Amanda Rootsey (she/her) is a Hay House author (Shine From Within; a teen’s guide to life), certified life coach and youth mentor, cancer-survivor, former international model, business coach/consultant and gentle guide.  She has been teaching and presenting to teens since she was a teen herself and has supported thousands of youth since launching her holistic training school, Shine From Within, on Gubbi Gubbi Country (the Sunshine Coast) QLD Australia in 2012. A little more gentle than many other youth speakers and facilitators, one Vice Principal said, ‘Her dignified, gentle manner – coupled with her passion for empowering young girls – was greatly admired by teachers and students alike,” Deb Thomson Kimberley College, Brisbane QLD.

In 2016, Amanda launched an online Youth Mentor Training program to support passionate people feeling called to support the youth in their own community with unique workshops of their own.  It brings together over 15 experts from around the world in psychology, coaching, event management, business and, of course, youth. The award-winning training has support 300+ youth mentors to support the teens in their area across Africa, Europe, Canada, USA, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Amanda has appeared on The Today Show (Channel 9) and Today Tonight (Channel 7), been mentioned as a ‘game-changer’ in The Collective magazine and has been a regular columnist for Nature & Health Magazine.  She’s spoken to audiences big and small all around Australia, and often volunteers her time for not-for-profit organisations and other youth-mentoring programs.

It was a 2-year battle with cancer that really inspired Amanda to bring together a team of experts and inspiring guest teachers to create her unique training school.   Her time as an international model in her early 20’s also opened up her eyes to the tortuous relationship that many young people have with their bodies and prompted Amanda to deepen her understanding of positive body image issues in teens.

Nothing gives her greater pleasure than to see her students realise how beautiful they are inside and out, take responsibility for their own health and happiness, be caring and supportive citizens of the world and truly shine bright.

With a background in teaching teen personal development courses spanning 20 years, life coaching and youth mentoring qualifications, a business degree, a passion for natural health and a best-selling book for teens, Amanda is leading the charge in a new wave of teen education and youth mentor training.