalist in Speech Pathology Awards

  • MC at the Australian Film Industry Night Awards

  • Judge at the AusMumpreneur Awards

  • 2021 Children Rights Queensland Ambassador

  • Hook into Books Ambassador

  • Books in Homes Role Model

  • Australia Reads Ambassador

  • Life's Little Treasures Foundation Ambassador

  • Redland City Regional Arts Development Fund Committee Member

  • Finalist Global Business Mother of the Year Award.

  • Winner of the AFIN International Film Award for Best Screenplay

  • 2016 Founder of the 'Share Your Story Australia'

  • Queensland Writers Centre, 'Introduction to Picture Books' Workshop Presenter

  • Storytelling at Victoria Point Library

  • Literacy Program Developed with and for all students at Narbethong State Special School

  • Presenter at Noted Writers Festival

  • 2017 Presenter at CYA Conference, Brisbane

  • Presenter and Panellist at Sunshine Coast International Readers and Writers Festival

  • Presenter and Panellist at Sunshine Writers Retreat

  • 2018 International Guest Speaker at Togetherfest in New York City, CBCA

  • 2013 Queensland Writers Centre, 'How to Create
    a Picture Book' Workshop Presenter and Special
    Children’s Christmas Party Performer, as 'Fairy Belle,
    the book fairy'

  • 2014 Moreton Bay College 'Queenslander of the
    Year' for Contribution to the Arts

  • Queensland Writers Centre 'How to Create a Picture Book' Workshop Presenter

  • Gold Coast Writers Festival Children’s Programme Workshop at Helensvale State School and Special Children’s Christmas Party Performer as 'Fairy Belle, the book fairy'

  • 2015 Yellow Dress Day featured on Play School on ABC4Kids

  • Guest Speaker at the Lakes College

  • Creative Writing Awards, Creative Writing workshop presenter at the Lakes College

  • Creative Writing for Children Workshop series at Mad Hatters Bookshop

  • Manly and Presenter at NSW Writers Centre Kids and
    YA Conference

LINKS

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