ALICE BULLIVANT
Nominee for what Award/s
Wellness with Heart Award
Real and Relatable Voice
Everyday Trailblazer Award
Wellness with Heart Award
Wellness with Heart Award
1. What inspired you to champion wellness and healing?
My own personal transformation was the catalyst. Before discovering kinesiology, I was constantly trying to push through life, disconnected from my body and emotions. I knew something was not right….but not really. Then I had a baby, and developed severe postnatal depression. I thought I had just made a huge mistake, and if someone took the baby away, everything would go back to normal. I went to Tresillian because I thought the baby was broken, and I needed it fixed before I gave it up for adoption. What I didn’t know was that my son was responding to my own internal disconnection. Once he was “fixed”, things didn’t really get better, and a community nurse gave me the test for PND.
I knew at that point that I could lie and the results of this test would just go away, but I decided to be honest, and from that point, I was sent to St John Of God. I had no idea how severe my condition was, and it never occurred to me that I was in for the long haul here. I remember at first that I would not participate in affirmations, group therapy, even talking to my psychiatrist – I literally paid him for an hour for me to sit there and refuse to talk. I thought the art therapy was a waste of time. I was there for 9 weeks, and gradually bit by bit, I started participating, and things got better. At the time, I didn’t realise this was the best thing that had ever happened to me and was the catalyst for change.
Fast forward 5 years, and my son started school. He had all sorts of trouble settling in and “behaving” and so he was tested for all the usual things, and they discovered through this process that he was academically gifted. A woman we were suggested to see told us to see a kinesiologist. When it worked, I wanted to understand what these weirdoes were doing to my kid, and I went to a weekend course to find out. This was the day I figured out what I wanted to do with my life, and started studying the next week. I still thought I was “fixed” and I was only going to help other people. After a few weeks of early learning, I realised that healing is a lifelong process, and to continue on my journey, I had to surrender to the experience.
When I finally turned inward and truly experienced kinesiology for the first time, it was as if someone had turned the lights on inside me. I felt seen, safe, and whole in a way I hadn’t before. That moment lit a fire in me. I knew I had to learn how to offer others the same reconnection to self, the same path back to peace and vitality.
This work isn’t just a profession for me; it’s a calling. The more I studied and practised, the more I realised how many people are carrying emotional and physical burdens that no one else can see - but their bodies are screaming to be heard. I felt deeply called to be the one who listens and helps translate those messages.
Wellness, to me, is about empowering people to understand themselves and live more fully. That’s what inspired me -and still inspires me every day.
2. Tell us about a breakthrough moment in helping others feel whole.
There are many moments, but one in particular stands out. A client came to me completely depleted - physically burnt out, emotionally numb, and feeling like she’d lost all sense of who she was. She had tried everything and was close to giving up.
Through kinesiology and energy work, we slowly began to unravel the layers of stress, trauma, and self-doubt she was carrying. She’d spent many years looking after everyone else, a pattern set up in childhood, at the expense of herself. Now, she’d worked in a career that she didn’t love, she’d raised her children, who were leaving the nest, and her relationship had broken down. Without all the ways she’d unconsciously set up to fill her time looking after everyone else, her body hoped she was going to remember to look after herself, and it didn’t happen. So her body started to speak to her through signs and symptoms that got louder and louder until she couldn’t ignore them any longer. She had all the tests, and nobody could ever find anything “wrong” which was how she ended up coming to see me.
She thought that she was coming to see me to solve her health issues, only to come to realise that her health issues were the outcome of putting herself last for so many years. I remember the moment she looked up after a session, tears in her eyes, and said, “I feel like I’m coming home to myself. I found myself again, I feel whole.”
That was a turning point - not just for her, but for me as a practitioner. I realised then that healing isn’t about fixing anyone. It’s about holding space, guiding gently, and helping people remember their own power. Seeing someone reclaim their vitality, their sense of self, their joy, and then heir health -that’s the kind of breakthrough that stays with you forever.
3. What philosophy drives your approach to wellbeing?
At the heart of my work is the belief that the body holds deep wisdom. Every ache, emotion, or pattern is a message waiting to be heard. My job is to decode that message so that the client understands their body’s wisdom by giving it a voice.
