https://www.merakai.com.au/media daily 0.75 2020-09-21 https://www.merakai.com.au/media/uom-mapp-interview monthly 0.5 2020-09-21 https://www.merakai.com.au/media/humanity4hope monthly 0.5 2020-09-21 https://www.merakai.com.au/media/hope-is-not-a-strategy monthly 0.5 2020-09-21 https://www.merakai.com.au/media/potential-psychology-podcast monthly 0.5 2020-09-21 https://www.merakai.com.au/media/a-systems-approach-to-wellbeing monthly 0.5 2020-09-21 https://www.merakai.com.au/media/embedding-wellbeing-in-education monthly 0.5 2020-09-21 https://www.merakai.com.au/contact-us daily 0.75 2020-09-17 https://www.merakai.com.au/about daily 0.75 2020-09-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef569e5cc32734dd61e4ffb/1600413192110-D5SBNCCCS2YT8ENPE0PG/Meaning_Of_Merakai.jpg Our Story - What’s in a word? So when it came to naming our purpose driven business, it was imperative that this represented the essence of what we are about. After much searching (ie. our kids searching cool words in other languages in Tumblr…..ah remember Tumblr?!), we struck upon Merakai – from the Greek word meaning to pour your creativity, your love, your soul into your work so that it becomes an expression of you. This spoke to the heart of the meaning and purpose that sits behind our work. We not only strive to ensure that the work we do with our community is a true expression of our highest creativity and love but we seek ways to help others connect to that source in the work they do, knowing that this leads to a meaningful contribution to the world around us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef569e5cc32734dd61e4ffb/1600413758208-I6LSCLNBO5AF9D3V5JO7/Rachel+small.jpg Our Story - Founder Rachel Colla Rachel Colla (MPsych, MAPP, PhD Candidate) has been consulting and delivering educational programs that draw on the science of wellbeing and leadership in business, education, health and sporting contexts for over two decades to assist both individuals and organisations thrive. Prior to her work in organisational settings, Rachel worked as a psychologist in the education sector, promoting flourishing for individuals managing psychological distress and mental illness. Her work in schools is now focussed on consulting at an organisational level to create the conditions for the whole community to thrive. She is also the designer of the innovative Hope Labs approach, a curriculum that fuses systems science, wellbeing, and neuroscience of learning. Rachel is also a Teaching Specialist, co-ordinating and teaching wellbeing and leadership programs at the University of Melbourne at both an undergraduate and postgraduate level for the Centre for Positive Psychology. She was recently awarded a Melbourne Graduate School of Education award for outstanding achievement in teaching, skill and imagination in the design and evaluation of teaching programs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef569e5cc32734dd61e4ffb/1600733510278-8JJZU4EPX99PDQ7E9PQR/iStock-496703121.jpg Our Story - Our roots Our story really begins with both a deep dissatisfaction and a seed of hope. Throughout founder Rachel Colla’s career there has been a constant thread of asking the question ‘how can we create the conditions for thriving?’ When this was asked during her career as a psychologist in the early 2000s, too often the answer was more around how we treat symptoms. When this was asked during her career as a senior leader in organisations, too often the answer was focused on ‘the business needs must come first’. And yet that seed of hope continued to grow, fuelled now by a significant body of scientific evidence that has demonstrated that creating the conditions for thriving serves not just individuals and organisations, but also the communities they serve. This seed of hope continues to flourish as we celebrate the work that so many of our clients have brought to life in building a thriving culture that enables both/and - wellbeing, healing and performance. As Victor Hugo, one of the worlds’ greatest storytellers, famously noted ”there’s nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come.” https://www.merakai.com.au/home daily 1.0 2021-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef569e5cc32734dd61e4ffb/1600333589822-PARPE274I9BCLYER82WW/personal-3108155_1920.jpg Home - Coaching circles to support your own wellbeing and motivation as you lead in your community. Interested in developing your own practice to lead wellbeing initiatives in your community? With over 25 years coaching experience that draws on the latest insights in coaching psychology, design thinking, and systems leadership, we can work with you directly or facilitate coaching circles for you and your peers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef569e5cc32734dd61e4ffb/1600338921221-MSUJ3OPSKQKRZXCBGDZ2/palm-fern-2245814_1920.jpg Home - Inspiring your business leaders to build a thriving