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Testimonials
Self-management Workshops for Health Professionals by Sue & Owen Curtis
'Few people can convey the fundamental principles and applications of self-management as comprehensively and with such ease as Sue and Owen Curtis. The shift towards a patient-centred health model rerquires each health professional to reflect upon and evaluate their own attitudes, belief models and approaches to treatment - an often daunting task. Sue and Owen provide a clear road-map that makes this not only an uncomplicated journey, but an enlightening experience'. Chris Tzar MSc(Ex Rehab), BSc(Ex SC)., AEP, FAAESS Director, Lifestyle Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, University of NSW Committee Members, NSW Health, Diabetes Clinical Reference Group
'I hope my clients get as much out of an interview with me as I did in this Workshop. Thank you both so much'. 'A very engaging workshop which presented ideas and motivational techniques in a unique and interesting manner.' 'This workshop was fantastic.' 'The format worked well for me because the session was broken up appropriately to engage participants and to practice techniques in a safe environment.' 'The tools provided were extremely valuable. Those cards (CCS cards) are either safecrackers or sledgehammers, but they are seriously powerful tools to get people to open up'. I am finding I'm getting some amazing results out of using some of the tools that you and Owen taught and it's getting easier the more I practice. Lyndall Dew, Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Optimal Movement Exercise Physiology Services. Email: info@optimalmovment.com.au I thought the workshop was terrific and you did a great job to adapt your format to cater for the diverse needs of the very ecclectic group. Toni Ryan, Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Jointcare. Web: www.jointcare.com.au From Leadership and Team Learning Clients Associate Professor Gary Hoban, University of Wollongong, Faculty of Education I have worked with Sue on several projects and always found her to be a professional in all aspects of her work. In particular her insights into the processes of group learning for project work or research enable her to operate very successfully as a facilitator to bring the best out in people individually whilst at the same time keeping the team project or research as a focus. Her non-threatening manner also provides the group with a sense of ease so that problems and dilemmas that arise within a project are well managed. Nathan Asher, Associate Registrar, Australian National University, Canberra I first met Sue Curtis when she was a team facilitator for the University’s Leadership Development Program. The program was one of the most challenging and rewarding I have been involved with. Not only was our group required to establish and engage in a six month project, we had to bond very quickly as a group. It involved understanding each other's background, strengths and weaknesses. This initially raised some underlying personal issues for us all as well as clashes of personality. As facilitator, Sue gently and professionally guided us through the difficult times and kept us focused towards our goals allowing us to see that it was OK that we were different, we all had something positive to contribute. Sue "facilitated" us through the challenges but never solved the problems for us. If she had done that we would never have learned. Not long after the program I was successful in gaining a senior position within my University. I have not looked back and I owe much to Sue's support and guidance. Through Sue I have learned the capacity to understand that everyone is different but learning to utilise those differences as a leader, allows you to keep the group focused towards the goals of the team. Our business was formed from an amalgamation of several smaller businesses, and had some organisation problems, leading to us approaching Dr Sue Curtis. Sue helped specifically with analysing our own, and each other's work practices. Strong points in the way that we all worked were identified. Whilst most of the group (including myself) were sceptical about how Sue might help on a practical level, we were pleasantly surprised. The sessions have helped significantly in deciding who has the best ability to perform particular tasks; and which staff complement each others work practices. Most importantly we all have a better understanding of how each other think, and why, and are more tolerant if those thoughts are different to our own! Development of ideas and strategies with a broad focus from the team has definitely helped with business performance. Prior to Sue’s input, I did not appreciate how important appropriate utilisation of business human resources was; and I now realise that without going through this process many businesses would not achieve their full potential. I would recommend her services to any business wanting to optimise their outcomes. From Professional Associations
As the new President of a national professional association, I was keen to have the association revisit its purpose and overall goals. I was also keen to for the National Council to become a strong cohesive and collaborative team. I invited Sue to advise me in this task and to facilitate the process. Sue took on the task with great enthusiasm and skill. She designed a weekend retreat for all members and with her guidance, creative facilitation skills, and patience led us through a process of re-imagining the Association. I was amazed at Sue’s ability to let individuals discuss and debate ideas, issues and concerns yet always steering them towards group consensus and shared outcomes. As a result the members of National Council have become a strong cohesive team with a clear set of goals they are working to achieve. Our face-to-face meetings which occur only three times a year are now extremely productive. We now know what we want and how to get there. We came a long way on that one weekend retreat thanks to Sue’s skills. Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science Daryl Sadgrove, Vice President, and Manager of Movement Medicine, Wollongong Dr Sue Curtis has provided significant input into establishing a successful small business in the Illawarra called Movement Medicine and in my own personal and professional growth. Sue’s experience and insightful guidance is both practical and inspirational and has resulted in an improved quality of service for my customers and an improved bottom line. From a personal perspective Sue has assisted in me clarifying my professional goals and empowering me to identify and take action towards more fulfilling life choices that has resulted in a more meaningful and rewarding life. Sue has touched my life in many ways that cannot easily be expressed in this short passage, but for which I will be forever grateful. 
