About
🎥 Dr. Mel Baker | Educator, Filmmaker, Author, and Inspirational Speaker
🌟 About Me: Driven by a passion for storytelling and a profound belief in the transformative power of art, I’ve embarked on a dynamic journey—one that weaves together my personal resilience, creative spirit, and commitment to change lives.
📚 Books That Illuminate: As an author, I’ve penned five published books, each a beacon of hope, transformation, and empathy. My latest work, part of a trilogy, bears the evocative title Sleeping Under the Bridge. It’s a raw reflection of my tumultuous youth—a narrative that serves as the bedrock for my award-winning short film.
🎬 “Say My Name” (2023): This award winning short film isn’t just a cinematic creation; it’s a clarion call. Crafted to confront the shadows—child sexual abuse, homelessness, domestic violence, and mental health struggles—it amplifies the silent battles fought by countless souls. Say My Name stands as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path for survivors who’ve been unjustly silenced. It’s a plea for awareness, a stand against adversity, and a testament to the power of storytelling.
🌎 Global Impact: My journey extends beyond ink and film. For over three decades, I’ve crisscrossed the globe as an international speaker, sharing my experiences and inspiring audiences across 56 countries. Through vulnerability and authenticity, I empower others to find their voices, conquer challenges, and break free from the shackles of shame.
🌈 Living Expressions Movement: At Living Expressions, we believe that life-stories are more than narratives—they’re bridges of understanding. Join me on this platform of Living Voices: reclaim and celebrate personal journeys. Your story is a gift of perspective, a lesson in empathy, and a catalyst for empowerment. Let’s create a legacy of hope and healing together.
Contributions
Activity
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Starting to set up the new home office space. While there are definite perks to WFH - the unboxing and organising part? Not so much. #WFH
Starting to set up the new home office space. While there are definite perks to WFH - the unboxing and organising part? Not so much. #WFH
Liked by Dr Mel Baker
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Celebrating Unity and Strength at the Royal Commission Closing Ceremony Today, at the State Library of NSW, a diverse gathering of cultures…
Celebrating Unity and Strength at the Royal Commission Closing Ceremony Today, at the State Library of NSW, a diverse gathering of cultures…
Shared by Dr Mel Baker
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🔑 Your Attitude Defines Your Success 🔑 Success isn’t just about where you stand on the podium; it’s about how you got there and how you view your…
🔑 Your Attitude Defines Your Success 🔑 Success isn’t just about where you stand on the podium; it’s about how you got there and how you view your…
Liked by Dr Mel Baker
Education
Publications
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Sleeping Under the Bridge
Atmosphere Press
See publicationThe first book of my life story in a trilogy. Book 2, Building the Bridge, coming 2023. Book 3, Climbing the Bridge.
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Conflict to Hope
Blurb Inc
From the history of Thoroughbreds into Australia and their role in society to the conflicts military personnel dealt with towards finding hope when they met with an ex-racehorse. The story of how Thoroughbreds & Veterans Welfare Alliance started in NSW.
Other authors -
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Painting Beauty with the Ashes
Blurb
See publicationAlso available as an eBook on iBooks, Blurb and Amazon.
Have you ever felt trapped or lived with that emotion? It's like the very person you know within you melts away each day as hot sun liquefies a glacier. Time seems endless and yet still. Silenced to nothingness. Drifting in fragments. No control. Thoughts are stuck in my mind. I need to expel outwards. The fear alone stops me. Time may seem silenced, but the days go on and the years gone on without me.
It was going to be the…Also available as an eBook on iBooks, Blurb and Amazon.
Have you ever felt trapped or lived with that emotion? It's like the very person you know within you melts away each day as hot sun liquefies a glacier. Time seems endless and yet still. Silenced to nothingness. Drifting in fragments. No control. Thoughts are stuck in my mind. I need to expel outwards. The fear alone stops me. Time may seem silenced, but the days go on and the years gone on without me.
It was going to be the first day of the rest of my life. I stood tall and proud, strong and confident. I loved being there for people and helping them to be the best they can be. I pledged my life to serve my country, then it was all taken from me. It was strong powerful men that shut me down. This book is my tumultuous journey of working through the emotions, pain and struggle after dealing with abuse I received whilst serving as the only female chaplain in the Royal Australian Navy.
"Impressionistic and courageous, Mel has found the strength to document her journey from the darkest depths, to the life-saving highs of finding hope and healing. This is a painful, thoughtful and ultimately inspiring book that celebrates Mel's ability to overcome great odds and challenges."
– Nick Barkla, Director of ‘The Healing’
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Sea Chaplains: serving their country with pride
Navy Historical Journal
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Defining and Creating a Wellbeing Model
BCA Australia
See publicationIf we understand who we are through our interactions and interconnections, then we can restore purpose, wholeness, balance, love, joy, learning and achievement towards personal empowerment and developing resilience in times of stress, illness and crises. It is a tool to help you discover areas you can improve on in order to have a more positive wellbeing.
In my evidence-based and practice-based research, I have developed a wellbeing model that has four foundational domains (personal…If we understand who we are through our interactions and interconnections, then we can restore purpose, wholeness, balance, love, joy, learning and achievement towards personal empowerment and developing resilience in times of stress, illness and crises. It is a tool to help you discover areas you can improve on in order to have a more positive wellbeing.
In my evidence-based and practice-based research, I have developed a wellbeing model that has four foundational domains (personal, communal, environmental and transcendental) that gives stability to our lives. Overlaid with five core dimensions (physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual) that track our responses to activities, events, thoughts, patterns, beliefs, outcomes, behaviours and attitudes towards building a healthy functionality. As well as four elements (vocational, external, recreational and affectional) that helps us to understand our needs in order to be satisfied, healthy and well.
My wellbeing model is complex in its design and founded on evidence-based and practice-based research tested on over 200 adults. There are 13 categories representing the whole self and 69,120 permutations making it a unique model. -
Uncovering the culture of police chaplaincy
Police Weekly
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Busy professionals: any time for community learning?
SCUTREA Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland
Paper presented at SCUTREA conference
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Stepping stones: a journey into police chaplaincy
UTS Education Conference
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The continuing professional education of police chaplains as a community of practice
Continuing Professional Education Conference, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Published paper and spoke at conference
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Revisiting Communities: an ethnographic approach
UTS Education Conference
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Analysing Professional Practice
University of Technology, Sydney
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Living Expressions editorial
Living Expressions Dr Mel Baker
See publicationLiving Expressions is about empowering each other in our lived experiences through life stories, poetry, art and photography. Contributors from around the world. Delivered free printed and PDF copies into mental health wards in Australia.
Honors & Awards
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Australia Day Awards
National Council of Women NSW Inc
For outstanding research and work in police forces around the world.
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