My approach is grounded in authenticity, compassion, and the understanding that healing is a collaborative journey, not a one-size-fits-all process. I meet every client where they are at - their beliefs, their values and what they want to achieve, while gently educating and guiding them to really hear their body’s voice. I take this approach into every session with every client, and I find this helps them feel safe and supported by me.
I don’t believe in treating symptoms in isolation. I focus on the whole person: physical, emotional, mental, energetic, and spiritual. This integrated approach is what allows lasting transformation to happen. Everything is connected on all of these levels, and such is this interconnected wisdom that true healing only occurs when the whole person is being treated, seen, heard and understood.
I’m also guided by the principle of self -responsibility. True healing begins when we choose to meet ourselves with honesty and care. I support clients in taking ownership of their journey - not through pressure, but through empowerment. When people feel safe, seen, and supported, they begin to trust themselves again. And that, to me, is where the magic lies.
Ultimately I’m guided by the principle of integrity. I walk my talk. I share how I have had a similar issue, or when I have created my own problem, and that I am not perfect either. I remember once a friend saying that they were afraid to bring their child to me because they thought I would judge them. When I asked why they thought that, they said because on social media it looked like I was perfect, I never shared anything negative about my life. That showed me that authentic was not being the poster child for wellness, but being my perfectly imperfect self was. And I’ve taken that approach ever since. Life is a journey of learning, of experience, for all of us.
4. How have you overcome obstacles in your wellness journey?
Like many practitioners, my path hasn’t been linear. I’ve faced burnout, self-doubt, and the constant juggle of running a business while holding space for others. Early on, I thought I had to have it all together to be taken seriously. That belief nearly broke me. That old belief of “I’m fixed” resurfaced for another level of healing. As I write this, I do wonder if it surfaced in some form in my story about my social media looking too perfect.
I’ve come up against resistance, judgement and criticism, very often by people that are close to me, or people who don’t know me at all. I’ve learned it’s not my judgement, it’s theirs, and to surround myself with people who support my goals, or quite simply – other small business owners and therapists. This has helped me to find space to lean into and people to lean on who can support me when I have challenges in my wellness journey, and help me to learn more about others to pass that wisdom on.
I’ve had a major health challenge in the form of appendicitis, and this taught me a lot. I misread my body’s wisdom, and wasn’t listening when it was telling me to stop. I was asking to “be fixed” in a hurry so I could get back to work that afternoon, and then the next day when I realised that wasn’t happening. Then my appendix burst and brought me to a complete stop for 5 weeks. This gave me a lot of time to reflect on how I did not listen to my own wisdom, and my own advice, and that it is ok to let others down sometimes. It also gave me time to reflect on the emotional meaning behind appendix issues, and work through those challenges as well.
Over time, I learned that being vulnerable doesn’t make me less professional - it makes me real. The more I honoured my own needs, set boundaries, and leaned into support, the stronger and more aligned I became. I now see challenges as invitations to grow. Every obstacle I’ve faced has deepened my empathy and refined my approach. Each lesson is an opportunity, and the lessons and opportunities will continue to present themselves for my benefit.
I’ve also embraced continuous learning, surrounding myself with mentors, peers, and tools that nourish me. Staying true to my values -integrity, self -responsibility, and individuality -has been my compass through it all. I no longer aim for perfection. I aim for presence, purpose, and progress.
5. What does true wellbeing mean to you?
True wellbeing isn’t just the absence of pain or illness -it’s the presence of peace, connection, vitality, and authenticity. It’s waking up with energy, moving through life with clarity, and being able to meet challenges with resilience. It’s feeling aligned with who you are and how you live.
To me, wellbeing is about balance - not in a rigid or performative way, but in a way that feels sustainable and self-honouring. It means listening to your body, honouring your emotions, and trusting your intuition. It’s the dance of balance on a mind, body and soul level. It’s nutrition, and movement, and mental clarity and emotional peace, and spiritual joy.
It’s also relational. Our wellbeing is shaped not just by what we do, but by the spaces we’re in, the people we share life with, and the beliefs we hold about ourselves. It’s the continuous re-evaluation and improvement in every aspect of our lives. That’s why I focus on creating safe, compassionate spaces where people can reconnect with their own truth.
