Mel Thomas is a domestic violence prevention expert who champions the safety and well-being of women and children. She is a mother of two girls, an accomplished martial artist, and a passionate speaker. She has brought leadership and strong-hearted action to a series of original, dynamic, fun, and hands-on self-worth and self-defense workshops to more than 10,000 Australians in schools, workplaces, and communities since 2013.
She’s not all that… she’s also a Commonwealth Bank Australian of the Day, Nominee for Australian of the Year, Game Changer–Woman of the Year, and 2x Australian Hapkido Woman of the Year black belt champion.
Mel is also a respected media commentator. She has written for the Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, and Mamamia, makes appearances on morning television shows and is a regular on ABC radio.
Mel founded KYUP! Project, Australia’s leading violence prevention education program in 2013 with the help of Aussie surfing icon, Layne Beachley AO.
Pronounced KEY-UP! and named after a martial arts power shout, KYUP! is empowering women and children to value and champion their safety and well-being with the principles of self-worth and the basics of self-defense across Australia and New Zealand.
“An expert in domestic violence prevention… an advocacy close to home.”
Growing up in a violent home, Mel is using her own experience to help empower young people to find their voice and learn about positive relationships. She was inspired by the heroic efforts of her mother’s workplace colleagues in creating an escape plan that led to the successful rescue of Mel, her mum, and younger sister at a time in the 80s when domestic violence was described as a ‘normal social behavior pattern’ by the Australian Institute of Criminology.
