Thea's Background

Thea O’Connor is an experienced health promotion consultant, with twenty years experience in the health sector, ranging from her current work as a health journalist, educator and speaker, to her former work as a clinical and community dietitian, QUIT smoking facilitator masseuse, Director of Body Image and Health Inc (a Victorian not for profit organisation committed to the prevention of body image and eating problems) and Partner of Corporeal~workplace wellbeing.    Health Communicator

Whether speaking to academics, senior managers, schools students or parents, Thea is highly effective in getting her message across in a relaxed, convincing and entertaining way.  She is the also a freelance health writer, contributing to The Australian (Weekend Health section), Sydney Morning Herald (inc Health and Science pages, and formerly Essentials -health and lifestyle lift out, My Career and Eco section) and In the Black.  Other publications have included Sunday Life Magazine, (The Age and Sun Herald), Teenmatters (magazine for parents of teenagers) Jetstar In-flight magazine, Practical Parenting, The Australian Worker and VicHealth Letter.  She is the former health editor of New Woman magazine and is often interviewed on ABC Regional Radio (mid north coast).  


Workplace Health

As partner of Corporeal Thea developed expertise in designing and delivering workplace wellbeing programs for blue and white collar workers, including clients such as The Age, TAC, CGU, Coles Myer, Free Hills, Victoria Legal Aid, Department of Employment Small Business and Workplace Relations and the Forestry Industry.  Today she is a Workplace Trainer for beyondblue: the national depression initiative delivering their National Workplace Program.


Body Image and Eating Behaviour

Thea has a strong commitment to freeing women, and increasingly men, from the unsatisfying and unhealthy pursuit of the elusive ‘perfect’ body. Her specialist experience in the inter-related areas of body image, eating behavior and weight management has included:

  • Former Director of Body Image and Health Inc. Melbourne (VicHealth funded)

  • Member of the Ministerial reference group for the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry in Body Image and Young People Member, and member of expert reference group for two Commonwealth-funded childhood nutrition projects.

  • Consultant to the Department of Education for the development of online body image lesson plans for all secondary schools in Victoria 

  • Consultant to the Department of Human Services, Public Health Division, Victoria to assist in the development of an evidence-based resource for practitioners to help them plan community-based prevention programs aimed at promoting positive body image and self esteem. 

  • Currently an Associate Investigator for a community based childhood obesity prevention intervention, headed by Deakin University, Victoria.

  • Regular lectures on body image at Deakin and Monash Universities.

  • Specialist service provision to school communities - students, parents and teachers, on how to adopt a whole-school approach to the promoting positive body image and preventing eating disorders.

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