ABOUT US:
Catherine Manning - SEED Workshops' Founder, CEO & Program Facilitator
Catherine Manning is a dynamic leader, serving as the Founder, CEO & Program Director of SEED Workshops. A passionate writer and activist, she has dedicated years to championing human rights and environmental causes. Beginning her career in the fast-paced world of advertising and news graphics at Channel Seven Melbourne, she gained invaluable insight into the television media industry. Taking leave to raise her family and develop her company, Catherine also took on the role of Events Coordinator with the Australian Contemporary Opera Company (ACOCo), facilitating in-school accessible opera performances and community events. Since its inception, Catherine and her team have grown SEED Workshops mostly through word-of-mouth recommendations to reach over 60,000 students.
In addition, Catherine has consulted on several of ClickView Australia's award-winning Respectful Relationships projects, providing invaluable resources for teachers and students, and written various study guides and articles for ATOM (Australian Teachers of Media) Screen Education - Metro Magazine. She has also appeared on numerous television and radio programs, including The Project, Sunrise, A Current Affair, Today Tonight, Radio National & ABC774, discussing a range of topics including the sexualisation of children, beauty pageants and pornography, and has been published in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Hoopla, Mamamia, Grazia, and Girlfriend Magazine.
In addition, Catherine has consulted on several of ClickView Australia's award-winning Respectful Relationships projects, providing invaluable resources for teachers and students, and written various study guides and articles for ATOM (Australian Teachers of Media) Screen Education - Metro Magazine. She has also appeared on numerous television and radio programs, including The Project, Sunrise, A Current Affair, Today Tonight, Radio National & ABC774, discussing a range of topics including the sexualisation of children, beauty pageants and pornography, and has been published in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Hoopla, Mamamia, Grazia, and Girlfriend Magazine.
Ben McKenzie - SEED Workshops Program Facilitator
Ben has been writing and performing in Melbourne for more than fifteen years. He created and hosts the Dungeons & Dragons inspired improvised comedy show Dungeon Crawl, has led comedy tours after dark in Melbourne Museum, co-hosted the hit Doctor Who podcast Splendid Chaps, designs and runs games with Pop Up Playground, His work has appeared in the Melbourne Fringe, Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festivals, most recently his new one-man show Ben McKenzie is Uncool, and he also works as a voice-over artist, presenter and actor.
“I’m so excited to be working with SEED Workshops, talking to young people about the kinds of things I struggled with in school: depression, self-esteem and how to fit into the world. I wish I’d learned the stuff we talk about through SEED Workshops when I was fifteen! Working on the program with Catherine and Karen is as close as I can get to going back in time and giving helpful advice to my younger self.”
“I’m so excited to be working with SEED Workshops, talking to young people about the kinds of things I struggled with in school: depression, self-esteem and how to fit into the world. I wish I’d learned the stuff we talk about through SEED Workshops when I was fifteen! Working on the program with Catherine and Karen is as close as I can get to going back in time and giving helpful advice to my younger self.”
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All of SEED Workshops' programs have been designed and developed in consultation with various professionals specialising in our workshop topics and drawing on the most recent research. Our highly qualified and experienced presenters deliver our workshops in a fun, engaging way, using a variety of teaching techniques ensuring that all participants are inspired and moved. Our program is non-denominational, and we work with many non-secular and secular schools. Please contact us should you have any concerns about our program or content.
We look forward to working with your school!
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All of SEED Workshops' programs have been designed and developed in consultation with various professionals specialising in our workshop topics and drawing on the most recent research. Our highly qualified and experienced presenters deliver our workshops in a fun, engaging way, using a variety of teaching techniques ensuring that all participants are inspired and moved. Our program is non-denominational, and we work with many non-secular and secular schools. Please contact us should you have any concerns about our program or content.
We look forward to working with your school!
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What others are saying about our programs:
"I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks for the exceptional workshop you and your team delivered yesterday. The insights you provided on masculinity and relationships were incredibly pertinent to our Year 9 boys. Your presentation resonated deeply with them and addressed important topics that are crucial at this stage in their lives.
I was particularly impressed with how you engaged with the students. Your approach created a welcoming and supportive environment in the classroom, which allowed the boys to express their thoughts and feelings openly.
The feedback from the students has been positive. They appreciated not only the content of the workshop but also the respectful and empathetic way in which you interacted with them. It’s clear that your efforts made a significant impact and contributed positively to their understanding of these important issues.
Once again, thank you for your dedication and the positive influence you have had on our students. We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with you again in the future."
Blake McConville | Physical Education Teacher
“Catherine is so passionate about creating great futures for our young people, and has the runs on the board when it comes to working with them. Mark her SEED Workshops as must-do’s in your school.”
Michael Grose |Parentingideas
“SEED Workshops is an amazing, innovative program. Its presenters have a unique skill of capturing immediate attention and rapport with all participants. Every single student involved will walk away with an intrinsic sense of empowerment, self-awareness and self-confidence. I encourage all proactive schools to commit to providing such a valuable educational resource to the students of their school community.”
Nicky Johnston | Educator| Speaker| Author/Illustrator 'Go Away Mr Worrythoughts' series & 'Actually, I Can'
Catherine Manning has been a speaker for the South Eastern Centre for Sustainability’s Knowledge Works program since its inception. As a staunch activist and board member of several reputable community organisations, Catherine has been a strong advocate for a broad range of environmental and social justice issues and initiatives, which more often than not have lead to positive outcomes, sending out a strong message of empowerment and the ability to make a difference with those she comes into contact with. Catherine’s role as a keynote speaker for the International Women’s Day conference held at Toorak College that was attended by schools from and around Melbourne, was extremely well received, and was testament to her ability and expertise in delivering quality presentations to a wide range of people across a number of different age groups and areas.
Catherine’s SEED Workshops program promotes behavioral change and positive self-image via well-orchestrated activities that really connect with her audience.
The executive committee of the South Eastern Centre for Sustainability highly recommend Catherine and her SEED Workshops program.
Steve Karakitsos | President, South Eastern Centre for Sustainability
I thought we were going to be in for a boring lecture today, but it wasn’t like that at all! It was so much fun, and I learnt so many new things about myself and my friends. Thanks for teaching me how to be a good friend, to respectfully resolve conflict, how to relax, to reject toxic messages in the media and advertising, and to love myself. This was the best day ever.’
Greta | Year 9 | Glenroy