What People Are Saying

“Mel shares her story with vulnerability, leaving nothing out, and leaves the room feeling like they’ve just had someone bring them in on their greatest secret. Her communication style is both direct and gentle and she provides a powerful examination of menopause, motherhood, and career expectations, and reminds us all that things can change in an instant.”

Hon. Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Women, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care

“I’ve known and worked alongside Mel Knuckey for many years, and it was incredibly powerful to witness her courage in sharing her personal journey at the Tasmanian Menopause Summit. Mel spoke vulnerably about the most difficult period of her perimenopause experience, including misdiagnosis, psychosis, and the profound challenge of trying to understand what was happening to her while also seeking the professional support she needed. Her honesty created a deep sense of safety in the room and opened the door for others to share more openly and personally. What I deeply admire about Mel is the way she integrates both professional expertise and lived experience. She communicates with warmth, clarity, and genuine compassion, ensuring people feel truly seen, heard, and understood. I look forward to seeing Mel continue to step further into her power and authority, and to sharing her story with an even wider audience.” Wajan Hale, Counsellor, Hobart

“Mel’s story is raw, honest and deeply relatable. She connects to the heart of every woman, especially those who have faced physical or mental health challenges linked to reproductive health, particularly perimenopause and menopause. Her experience reflects a far-too-common reality: being told she was too young, which delayed or discouraged access to appropriate care, including hormone replacement therapy. By sharing her story, Mel is an inspiration and an advocate for women everywhere. For those fortunate to hear her speak, her words offer recognition, connection and the reassurance that we are not alone.” Rhonda – Wellbeing Worker and Counsellor

“Mel Knuckey is a phenomenal lived experience speaker. Mel's presentation on menopause and mental health was engaging, deeply authentic, and highly educational. She has a brilliant ability to connect with an audience instantly and make a complex, personal topic incredibly accessible. I highly recommend her for any event or corporate wellness session!” Emma, Hobart

"I heard Mel speak at the Menopause Summit and it stayed with me. As a cardiologist, I see what happens when women's symptoms get dismissed or put down to something else, and sometimes that has real consequences for their heart health, not just their hormonal health. Mel puts a human face on that. Her story is a reminder that listening to women properly, and recognising the various masks of menopause, has to sit within any clinical assessment. What struck me most was how she turned something so personal into something genuinely useful for the room, for health professionals, for workplaces, for families. I believe conversations like these matter, and voices like Mel's are part of what closes the gap between what the research tells us and what women are actually living through.” Dr Warrick Bishop, Cardiologist

“Mel was a guest speaker at our Rotary Club with a presentation on the Tas Menopause Summit which was held recently. Mel imparted very informative knowledge of the many symptoms of menopause and perimenopause, often not commonly known or recognised by doctors, and which can have very debilitating effects on both physical and mental health. Mel also shared her own lived experience of her unrecognised perimenopause symptoms and its consequences which was powerful and moving. Her undiagnosed condition not only had devastating effect on her physical and mental health but also impacted hugely on her family and friends. I congratulate Mel for her commitment to increase knowledge and awareness of menopause and perimenopause, and for her courage to share her own journey which so powerfully underlines the need for increased community awareness.” Biddy Fisk President Rotary Club of Sandy Bay

“Mel's presentation at the Tasmanian Menopause Summit was one of the most powerful and heartfelt talks of the day. She shared her lived experience with incredible courage, honesty and vulnerability, creating a safe space for others to reflect on their own journeys. What stood out most was Mel's ability to turn an intensely personal story into a message of hope, resilience and advocacy. Her authenticity deeply resonated with the audience, and it was evident by the emotional response in the room that her story had made a lasting impact. As a pelvic health physiotherapist, I see firsthand how significantly menopause and perimenopause can affect women's physical and emotional wellbeing. Mel's willingness to speak openly about her experiences helps break down stigma, encourages important conversations and empowers women to seek support sooner. Unfortunately, there has historically been a lack in medical training about perimenopause and menopause, so for all people to understand the impact and advocate for themselves and their partners is extremely important. Mel is a compelling and engaging speaker who has an extraordinary ability to connect with people. Her story has the power to educate, inspire and create meaningful change, and I would highly recommend her as a keynote speaker for conferences, workplaces and community events.” ‍ ‍Rachel Andrew, APA Titled Pelvic Health Physiotherapist

“Having known Mel for many years, both personally and through our involvement in the local business community, I was already aware of much of her journey.  Her story, and her willingness to use that experience to help others, was part of what inspired me to support the Tasmanian Menopause Summit. It was, however, the first time I had heard Mel speak publicly - and it was incredibly moving.  She shared a difficult and deeply personal journey with openness, honesty and courage, yet throughout it all, her naturally bright, sunshiny personality and warmth shone through. What struck me was her ability to turn a confronting experience into something positive that could genuinely help others.  Her story is one of resilience and hope, but also an important reminder to trust yourself, keep asking questions and continue seeking help when something simply isn't right. There wasn't a dry eye in the room, and the standing ovation Mel received said everything.  She has a wonderful ability to connect with people from all walks of life.  Her openness, warmth and genuinely selfless nature will resonate across generations and communities, and I have no doubt that sharing her story will inspire many people to feel less alone, find hope through adversity and advocate for themselves and those they care about.” Brenda Boland, Owner, Hayes Flooring & House of Boland

