A Gosnells wellness educator who has spent more than two decades in the complementary wellness field has been named a finalist in the 2026 AusMumpreneur Awards.
Michelle McIntyre, founder of My Wellness Academy, was selected from more than 2,000 nominations nationwide as a finalist in the Education and Training category.
Ms McIntyre said she was surprised by the recognition, particularly as it was her first time taking part in a business awards program.
“I was genuinely shocked! I think I still am, especially given this is my first year as part of any business awards,” she said.
“I knew there would be a lot of strong businesses represented, so when I opened the email and read that I’d been selected as an Education & Training finalist from more than 2,000 nominations nationwide, it took a moment to sink in.”
Ms McIntyre has lived in Gosnells for much of the past 26 years and now teaches workshops from the same home she and her family bought more than two decades ago.
Her involvement in complementary wellness began more than 20 years ago, before she started practising Reiki.
She initially learnt Reiki while experiencing back problems and preparing for her first spinal surgery, intending to use it for herself rather than teach it.
She later became a Reiki Master Teacher and said education gradually became a bigger part of her work.
Her own experience after completing her Reiki Master training also influenced her approach to supporting students.
“Not long after I completed my Reiki Master training, my teacher left the industry,” she said.
“I found my own way, but I remember what it felt like to suddenly have that support disappear.”
Ms McIntyre said one of the issues she had observed in the complementary wellness industry was the variation in training and professional standards.
She said many modalities operated in an unregulated or largely self-regulated environment, meaning training could vary considerably between providers.
“I’d love to see greater consistency across the industry and more emphasis on what happens after the initial qualification — continuing education, reflective practice, mentoring and professional development,” she said.
Over the past year, Ms McIntyre has placed greater emphasis on continuing education, graduate support and practitioner development.
Her journey has also included periods when she had to slow down or stop working because of her own spinal surgeries and, more recently, her husband’s cancer diagnosis and treatment.
She said the experiences had changed how she viewed progress.
“I’ve learned that pausing isn’t the same as giving up, and something not working doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve failed,” she said.
“What keeps me going is the teaching. When a former student comes back, tells me what they’ve gone on to do, asks another question or continues their development, I’m reminded why I started doing this in the first place.”
