Here’s What You Should Know About Me
This is who I am, and why I believe you don’t have to do this alone.
Who Is
Understanding Teenagers?
Understanding Teenagers
The Journey So Far
Understanding Teenagers began with a simple but powerful realisation: the way adults show up matters more than we often realise.
In my early years working with teens, what struck me most wasn’t their behaviour—it was how profoundly they were shaped by the adults around them. That insight stuck with me, and it became the foundation of everything I do.
I went back to university to explore that idea more deeply—studying adolescent development, adult learning, and what actually helps people change the way they relate and respond. That learning still underpins my work today.
What started as a blog for youth workers has grown into a coaching and education service for parents, schools, and professionals who want to better understand teenagers—and respond in ways that actually work.
My focus has always been on supporting adults to lead the kind of relationships that help teenagers grow—and that’s where real change begins.
Understanding Teenagers
Is All About
Understanding Teenagers is where I bring together all the ways I help adults navigate the messy, meaningful work of raising and relating to teenagers.
I work one-on-one with parents through personalised coaching, and I also deliver training and workshops for schools, organisations, and professionals who support young people. I regularly speak to parent communities, staff teams, and agencies—offering insight into adolescent development, behaviour, and how adults can build stronger relationships with teenagers.
Whether it’s a coaching session at the kitchen table (or Zoom screen), a keynote at a staff day, or a workshop with a room full of parents—I tailor the content to meet people where they are, and help them move forward with clarity and confidence.
What holds it all together is a focus on understanding teenagers, reflecting on adult responses, and building relationships that create space for growth, autonomy, and connection.
A Bit About Me
Life is Good....
I live on the South Coast of NSW with my family and our Labrador, Maggie— who’s never once questioned whether she deserves a second breakfast.
When I’m not coaching parents or talking teenage brains with professionals, you’ll likely find me chasing a good coffee or avoiding emails. I find it hard to pass a bakery on a road trip, and I still wish I could sleep as well as I did in my twenties—deep, and uninterrupted, (Narrator: He cannot.) I often forget what I came into the room for, but somehow retain a completely unnecessary catalogue of ‘90s trivia that no one in my house finds at all impressive.
This work is something I care deeply about, but it’s not my whole life. I’m a parent too, which means I’ve known my share of mismatched socks, eye rolls, and late-night “why-are-we-having-this-conversation-now?” chats. It’s all part of it.