“Mel Knuckey has been to hell and back. I suspect Mel speaks for many women going through perimenopause who are not only suffering in silence but have been ignored and dismissed by the medical profession, gotten little support from their workplaces and left their families shocked at their downward spiral. Mel doesn’t leave anything out. She speaks about multiple medication adjustments, psych ward admissions and how she attempted suicide because she felt her family would be better off without her. Mel was so unwell, she became a ward of the Tasmanian state -- a woman who’d worked in community development and the not-for-profit sector for more than 20 years, a mother of two teenaged children. Her identity stripped away. Finally, one day, Mel and her husband met with a new counsellor who truly listened. This sounds like perimenopause, the counsellor said. So began the healing journey for Mel and her family. Mel tells her story with passion and power. She speaks with clarity and conviction. Her story is one that must be heard.” Dean Yates, author of the critically acclaimed memoir Line in the Sand, mental health advocate and public speaker

“Mel Knuckey’s openness and honesty in sharing her very personal story of being misdiagnosed during perimenopause really touched me. Her story gave me a much deeper insight into just how complicated perimenopause can be to diagnose, and how the impact can reach far beyond the individual, affecting relationships, family life and the people we love around us. What I loved most was Mel’s willingness to be vulnerable and share her experience so openly. She made what can sometimes feel like a confusing and difficult subject incredibly relatable and reminded me of just how important it is that women feel heard, understood and supported. Thank you, Mel, for sharing your story with such warmth, honesty and courage.” Gwen, Hobart

"I had the privilege of hearing Mel speak at the 2026 Tasmanian Menopause Summit, and I was genuinely moved by her story. She spoke so openly about her experience of navigating the mental health system while experiencing undiagnosed symptoms of perimenopause, and the trauma and confusion that came with that. Listening to her share what she had been through was incredibly powerful, particularly knowing how challenging it must have been to revisit some of those experiences so publicly. Mel has shown incredible bravery and resilience. She has turned a deeply difficult experience into a reason to advocate for change and help others. Watching her speak, engaging the audience with such honesty and confidence, and then seeing her receive a very well-deserved standing ovation, was a really special moment. I felt incredibly proud of her, both as a friend and a colleague, and I know her voice will continue to make a difference for many people." Kerryn, Hobart

“Hearing Mel’s story was undoubtedly one of the most powerful moments of a menopause conference I recently attended. She eloquently spoke with incredible vulnerability, openness and honesty about her devastating journey through perimenopause, mental health challenges, time in a psychiatric ward and months upon months of misdiagnosis and unimaginable distress. What struck me most was the strength behind Mel’s story. She is an exceptionally intelligent, successful, courageous and high-functioning woman with an enormous heart. Her willingness to share such a deeply personal experience was both heartbreaking and profoundly heart-warming for every single guest in the room. By speaking so openly, Mel has helped shine a much-needed light on the devastating impact hormonal changes during perimenopause can have on women’s mental health and on how easily these symptoms can be misunderstood or misdiagnosed by highly qualified professionals. Mel’s courage in sharing her journey will undoubtedly help countless women feel less alone, more understood and, importantly, far more likely to seek the right support. Her story has the power to create awareness, challenge assumptions within in the medical field and genuinely change the lives of women and their loved ones. It was an absolute honour to hear her speak.” Anita, Hobart

"I’ve had the privilege of witnessing Mel’s journey from multiple perspectives, each of which has been deeply moving. Her story has broken my heart and, in many ways, sewn it back together again.
As her therapist, I was shocked to learn that no one had considered perimenopause as a possible contributor to the distress she was experiencing. Once she received appropriate assessment and support, Mel was able to begin rebuilding her life with incredible determination. She threw herself into putting the pieces back together—and then turned her experience into a powerful force for change. Listening to Mel share her story at the Tasmanian Menopause Summit in June this year was deeply moving. Mel didn’t hold back. She told her truth about a healthcare system that had failed to recognise what was happening to her, and about how profoundly that failure affected her life. Mel’s courage, honesty and advocacy have the potential to change the world for female sexual health. Her willingness to speak openly about her experience helps shine a light on the gaps in our understanding, healthcare and research. I hope that one day soon, women won’t have to doctor-shop, advocate relentlessly for themselves, or play lucky dip with treatments simply to get a good night’s sleep, feel like themselves again, and stop wanting to stab their loved ones. Mel is helping us move towards that future." Laura Davis, Sexologist Hobart www.lauradavis.com.au 

"Mel's presentation at the Tasmanian Menopause Summit was one of the most powerful and memorable talks of the day. She shared her experience with remarkable honesty and vulnerability, shining a light on the often-overlooked impact of perimenopause on a woman's mental health, relationships, career and sense of self. What resonated most was the profound loss of identity she described and the life-changing effect of finally feeling heard, validated and supported. Her story is a powerful reminder of why better awareness, education and understanding of perimenopause matter, across both society but the entire medical space. I have no doubt her courage in sharing her journey will positively impact many women and families." Chelsea Marriott, Women's Health Physiotherapist - Kieser Hobart

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Mel across several roles over many years, but it was recently seeing her speak at a summit on women and midlife that truly struck me. Mel shared her story alongside other professionals, speaking not from theory but from lived experience. Her journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. For so long she didn’t know what was happening to her, yet she kept asking questions and finding ways to support herself, until that persistence led her to affirming care. Her story is both a warning and a message of hope: that as women, we can take responsibility for our health and keep pushing for the care we deserve, and when we do, our lives can change completely. Mel’s story deserves to be heard, not only by women who will feel seen, or forewarned if this stage of life is still ahead of them, but also by the men who love and support the women in their lives.” Dr Kate Cashman, Business Owner katecashman.com