Wellbeing is a journey of coming home to yourself. And my greatest joy is walking alongside people on that path.
Real and Relatable Voice Award
Real and Relatable Voice Award
1. Share a time when being raw and real changed everything for you.
Several years into my business, I hit a wall. On the outside, things looked successful: I had a full calendar, returning clients, and a growing reputation. But inside, I was burnt out, emotionally stretched, and questioning everything. I remember standing in front of a client one day, feeling like I had nothing to give - not because I didn’t care, but because I hadn’t given myself what I needed.
That day, instead of pushing through, I paused. I told the client honestly, “I’m not at my best today, but I’m here with you. Let’s work gently.” To my surprise, she didn’t retreat - she leaned in. That session ended up being one of the most profound experiences for both of us. She felt safe to open up in a way she never had, and I realised that being real didn’t make me less professional - it made me more human.
That moment became a turning point. I gave myself permission to show up imperfectly. I started talking more openly in my content, in my workshops, and with clients about what it means to be whole - not polished. I stopped trying to protect my business with perfection, and started anchoring it in truth.
Being raw and real allowed me to connect more deeply, lead more honestly, and heal more sustainably. It changed everything because it reminded me that people don’t need us to be perfect - they need us to be present.
This meant that on the day after a close friend died, when a client I had seen a while back booked in but didn’t tell me why, and I found out when she came into the clinic she had lost a baby a week after birth in the most tragic of circumstances, I was able to share in her grief, and we were both able to lean in to this vulnerable space and share in the healing energy and support we both desperately needed.
This is a space that healers and therapists fall into, feeling like we can’t have bad days and emotions too. But when we lean fully into this authentic space, we learn it amplifies the power of the healing ability that we have, and that there is enough space and energy to hold us all.
2. How do you balance vulnerability and leadership?
Balancing vulnerability and leadership is an ongoing practice - like walking a tightrope with open arms. For me, it’s about choosing transparency over perfection, while staying grounded in responsibility.
As a healer, mentor and a business owner, I’m expected to lead with clarity and confidence. But I’ve learned that true confidence doesn’t mean hiding the messy parts; it means being able to name them and still move forward with purpose.
I balance vulnerability by discerning what serves the moment. If I’m sharing a challenge or a personal insight, it’s not for sympathy - it’s to create connection, to show what’s possible beyond the struggle. I’ve found that when I show up honestly - whether it's in board meetings, client sessions, or social media - I give others permission to exhale. They see that leadership doesn’t mean having it all together. It means being brave enough to show up even when you don’t.
There’s power in saying, “This is hard, and I’m figuring it out.” It’s human. And that humanity builds trust, not just in me, but in the collective vision we’re working toward.
I inspire and educate in my clinic by sharing relevant parts of my story. This is a space that many therapists are trained not to lean into, or are scared to lean into. Relatability leads to connection and connection leads to transformation, and that is why people walk through my door. We all have challenges, we all have hardships, and this sharing space absolutely helps people to see you are a person with struggles as well, and helps people to feel that they are not alone in their challenge. And that there is hope. As a vulnerable leader, this approach helps me to shine the light on their path forward.
Vulnerability isn’t weakness - it’s a bridge. It’s powerful and raw and open. And when leadership includes both strength and softness, strategy and soul, it becomes something people genuinely want to follow - not just out of obligation, but out of alignment.
3. How has your authenticity made others feel seen or heard?
Authenticity is the heartbeat of everything I do. From the moment a client walks through my door - or a student enters my space - I want them to feel like they don’t have to shrink, edit, or pretend. Or try to be me.
Over the years, I’ve had countless clients and colleagues tell me, “You made me feel safe to be myself.” That’s the highest compliment I could receive. Whether I’m holding space in a session, mentoring a practitioner, or speaking at an event, I show up fully - as a leader who laughs, cries, questions, and evolves. I believe that when we are real, we create a ripple effect. Others feel safe to be real too.
I remember mentoring a young practitioner who had been doubting herself, thinking she wasn’t “spiritual enough” or “together enough” to succeed in this field. I shared my own story - my self-doubt, my burnout, the times I questioned my path. Her eyes welled with tears, and she said, “I thought I was the only one. You’ve just made me feel like I belong.”
