Albany’s ‘Mind-Brain Lady’ only Australian to receive international grant to help better brains

Albany’s “Mind-Brain Lady” has become the only Australian to be awarded a grant from the International Brain Research Organisation to further educate the public about the brain and benefits of neuroscience research. Tammy-Anne Caldwell, also known as The Mind-Brain Lady, received one of only 28 grants worldwide from the France-based IBRO. Ms Caldwell will use the grant to present a free professional development workshop to more than 50 teachers and principals at Murdoch University on December 10. She wants to use the workshop to further educate people about “the wonders of the brain and the benefits of neuroscience research”. The Albany woman said she was excited to present the workshop and looked forward to sharing her brain-based holistic approach to wellbeing, teaching and learning with more people. “The brain is central to all learning that we do, so if we’re in the business of learning, doesn’t it make sense that we know how the brain learns best,” she said. “My ultimate goal is to help young people, regardless of their current or past circumstances, to be happy, healthy, successful and satisfied human beings who contribute something positively to the world around them, and who help to expand human knowledge and realise their human potential,” she said. The workshop is set to equip teachers with knowledge about how their students’ brains work, learn and grow. Participants will learn the tools and techniques to make teaching and learning more “engaging, enjoyable, easier, empowering and effective” for students. The workshop will be arranged into 12 key topics, covering how to simultaneously improve staff and student wellbeing, plus teaching and learning practices, and academic outcomes. In 2018, Ms Caldwell quit her teaching job in Albany after six years, farewelling her students, taking a pay cut and starting her own business in a bid to bring the benefits of neuroscience to all. She now shares her approach to education in workshops with teachers, parents and students. The free December 10 workshop will take place from 9am to 4:30pm. See https://bit.ly/3qZLsEO