culture. Our team bring years of experience to bear on one of the greatest challenge of our time. We combine the latest scientific evidence with decades of practical experience in learning design and organisational culture change to support your team to thrive. We develop bespoke solutions that are co-created to meet your unique business needs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef569e5cc32734dd61e4ffb/1600400090782-M8IUU2S6X7GGHELEN9NQ/iStock-1031563502.jpg Home - Partnering with education leaders to embed wellbeing. Developing collaborative partnerships sits at the heart of our approach, allowing us to combine your expertise in curriculum design and educational leadership with our expertise in educational psychology, wellbeing science and creating systems change. This approach consistently creates sustainable change, moving wellbeing from a ‘program’ to part of the DNA of your school community. https://www.merakai.com.au/general-2 daily 0.75 2020-09-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef569e5cc32734dd61e4ffb/1600400521876-34VIB167PZD98ZVLYPD2/iStock-1016779444.jpg Organisations https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef569e5cc32734dd61e4ffb/1600400334159-FGZQ9G29HQKDDJUQX9HP/iStock-597959356.jpg Organisations https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef569e5cc32734dd61e4ffb/1600344440480-V9TRSXOAQBSKNKVI9ZQ4/keynote.jpg Organisations https://www.merakai.com.au/education daily 0.75 2021-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef569e5cc32734dd61e4ffb/1600687139353-1LXEMBWU0LW1L9TPEM3A/hands-600497.jpg Education - Hope Labs Hope Labs is an evidence-based framework that draws on the latest thinking in wellbeing science, systems leadership and the neuroscience of learning. The framework incorporates a capacity and community building approach, together with a series of curriculum tools designed to unlock the power of hope and purpose in our young people. This innovative approach enables educators to incorporate specific modules or tools into their existing curriculum and wellbeing programs or utilise a complete curriculum that is mapped to the ACARA Personal and Social Capabilities and Creative and Critical Thinking Capabilities. To learn more about the resources and community committed to building hope leaders for the future, click on the link below to go to our dedicated website. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef569e5cc32734dd61e4ffb/1600689308093-SPCZQ87TQQIYIFTFKQHD/iStock-1159742415.jpg Education - Embedding Wellbeing We also offer consultation and professional learning to support your educational leadership to position wellbeing at the heart of learning for your community. Our award winning team of educators, recognised for outstanding achievement in teaching, skill and imagination in the design and evaluation of teaching programs, parter with your wellbeing leaders to co-design new approaches to embedding wellbeing within your school community. Taking a holistic approach that recognises the multiple contributory factors that enable wellbeing to emerge, we partner with educational leaders to consider both implicit and explicit strategies to build wellbeing and importantly how this can be done through pedagogy, so that wellbeing and learning are woven into the DNA of the school community. https://www.merakai.com.au/take-action daily 0.75 2020-09-21 https://www.merakai.com.au/wellbeing-leaders daily 0.75 2020-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef569e5cc32734dd61e4ffb/1600406544212-BEPH59LAWTBUWLNWHD90/iStock-1147384767.jpg Wellbeing leaders - Individual Coaching Our ability to lead change relies on our capacity to reflect and build awareness. Transformational systems change leader Bill O’Brien once noted that the success of an intervention depends on the interior condition of the intervener. So while this profound change may be deeply personal we do not need to do it alone. Taking a journey with another can support our ability to deepen our awareness and see through any blind spots. With over 25 years coaching experience, our approach draws on the latest thinking in coaching psychology, hope theory and awareness based systems tools. Our coaching programs are tailored to your growth goals and include a complimentary ‘check for fit’ initial session. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef569e5cc32734dd61e4ffb/1600406803463-HSOSJ73XJRX96P5LYTWB/iStock-901226400.jpg Wellbeing leaders - Coaching Circles Looking to build capacity for your team or have a group of peers working towards a shared vision? Investing in reflective practice and collaborative coaching can uncover the power of synchronicity that enhances our leadership practice. We facilitate coaching circles that guide your team through a case-clinic approach that draws on the intersection of contemplative and wellbeing practices. These can be facilitated on site or online.