That moment sticks with me because it reminds me of why authenticity matters. When people feel seen, they feel like they matter. When they feel heard, they begin to trust their voice again.
I share often with clients, students and mentees, that not so long ago, I didn’t believe in any of this natural therapies rubbish. That I thought energy healing was bullshit – no joke. That I was literally the last person in my class to learn a particular technique on a number of occasions. I wasn’t one of those people that always knew this was what they wanted to do, or always had connection to other spaces. That I actively got in my own way – a lot.
I don’t wear invisible masks, and I don’t expect others to either. My authenticity invites people to bring their full selves into the room - messy, magnificent, and everything in between. The amount of people that share things with me that they have never shared with another person tells me all by itself that they feel safe, seen and heard enough to be vulnerable, honest and raw with me, and themselves. That’s where the magic happens. That’s where healing begins.
4. What myths about perfection do you wish more people would break?
The biggest myth about perfection I wish we could dismantle is this: that it’s required for success, or for being taken seriously.
In both the wellness industry and professional leadership, there’s this unspoken pressure to be polished, flawless, and “together” all the time. Especially as women, we’re often taught that to be credible, we must be bulletproof. But I’ve found the opposite to be true.
Perfection is a mask - and a heavy one. It disconnects us from others, and even worse, from ourselves. It tells us to hide our humanity, our learning curves, our evolution. But the truth is, growth is messy. And real impact doesn’t come from being perfect; it comes from being present, adaptable, and honest.
This was one of my character traits that was keeping me stuck. I was often the best at what I did, but I didn’t realise that this trait and the associated perfectionism was the exact thing keep me stuck and disconnected. I was playing in a space I knew well, I could achieve well, and I played it safe by staying in the things I knew. There was no growth and no connection. No authenticity or vulnerability. No happiness.
Because I wasn’t listening, life brought me to my knees. I spent 9 weeks in a psych ward, and that was my catalyst for change. I had to choose to change, to be vulnerable, to face myself, to see myself. That 9 weeks was the best thing that ever happened to me – I had to face for the first time that I could remember that I didn’t have all the answers. And then, once I discovered kinesiology, I got to rebuild myself in the way that worked for me – where I could be real, authentic, vulnerable, open, and for the first time, at peace with myself.
I’ve built a business, grown a community, and led a national association not because I had all the answers, but because I was willing to show up anyway - to keep learning, keep listening, and keep choosing purpose over polish.
I want more people to understand:
You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful.
You don’t have to have it all together to lead with impact.
Mistakes and vulnerability are not flaws - they’re features of courageous, conscious leadership.
I vote we retire the myth of perfection and replace it with something real: integrity, self-awareness, and the willingness to show up fully human.
5. What role does truth-telling play in your work or message?
Truth-telling is the foundation of everything I do.
Whether I’m working one-on-one with clients, facilitating a workshop, or advocating for our profession, I lead with honesty. Not just in what I say - but in how I live, how I show up, and what I choose to stand for. I walk my talk.
Truth-telling means naming the hard stuff: the unspoken pressures in our industry, the self-doubt practitioners carry, the disconnect clients feel in their own bodies. It means calling out the myths that keep people stuck - and offering a new path forward. It means calling out their behaviours, their limiting beliefs, challenging people, and then showing them through kinesiology how that is showing up in their bodies and their health.
But truth-telling isn’t just about disruption. It’s about liberation. When we name what’s real, we free ourselves - and others - from shame, silence, and fear. I’ve had clients say, “No one’s ever said that out loud before,” or “I thought it was just me.” They say, “That makes sense” or “I felt that”. That’s the power of speaking the truth - it reminds people they’re not alone. They feel seen, heard, and understood, and then their body relaxes, because it feels the same. It’s an overwhelming sense of relief.
In leadership, truth-telling also looks like integrity in action. It’s aligning what I believe with what I do. It’s holding space for real conversations, even when they’re uncomfortable. It’s advocating for practitioners and clients alike to feel safe, supported, and seen. I’ve advocated for people at school, at uni, in workplaces, and in the medical system. I’ve advocated for children when the adults around them are not listening to them. It’s my job and my mission to give voice to the body, and to the people who are not feeling safe enough to advocate for themselves.
