Speaking
“The greatest gift you can give yourself and others is time and attention.”
At the age of 6, I was sexually abused for 2 years within the family unit. After finding the courage to tell my mum, I began a journey of healing and transformation that took decades of pain, processing, and understanding about the challenges of childhood trauma.
Fast forward 30 years, I am now an educator, speaker, connection consultant, and a happy husband and busy parent.
My mission is to share my story and message of connection, as well as help others find the sense of belonging that supported me with my mental health over my journey of recovery.
I want to share the tools that helped me transform. My “life tools” that can support families, carers, and workplaces to thrive.
“John has a powerful story to tell, delivering this message with humility and impact. Bravehearts are honoured to support and empower John as he engages with community through his story, encourages connection, and strives for better outcomes for children through his advocacy”
– Alison Geale CEO of Bravehearts
Watch John
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I highly recommend!
“John is a compassionate, grounded, inspirational and caring person; with an extensive professional career supporting young people, families and staff members in the education sector. His ability to rationalise, reframe and learn from his personal experiences in his early years has allowed him to pursue his journey of personal growth, but also to become a source of knowledge and guidance in the area of child safety.
If you are looking for an inspirational speaker who can captivate an audience and guide them through a journey of reflection and emotional connection – I would highly recommend that you put John on your shortlist.”
Keynotes
John’s keynotes are grounded, empowering, and delivered with an approachable style that resonates deeply with any audience.
He is available to speak at conferences, community events, and organisational gatherings, locally, interstate, online, or internationally.
John currently offers two signature keynotes.
My Pathway to Healing
Being sexually abused as a child is a deeply personal journey that often requires resilience, persistence and hope. I share my story, the challenges, the heartbreaks and the breakthroughs. I tell a narrative on how I was able to understand that this is a lifelong journey and how intention, purpose and consistency has given me the opportunity to see my greater purpose in life.
Anyone can create their own pathway to healing through trauma or life challenges.
share my experiences of childhood sexual abuse and how I was able to find connection and sense of belonging as my antidote.
Resilience Without the Grit
In this keynote, John challenges the common expectation that children and adults should “bounce back” from adversity – without fist having the emotional foundations to do so.
He explores the missing link in how we teach and expect resilience, and what we truly need, safety, connection, and a sense of belonging before lasting resilience can take root.
“Bravehearts is honoured to support and empower John”
“Bravehearts is an Australian child protection organisation formed in 1997, dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse. John Cardamone has been appointed as an ambassador for our signature National Awareness Day – Bravehearts Day 2024. John is a survivor of this abuse. John is a wonderful young man, husband, and father. His is a story of pain, sadness, courage and ultimately, hope. John was the Impact Speaker at the 24th Annual Bravehearts Ball. In front of a crowd of almost 600 strangers, John took the audience through his journey and each step of the way they were engaged, culminating in a well-deserved standing ovation from every corner of the room. John is an authentic, positive, and engaging speaker and person. With an infectious warmth, and dedication to bringing light from the darkest corners of his life. John’s relatability and hopeful energy is engaging and impactful for audiences. John has a powerful story to tell, delivering this message with humility and impact. Bravehearts are honoured to support and empower John as he engages with community through his story, encourages connection, and strives for better outcomes for children through his advocacy”.
Who is it for?
Organisations
- Charities
- Residential and Foster Care
- Councils
- Healthcare
- Businesses of all sizes
Educational Settings
- Foster parents
- Parents
- Families
- Sporting groups
Conferences
- Annual events
- Networking events
- Business events
- Symposiums
“An Inspiring Speaker and Educator Who Captivates Audiences”
John Cardamone is a compelling public speaker and educator. He shares lived experience in the most vulnerable way which captivates any audience. His desire to make a difference and shift his personal trials into victory for future generations is admirable. He’s an asset to any event.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long do you speak for?
Generally, 40 mins to 1 hour. However, it can be tailored to suit your needs.
Can you customise the presentation to suit my audience?
Yes, no problem. I can present to all sorts of audiences and am happy to discuss this with you.
Do you travel?
I am based in Melbourne and am happy to travel, but I need notice ahead of time to arrange. Please contact me to discuss.
Let’s Talk!
If you would like to know more, please complete the form.