Speaker / Conference Opener

An internationally recognized author and sought-after speaker, Barbara encourages people to look afresh at their challenging circumstances, to reconceive their options, and say YES! to embracing, instead of resisting, life’s offers.

Past Speaking Events

  • Australian Complimentary Health Association
  • Australian College of Holistic Nurses International Conference
  • Australian Farm Management Society
  • Mt Gambier Blue Lakes Festival
  • The Gawler Foundation’s Survivor Conference, 1991 – with Weery Dunlap, Burnum Burnum, Tim McCartney-Snape, Ian Gawler and other survivors
  • Gawler Foundation Mind, Immunity and Health Conferences
  • Gawler Foundation Annual Conferences
  • Cancer Natural Therapy Foundation
  • Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet
  • The Relaxation Centre of Queensland
  • RSL Community Services
  • Medical Students, Monash University
  • Blue Nurses
  • Pre-Op Nurses SE Qld
  • Financial Planners of Australia
  • Australian Psychological Society
  • TEC –The Executive Connection
  • Vietnam Veterans Counseling Service
  • Victorian Women and Mental Health Network
  • Neuro Recovery Foundation
  • RMIT Screen Writers
  • Queensland Community Services and Health Industries Training Council
  • Queensland Cancer Fund
  • TAFE: Cairns, Cooloola, Frankston
  • Community Houses
  • Bloomhill Cancer Help Centre, Buderim
  • St Ursula’s College, Toowoomba
  • Mornington School District
  • Parkinsons Support Group, Sunshine Coast
  • The Joining, Sunshine Coast
  • Vision Australia
  • QRRWN (Queensland Rural & Remote Women’s Network)
  • QRRRWN/AWIA

Rambunctious Entertainment for Conferences & Retreats

Solo or with her Joy Machine Parody Song group, Barbara takes issues—mouse plagues, moving house, crashing computers—and gives them a silly slant by inserting new words to familiar tunes. Example: “Home On the Range” becomes “Phones Out of Range”. There are plenty of audience singalongs.

At Women’s, Government, Medical, and other conferences and retreats, Barbara Brewster offers opportunities for anyone to say YES! to participating as a ‘Platelet’ in the evening entertainment—no practice necessary.

‘Platelet’ Volunteers at Being Woman,
Gathering, March 2016

Volunteer ‘Platelets’ at Love, Life, Laughter Conference, Coolangatta,
June, 2012

Volunteer ‘Platelets’ at QRWN (Queensland Rural Women’s Network) Retreat, Bunya Mountains, 2012