Beautiful Minds

I have had the opportunity to observe the wonderful team from Beautiful Minds in action. Watching a number of workshops gave me an overwhelming sense of gratitude. This organisation empowers our youth to be the best version of themselves through an amazing delivery of education.

Beautiful minds is one of the most supporting and amazing group of people I have ever met! The team helped me and others through hard and difficult times. Recently I’ve been able to be a part of this wonderful program as a youth leader helping run the workshops it has been great to see so many young children grow and become more confident over the span of a day.

I did the canberra teen girls workshop and it was genuinely such an incredible experience. Marina, Bec and Von were so lovely. They make each and every girl feel special and important and being around them is so amazing. The girls who do it with you can become lifelong friends, and are such a great support network. The content is so great, it has really helped me. Knowing that I am not the only girl who is going through something is so comforting. 5 stars is not highly rated enough. Have recommended this workshop to literally anyone who will listen.

Beautiful Minds is the most amazing program that helped me get through my struggles, I was able to take something away from the workshop I did. I was asked back as a youth leader and it was the best thing I have done. Such an amazing and inspiring team and program. I would highly recommend.

We saw some advertising around this programme and thought it sounded like something that could be beneficial and fun for our 10 year old. We did a little bit more research and decided to enrol our daughter in a pre teen workshop during the school holidays. It did not disappoint! Our girl came out at the end of the day pumped - or in her words - "full of adrenalin" and brimming with praise for all the fun activities - hula hoop lesson with a circus performer, flower crown making etc - but also thoughtful around the conversations of friendships and self care. It sounded like a well balanced, intentionally structured programme and she loved it. I'd definitely recommend it.

Beautiful Minds is making a HUGE impact here in Australia through its School presentations and workshops, its so needed and so beautiful to see the positive effect it has on our younger generations. The programs are so well developed, the team are so friendly and passionate. I truly believe every pre teen and teen should experience Beautiful Minds.

My little man attended one of your workshops on the weekend and he just loved it! He raved about the training session on the beach and the "real man" talk. I must admit I was nervous about how much he would enjoy the day but his little smiling face on pick up squashed all those worries. Thank you to all the lovely ladies at Beautiful Minds your love and care is much appreciated.

My sister attended one of Beautiful Mind's pre-teen girls workshops and had an absolute blast! She walked away with a new found confidence and optimism and left the workshop with a beaming smile. She has continued to thrive since, and we have really noticed these positive changes sticking with her.

If anything below raises a red flag for you then I recommend caution when booking with this company. I sent my son to the pre teen workshop in winter. He lasted one and a half hours.

1. The staff are very young, and while I think their intentions are in the right place I felt like using kids to run the workshop was a bit cheap, and not in the best interests of the kids.
1. Upon arrival loud disco music was playing. I couldn’t hear them say hello over the volume. When I questioned the volume I was told it was to help with any anxieties. The music continued into the morning session. Be aware that if your child doesn’t like loud music they will have no choice but to listen to it. At hearing damage levels.
2. The room in Bayview is very small for the amount of children crammed in. The air flow is not sufficient. When I returned to the venue the boys were red faced and hot after just the morning session - in winter!
3. The music and the heat gave my son a migraine. We were offered a place at a future workshop but when I noted that it was the conditions in which the workshop was conducted that was the problem, I was told those conditions would likely happen again. No further correspondence was received and ultimately, when things go wrong, the company demonstrated that they were really just in it for the money.

Overall they come across as a an unprofessional organisation with a good idea. To quote Chuck Palahniuk, “Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken”.

I love beautiful minds! Their Mental Health program that tackles the tough topics and shadows, bringing them to light so the youth feel empowered, educated and supported throughout their often-challenging journey of being a teenager. This is why I love them and believe they are the future. I love their workshops, great value and wisdom offered to plate and so much fun all in al!