Community projects supported by Sue & Owen Curtis "Sue and Owen Curtis are great advocates for the Koori community who selflessly become involved with Koori community health issues and recognise and see the inequities of the past. Therefore their approach is one of a wholistic view which permeates all things they do. Their vision for better health and health outcomes in Koori communities is driven by the fact that they both believe in equality”. Jean Turner, Aboriginal Vascular Health, Good Health Team Leader
From Individual Clients
Working with Sue, I began this life journey and am still travelling it today. In what I see as one of the darkest periods of my life, Sue was able to show me what was needed in order for me to grasp my potential in life and to run with it. Where I thought I had no future, Sue was able to show me the strength I did have, how I could transform it into something to love and harness, and then to develop it into something quite powerful. She saw the potential I had to be able to change from a very unhappy life. Without having to literally show my personal strength to me, she taught me how to see it for myself. I used to say my strength came from her. Better still, I can now see that I have harnessed my own strength and directed it towards a powerful expression of my own creative ability through music. Original Painting for professional business cards by Tara Spicer, http://www.nirvanavisions.com.au Dr Adam Fraser, Professional Speaker, Writer and Exercise Physiologist:The Glucose Club I go to Sue with a confusing problem or situation and we immediately identify the underlying issues that are responsible. I find her advice and strategies to be exact and insightful as well as appropriate and pragmatic. I believe that anyone would benefit from her wisdom. Cristina, Author of 'Spirit of Love', and her earlier publications, 'Secrets of a Broken Heart' and 'The Exile Years' I first met Sue when I was going through an identity crisis with the stresses of self-publishing my third book, 'Spirit of Love'. Sue Helped me to stay grounded in reality and to finish the job at hand. I believe that the most powerful testament to the support that Sue provided for me, is the email she sent that enabled me to break through the barriers and to finish my book. I would like to finish this book with an email of encouragement from a friend who has helped and encouraged me to keep on working on this book, while fears and doubt ruled my days, while working to finish this work.
"I wonder if your inner torments are like the people around us who don't want us to change - who don't want us to dare to stop dancing the dance of self-destruction. It is really like dancing a dance - if you stop when the other person who likes the music and feels comfortable, wants to keep dancing - then they get very aggressive and try to keep you dancing even when you want to stop. This is the dance of self-destruction and our past habits of thinking, like the dance partner, are very difficult to shake off. As soon as we try to stop the pressure gets bigger to keep us dancing. I think you might be right to stop the dance now. I think that you might be right - you have done all this work. It certainly seems so with two books completed. I think that maybe this could just be the last desperate gasp of you inner tormentor because you have decided to be free. You have a picture now of how you want to be living your life. Maybe it is right to take time to mourn the passing of these destructive ways of thinking about yourself as you move into the new model of Cristina. I wonder what the new Cristina will be like. I wonder what type of thoughts will fill her days. I wonder what Cristina's symbol for herself will be for the future. If we can see it, know it and feel it - we can be it! Do you think you might be able to tell your inner child that she is safe with you now and reassure her that she doesn't have to go back there any more? Aren't these books finished and closed? Could you talk to her and comfort her now by helping her to turn her face to the future that you are building through your writing. Is your inner child the first member of your family that you can take with you into a new and safe space? If you can 'write yourself' back into the terrible past - is it also possible for you to 'write yourself' into the joyful future? This is your story and you are the author. From what I have read, your writing is your personal power and it is very strong in it's truth. What might happen if you simply kept writing? Is it possible that you might find your own best answers in your writing Cristina - and as you write - might you be able to see in what you have written - the answers to the question you are asking? What were your key words? Could they be your vision for the future? If you simply put those three words on the top of a page each day and JUST WRITE - is it possible that you could be surprised by your own truth speaking back to you? We don't really know what we think 'til we see what we write." To See Cristina's website and publications list go to: http://members.westnet.com.au/cristina.m |
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