Speaking engagements
For many years, Alison Ó Murchadha’s work has focused on helping individuals and small groups heal from trauma through foundation-first care and Sacred Witnessing. As of 2026, She will be extending that work into speaking engagements, bringing these conversations into rooms and communities ready for change.
I speak on trauma, mental health, and how to move services from surface fixes to foundation first care. As a former child migrant placed at Fairbridge Farm School, Pinjarra, she brings lived experience to every stage of the conversation, from the hidden legacy of institutional harm to the stigma within the psychological and counselling industries, and the practical steps that help people rebuild safety, belonging, and self trust.
Core themes
- Lived experience as design authority in mental health
- Why systems manage symptoms, and how to restore foundations instead
- Identity restoration after institutional harm, truth telling, dignity, belonging, agency
- Foundation first practice, safety and meaning before technique, body based witnessing rather than quick fixes
- Sacred Witnessing, presence without advice, why being seen regulates the nervous system
- The Four Phase Locate Without Fixing practice for real world grounding
- Confidence and authenticity, and the seven internal qualities that make self-hood stable
Signature talks
From Surface Fixes to Foundations, A Lived Experience Challenge to the System
What happens when care is built to manage symptoms rather than restore foundations? A clear, compassionate critique of current pathways, and a practical map for rebuilding safety, belonging, and self trust. Includes Alison’s child migrant story, the harm of denial and erasure, and the case for lived experience led reform.
Audience: mixed community and professionals
Formats, 30 minutes or 45 minutes, with optional 15 minute guided practice and questions
Building Confidence and Authenticity from the Inside
Confidence equals I can, authenticity equals I am. Alison maps internal qualities that stabilise both, self worth, self belief, self trust, self respect, self love, self expression, and shows how foundation first work strengthens each quality in daily life.
Audience, leadership, education, youth, women’s programs, community
Formats, 30 or 45 minutes, with optional workbook add on
A practical session for services that want depth beyond surface protocols. Intake that prioritises safety and truth, outcome measures that track restoration rather than simple symptom management
What audiences take away
- A clear language for the difference between managing pain and healing foundations
- A simple checklist for foundation first care, safety, validation, dignity, belonging, agency, coherent meaning
- How to offer Sacred Witnessing in everyday life and work, presence without advice
- The Four Phase Locate Without Fixing practice, ready to use immediately
- A respectful critique of stigma inside the system, plus concrete steps for change
Who Alison speaks to
Conferences, community forums, schools, universities, mental health and social services, peer and lived experience networks, faith and civic groups, leadership retreats
Formats and run sheets
- 30 minute keynote, talk only
- 45 minute keynote, 30 minute talk plus 15 minute guided practice
Sample 45 minute run, 30 minutes talk, 15 minutes guided practice, close and reflection
The guided practice
Alison can lead the Four Phase Locate Without Fixing practice at the end of the session. Seated, accessible, suitable for large rooms. No prior experience needed.
Availability & Bookings
Alison is available across Australia for conferences, community events, and mental health awareness programs. Limited international engagements by arrangement.
For speaking enquiries, dates, and fees, please include your event type, location, audience size, preferred format, and whether you would like the guided practice included.