Truth telling looks like empowerment. Lies feel awful, and they damage your health in the long term. The old saying of the truth will set you free is so true. It feels like courage, it feels like relief, it feels like expression. When you live your truth, everything falls into place. I don’t ever have to watch what I say or do because it comes from the source of truth, and kinesiology is the ultimate truth teller! It shows below your subconscious the truth of your body’s wisdom. This is why your behaviour shows your intent – your body will only tell its truth.
The world doesn’t need more perfect messages - it needs more honest ones. More leaders who speak from the heart, not just the script. Truth-telling is my way of creating connection, sparking change, and inviting others to live and lead with radical, unapologetic authenticity.
Everyday Trailblazer Award
Everyday Trailblazer Award
1. What male-dominated space or tradition did you step into? What barriers or stereotypes did you face?
I stepped into the world of professional leadership within complementary medicine and the wellness industry-an arena that, while largely female in practice, has historically placed men in positions of authority, decision-making, and recognition. Stepping into the role of President of the Australian Kinesiology Association was both a bold move and a natural progression, grounded in my passion for the profession and my commitment to elevating its visibility and credibility.
Despite kinesiology being a heart-centred, holistic field, leadership in this space often mirrored traditional structures-where the “serious” roles were still perceived as more suited to men. There’s been an unspoken expectation that women in wellness should focus on nurturing, while strategy, governance, and advocacy were domains reserved for others. I challenged this narrative simply by showing up fully-as a business owner, a healer, and a leader with vision and fire.
The barriers weren’t always overt. They came in the form of second-guessing, dismissiveness, or surprise when I spoke with clarity and conviction on professional standards or strategic direction. But they also fuelled my determination to rewrite what leadership in wellness looks like-more inclusive, heart-led, and courageously authentic.
Equally, building and running my own kinesiology business since 2014 meant stepping into the traditionally male-dominated world of entrepreneurship. As a woman in business, I encountered the common biases-expectations to keep it “small,” “nurturing,” or hobby-like. But I’ve always viewed my business not just as a healing space, but as a scalable, strategic, and impactful platform for change. I have navigated everything from pricing resistance to underestimation with grit, clarity, and a commitment to financial empowerment-both for myself and the women I mentor. Through conscious business ownership, I’ve proven that heart-led doesn’t mean small-scale, and feminine doesn’t mean less powerful.
As a mother, I have faced barriers in terms of business building in relation to balancing the needs of my children and the needs of my business, and of course, myself. The demands of school hours, after school activities, appointments and life admin directly compete with business needs. There are only so many hours in a day that need to be allocated to all areas of life. As my children have grown and become more independent, these challenges have eased. They have also influenced my business decisions in terms of hours, availability, and even the location of my clinic, moving it to a location that made balancing the whole of my life much easier.
Stepping into these spaces has allowed me to challenge not just gender assumptions, but the very structure of what it means to lead in health. I lead with both strategy and softness, professionalism and presence.
2. How did you stay motivated when facing resistance?
Resistance often came hand-in-hand with growth. Whether it was scepticism from others, internal doubts, or the sheer fatigue of forging new paths, I learned that staying motivated required a deep connection to my “why.” I soon learned that a lot of the resistance came from people who were afraid to take the steps that I was taking. Due to my training, I know that is their deep down fear, not judgement of me.
My motivation has always been rooted in service-to my clients, to my peers, and to the future of this profession. When faced with challenges, I return to the transformations I witness in clinic every day. Helping someone reclaim their health, reconnect to their purpose, or feel truly seen and heard-that’s what fuels me.
I have learned from a young age to step out of the mould and succeed despite the odds. I was raised in a single parent household by a mother who cleaned toilets to put me through school. We lived in housing commission and struggled to put food on the table at times. My mother was determined for me to not repeat the poverty cycle, and showed me how to set my sights on a goal and head with intention towards it – no matter what. These early lessons shaped my determination from a very young age, and have served me well in life.
