Tricky Talk

Communication Training, Coaching & Facilitation

Better conversations. Better ways forward.

Most of us are never taught how to communicate in ways that help us navigate conflict, express our needs, understand different perspectives or work through difficult conversations. Yet communication shapes how we work together, make decisions, solve problems and support the people around us.

At Insight Speech, we believe communication is a skill that can be learned, practised and strengthened over time.

Tricky Talk combines practical communication training, coaching and facilitation to help people develop communication skills, navigate challenging situations and work through issues together.

Whether you're building a culture of compassionate communication, developing confidence in difficult conversations or supporting a team or group to work through a challenge, Tricky Talk provides a practical, reflective and supportive approach to finding better ways forward.

What We Offer

Communication Skills Training & Coaching

Building the skills to communicate with compassion, confidence and clarity.

Most of us develop communication habits without ever having the opportunity to really understand them or learn different ways of responding. When conversations become difficult, our thoughts, emotions, assumptions and internal reactions can influence what we say, how we listen and how we respond to others.

people understand their own responses, recognise what may be happening and approach challenging conversations with more skills and ease.

Training and coaching can be tailored to the needs of workplaces, teams and professionals. Topics may include:

  • Developing core communication skills and a shared culture of compassionate communication
  • Understanding our internal dialogue, emotional responses and communication patterns
  • Listening to understand, expressing needs and navigating different perspectives
  • Managing difficult conversations, giving feedback and raising concerns
  • Responding constructively to disagreement, tension and conflict
  • Adapting communication to support clients, families and support networks

The focus is on learning, practising and applying skills to real situations, so people can approach difficult conversations with greater understanding and confidence.

Team & Group Facilitation

Helping people work through challenges and find a way forward together.

Sometimes a team or group needs more than communication skills training. It needs support to work through an issue, hear different perspectives, address tension or make decisions together.

Tricky Talk provides structured, facilitated sessions that help people explore challenging issues, understand different viewpoints and work towards practical outcomes. The process is tailored to the situation, with a focus on constructive discussion, shared understanding and meaningful next steps.

Facilitation may support:

  • Working through workplace tension or interpersonal conflict
  • Reflecting on service provision, programs or team practices
  • Exploring different perspectives, concerns and expectations
  • Improving team cohesion and ways of working together
  • Sharing information and working through complex issues
  • Supporting collaborative problem-solving and decision-making
  • Identifying practical actions and agreeing on a way forward

When people feel heard, understand different perspectives and have the skills to work through challenges together, new possibilities emerge. Tricky Talk helps individuals, teams and groups find common ground, navigate difficult conversations and find a way forward.

Facilitation and Training work with Shae

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    2026
    Mittagundi Outdoor Education

    Staff training: Working Well Together: developing communication skills for care and curiosity

    “This stuff is so critical. I wish I knew this earlier in life”

    www.mittagundi.org.au

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    2015 - Present
    Facilitation of interagency and family meetings

    ‘I am in awe of Shae’s ability to facilitate a recovery team’s differing agendas into a cohesive event where everyone is heard with heart and respect. Shae makes it look deceptively simple, when in fact it is her immense skill and personal attributes that facilitate non-judgemental discourse, where each member gets their needs met. Outcomes are evident and celebrated, at the pace of the person at the centre of the meeting, with clear plans moving forward, where everyone has rights and responsibilities towards the action items and goals that are set. I learn so much from Shae every time I work with her.’

    Partners in Recovery, Staff Member

    www.centrecare.com.au

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    2017 - 2022
    Mittagundi Outdoor Education

    Staff support role

    • Communication skills training
    • Conflict resolution
    • Self-awareness training
    • Facilitated course debriefings
    • Team facilitation
    • Individual coaching and counselling

    “Shae helped direct the team emotions towards positive outcomes and the topics that needed to be talked about. She assisted me in discussing my thoughts and feelings in a helpful way rather than unfocused and negative venting”

    Mittagundi, Program Leader

    www.mittagundi.org.au

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    2022 February & June
    Beechworth Community Childcare Centre

    Staff training- Developing skills for tricky conversations.

    “Shae left us with practical skills for work and life. She is a skilled facilitator and can adapt when needed. I wish more people had this training.”

    BCCC, Staff Member

    www.beechworthchildcare.com.au

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    2015 - 2016
    South West Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service
    • Facilitation - End of year service analysis
    • Training - facilitating family and interagency meetings
    • Training - Suicide Risk
    • Facilitation- management team
    • Strategic Plan
    • How do we make decisions?

    “Shae’s facilitation was able to get the group to a point I would never have been able to get the team to”

    Rehab Service, Team Leader

    www.nsw.gov.au

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    2016
    Life Without Barriers

    Behavioral Assessment -Facilitation and planning with team of support workers

    “Shae helped us be a team. She bought people out of the woods and made the most of our differences”

    Life Without Barriers, Support Worker

    www.lwb.org.au

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    2019
    Plena Healthcare

    Bringing together Speech Pathology and counselling

    “I've never experienced being heard like that. You should do a TED Talk”

    www.plenahealthcare.com.au

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