Mel is a frontline domestic violence prevention expert who speaks openly and candidly about the complex social issues surrounding family violence from first-hand experience as a frontline worker and survivor. In 2013, Mel won a scholarship with the Layne Beachley Foundation to establish Australia’s Premier domestic violence prevention education charity, the KYUP! Project (pronounced KEY-UP! named after a martial arts power shout). But this was not her first award... Mel is a second dan blackbelt and 2 x Australian Hapkido champion with more than 20 years of specialist self defence training in Hap-ki-do Korean martial arts. For the last decade, Mel has delivered workshops across Australia in schools, community centres, shelters, universities and businesses. This year, Mel and the KYUP! Project team are busy recruiting senior female martial artists to empower girls and women to know their worth and champion their safety and wellbeing in their local communities. When the pandemic hit and Mel was unable to work at schools she turned her attention to victims forced to work from home and the impact of family and domestic violence in the workplace. Mel Founded Your Buddy Check an innovative traffic light compliance system delivering Awareness, Policy, Training and Tech to promote a safer workplace and protect the privacy and dignity of victims. Your Buddy Check comprehensively assists boards and management to meet compliance obligations and improve efficiency. Your Buddy Check is fast tracking the start-up phase with the review and launch of internal domestic violence policies for Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and the ASX in its first quarter. Mel is the reigning COSMOPOLITAN Magazine Game Changer - Woman of the Year and is an official Ambassador appointed by the Australia Day Council since 2018. In 2017 Mel was recognised for her work as an Australian of the Year Nominee. Mel has delivered self worth and self defence programs to more than 20,000 students in high schools and uni’s across Australia and NZ.Since 2018 KYUP! has proudly partnered with the University of Sydney Interdisciplinary Program. 2019/20/21 Ambassador, Australia Day Council2019 Aus Hapkido Woman of the Year (tournament)2018 Cosmopolitan Woman of the Year - Game Changer2017 Finalist; InStyle Women of Style Awards2017 Nominee; Australian of the Year Awards2016 Australian of the day; Australian of the Year Awards2013 - 15 Recipient and Ambassador; Layne Beachley Foundation2005 Au Hapkido Woman of the Year (tournament)