I sent my 10 year old daughter to a workshop with Beautiful Minds. She told me that she found it really useful and since she did it (which is only a couple of weeks ago) she has mentioned a couple of times already the things she learnt there that she is already putting into practice (particularly around friendships). She even asked me to buy her a gratitude journal as she talked about it with someone at the workshop.
I would not hesitate to recommend sending your daughter to a Beautiful Minds workshop - I'm so glad I found it for my daughter!

When I was in my early teens I was fortunate enough to attend a Beautiful Minds course and the impact it had on me was quite extraordinary.

Marina understands how important it is to make every person feel truly valued as an individual. During the week we spent together we were taught the obvious teenage girly things like makeup and fashion, which were fabulous and a lot of fun, but they were nothing compared to the more in-depth sessions.

We learnt about body image from people who are experts in the media, we learnt about nutrition from a health guru and we learnt about photoshopping from a media expert.

But by far the most inspiring part of our week was hearing from a girl who had turned to drugs and alcohol when she was only our age. She wasn’t from a bad home. She was gorgeous. She had parents who loved her. She wasn’t a criminal. She could have been any one of us.

She told us how the choices she made led her down a path to destruction and how she fought to bring herself back into society. We often think that people who become addicted to drugs have always been rebels, have poor role models or have been treated badly, so it was confronting to see it could be any one of us.

It taught us not to judge. It taught us that we never really know someone’s story. It taught us the importance of being kind to everyone, as you never really know what is going on in someone’s life.

We had a wonderful week and made some fabulous new friends, but mostly I gained a mentor who remains a very important person in my life.

Marina Passalaris is generous, kind and genuinely cares for the young people she meets.

I know I will always be a part of the Beautiful Minds family and for that I am truly grateful.

My 11 yo daughter attended a pre-teen workshop last week and came home beaming. She suffers from chronic anxiety and was so brave to go on her own. She loved making new friends and learnt so much. I'm thrilled she got so much out of the day and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Beautiful Minds <3

I recommend beautiful Minds 100%
I am a team member and I volunteer at the Melbourne events for girls and I not only love helping and inspiring the girls but I also learn a lot from it as well:)
Marina and our beautiful team are so passionate and lucky to do what we do, we learn a lot from each other, who ever comes to the events, leaves smiling so it is worth each and every moment.

A positive and perfect environment for our children to share their experiences and encouragement of each other. My daughters have loved their involvement with Beautiful Minds and always come away with a smile and strategies to negotiate every day life. We will be back again!

Dear Marina & Team,
Thank you very much for giving my 11 year old daughter Stevie such an awesome experience of knowledge, positivity & life learning tools that will help her forever. When I saw her at lunch I could feel her positive energy & she was oozing with confidence.
She loved it so much so she wants to attend the two day workshop.
I asked her what her highlight of the day was? She said I learnt how to deal with relationships & how & why it’s important for me to love myself. I have told her this many a time to love herself & it would fall on deaf ears. However today I feel everything just sunk in to her & she could relate so much to the other girls. You teaching our young youth these vital skills & to empower themselves is a blessing to parents like myself and I am truly grateful for all your time, knowledge, hard work & passion you have given.

Thank you again and I look forward to seeing you at your next event in Sydney.

Our daughter attended the one day course this week in Melbourne and absolutely loved it! It was the best decision we made as she is returning to school next week with a better attitude and outlook on life. Definitely will be sending her to the 3 day retreat.

Thank you for the amazing experience my daughter had at your retreat last week. A wonderful program and so beneficial to girls this age. She loved the activites and getting to know and spend time with the other girls in a relaxed, friendly, non judgemental environment. The blue mts was a perfect location!

My 13 year old daughter attended a three day retreat. Years of separation anxiety and chronic illness were forgotten due to the support she received. She embraced the time she had and was able to feel comfortable in her own skin, make new friends and learn new ways to deal with everyday life.

I can not recommend this business highly enough! Thank you!