I hold a deep belief that therapies such as kinesiology, and any other therapy that sees the whole person, and allows them to feel seen and heard in every aspect, are the way forward for true wellbeing. I feel that I hold a very important set of keys to unlock humanity, and I have the honour of being one of the people who can do the unlocking. In a world that becomes more connected online, we become more disconnected as people. Seeing this disconnection and knowing I hold the keys to help people return to themselves fuels my fire to help as many people as I can. My motivation feels like a responsibility bestowed on me to do my part to leave the world in a better place than I found it.
I also believe in surrounding myself with aligned support. Mentors, colleagues, and trusted friends have reminded me of my strengths when I’ve momentarily forgotten. I’ve learned to rest without quitting, and to find stillness in the chaos-tools I share with my clients, and use for myself. I’m a deep believer that you are the sum of the people you surround yourself with, and I am aware of how I spend my time and who I spend it with. I spend time with people who lift me up, people who hold me accountable, people who I aspire to be. I listen to motivational podcasts, read self-development books, and commit to spending time every single day on self-development, or in the business world, continuous improvement. I’ve learned to move the people who offer resistance to my goals out of my way – my motto is get on the train or get out of its way!
But perhaps most of all, resistance reminded me that I was doing something different, forging my own path. It became a signpost, not a stop sign. I began to see it as part of the territory when you're not following a well-trodden path, but instead creating a new one-especially as a woman stepping into visible leadership.
3. What does being a trailblazer mean to you now?
Being a trailblazer isn’t about doing something loud or dramatic. For me, it’s about doing something authentic, courageous, and uncompromisingly true-even when it hasn’t been done that way before.
It’s showing up fully-intuition and intellect, softness and strength-and trusting that the way I lead can hold both structure and soul. In a world that often values logic over energy, or evidence over lived experience, I’ve chosen to integrate it all. That’s trailblazing to me.
It also means taking up space unapologetically. As a woman, a healer, a leader, and someone who speaks openly about the energetic and emotional aspects of wellness, I’ve had to own my voice and visibility. Not just for myself, but for others watching - especially the ones wondering if they’re “too much,” “not enough,” or “too different” to lead.
I’ve had a friend who was a great inspiration to me in trailblazing. She created a networking group in my area for health and wellness practitioners, to bring them together to collaborate and support each other, and then to connect us to the community, showcasing us to the community. This was a structure that was missing, and had not occurred to me. She brought so many people together and created a real community, and showed us the way. She has passed away 2 years ago after courageously battling melanoma, and I have decided to continue forging the path she laid, honouring her legacy, continuing her work, and adding my own flavour to it. I am grateful to have the support of two friends on this journey, and together we are showing the way forward for our community.
Today, being a trailblazer means showing others what’s possible when you build from alignment, not ego. It’s creating pathways where people feel safe to bring their whole selves to their work. It’s choosing integrity over approval. And it’s trusting that the ripple effect of being real is far greater than trying to fit into someone else’s idea of success.
4. How do you want to open doors for the next generation?
I want the next generation - especially women in the wellness space - to see that their voice, intuition, and perspective are not only valuable, but necessary. I want them to know they can lead with heart and still be taken seriously. That they don’t have to choose between being deeply compassionate and fiercely strategic. They can be both. That they don’t have to choose between family and career, or business, and themselves. They can have – and balance - all three. And do it without burning themselves, and their relationships out.
I believe that by authentically sharing my story, my struggles, and my wins openly, I make space for others to do the same. I mentor new practitioners. I advocate for higher standards in our field. I model what sustainable, soul-aligned success can look like-without burnout, compromise, or self-abandonment.
Through my business, I’m creating programs and resources that give others tools I never had access to when I started. I want to offer support that I never realised I needed. I want to build systems and communities that are collaborative, not competitive. Where rising together isn’t just a catchphrase, but a lived experience.
I want more kinesiologists – mind body medicine is the future. Whole body medicine is the future. I want this gift shared with as many people as possible, and I want the next generation to step into the privilege of this great work with as many tools as they need, and all the support they could want, to do this great work.
Most importantly, I want them to feel permissionless. Empowered. I want them to know they don’t have to wait for someone to hand them the keys. They already have everything they need to walk through the door-and when they do, I’ll be right there cheering them on.