Melinda Hutchings
Melinda Hutchings is a media commentator, writer, speaker and mentor who is dedicated to helping people overcome adversity.
Having lost her teenage years to anorexia, Melinda is passionate about promoting positive body image as well as empowering young people to trust the voice that speaks from their heart to create a happy and fulfilling future.
She has written three books about eating disorders, including Why Can’t I Look the Way I Want? Overcoming Eating Issues (Allen & Unwin 2009) which have helped thousands of people understand the dynamics of eating disorders from early warning signs through to the recovery process.
A high profile role model and mentor, Melinda was a Finalist in Cosmopolitan magazine’s ‘Fun Fearless Female 2009’ awards in the category ‘Inspirational Role Model’.
Her fourth book, It Will Get Better; Finding Your Way Through Teen Issues, was recently published by Allen & Unwin and aims to help teenagers find their way through the maze of emotions and challenges facing them today as well as providing a deeper level of awareness for parents and carers.
Having devoted several years to interviewing teens and young adults who have suffered through hardship, Melinda is attuned with the struggles young people face and believes that by increasing their knowledge and awareness, they will better be able to develop strategies to face and overcome challenging issues and recognize their enormous potential.
Melinda is an Ambassador for the Butterfly Foundation, the only national foundation for eating disorders in Australia, and the Life Changing Experiences Foundation which runs the SISTER2sister mentor program helping ‘at risk’ teenage girls around Australia break the cycle of trauma and develop strategies for personal change and growth.
Website: www.melindahutchings.com