Our Story
The Shift Holistic Wellbeing was born out of Melissa's personal journey as a new Australian and her experiences with IVF, birth trauma, and severe post-partum depression. After migrating from Lima, Peru, nearly nine years ago, she struggled to find holistic practices that truly supported her emotional and mental health. This challenging path ignited her passion to create a space where others could find the support she once sought.
Melissa’s recovery journey was shaped by her lived experience and the healing power of holistic care. Traditional clinical approaches alone did not resonate with her, particularly as someone from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background. She found comfort and strength in exploring practices that honoured her cultural values, spiritual beliefs, and the connection between mind, body, and spirit. Through yoga, mindfulness, and community connection, Melissa began to reclaim her sense of self and rebuild her wellbeing.
Driven by this transformative experience, Melissa founded The Shift, a social enterprise dedicated to offering educational and wellbeing programs that promote good mental health in culturally diverse families. Her mission is to empower individuals, especially those who may not find a sense of belonging in conventional mental health frameworks, to explore recovery through a holistic lens.
Melissa’s programs blend evidence-based mental health practices with accessible self-care tools, creating a safe and nurturing space where participants can discover what resonates with them. By sharing the tools and strategies that supported her own healing, Melissa hopes to provide pathways to recovery that are not only effective but also deeply meaningful and culturally sensitive.
Learn about Melissa's lived experience and advocacy work with PANDA:
• The Age: Melissa fell through the gaps for post-natal anxiety help. A simple change is fixing that
• PANDA: Melissa's story: Difficult emotions through an IVF journey
Melissa holds a diverse array of qualifications that further enhance her expertise in mental health and holistic wellbeing. She is committed to bridging the gap between clinical support and holistic care, offering a compassionate approach to mental health recovery for all.
• Graduate Certification of Mental Health
• Certificate IV Mental Health Peer Support
• Integrative Medicine for Maternal Health
• Circle of Security Parenting Program
• CBT Post Natal Depression and Anxiety
• Advanced Certification in Yoga Therapy
• Trauma-informed Yoga and Breathwork
• Embodied Flow Mentoring
• Birth with Confidence Rhea Dempsey
• 12+ years in corporate roles: Business advisory, transformation, strategy development, and finance
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Management
"The intention of my practice is to create a safe space for connection and exploration empowering participants to notice and choose what works best for them"
Our Approach
At The Shift, we believe that wellbeing is an experiential journey that arises when we address our physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual needs and desires.
Our person-centric approach is rooted in trauma-informed practices, ensuring that all participants feel safe and supported. We also prioritize cultural sensitivity, recognizing and honouring the diverse backgrounds of our participants, which allows us to create inclusive programs that resonate with everyone.
We empower participants to tune into their feelings, notice sensations, and make choices that enhance their sense of agency, fostering resilience and self-compassion throughout this process.
After each practice, we encourage participants to pause and reflect on any shifts in their state of being. We provide journaling tools that foster connection, reflection, and self-inquiry, allowing individuals to deepen their understanding of their experiences and promote personal growth.
Explore our Offerings
We support and collaborate with:
PANDA
MARIBYGNONG CITY COUNCIL
