Lisa is a freelance journalist and corporate writer with a focus on health and wellness, travel, storytelling and human interest. Lisa has written for a range of publications such as Sunday Life, Good Weekend, Latte Magazine, Marketing Magazine, Jetstar, Womens Health, International Traveller, Shape, Run4YL, Womens Running, Prevention Australia,, Kidspot, Mamma Mia and Essential Kids and Baby.
Lisa can be found at Twitter - @lisaschofield2, Facebook - Lisa Schofield - Writer or on email at lisaschofieldwriter@gmail.com
A resource booklet supporting Flourish Australia brand relaunch
Living a full life with a disability should be the norm and not the unexpected. Yet in some countries, many people with disabilities need to fight for their right to a life of dreams and aspirations. In these countries, it takes aspirational role models to bridge this gap - people with disabilities who have been told 'they can't', when of course, they can.
Receiving a diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) is life-changing for all involved, yet parents intuitively know something is different about their child long beforehand. It can be up to 18 months before a firm diagnosis is made by a medical professional, after the infant misses age-appropriate developmental milestones.
With cerebral palsy (CP) affecting over 17 million people worldwide and 1 in 500 births, it is hard to believe that a definitive global source of information is yet to be developed; one that provides guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of CP.
The response reflected an overwhelming demand for a fair and equitable solution to support Australians with disabilities, but also signalled that a major disability reform was long overdue. One of the impetuses for change started with a 'light bulb' moment from Bruce Bonyhady, the current Chairman of the National Disability Insurance Agency.
Medical terminologies can be so defining. Assumptions are made, opinions formed and those who have these conditions, through no choice of their own, can be burdened by the stereotyping often associated with its name. Such is the case in Vietnam where cerebral palsy (CP) is called 'bại não '.
In developing countries such as Nigeria, a diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) can lead to stigma and stereotyping. Parents may go into denial, children can be hidden away and families can be ostracised by their communities.
For many adults with cerebral palsy (CP), the feelings of isolation and dependence add an extra emotional layer to their sometimes challenging life experiences. At times it can be overwhelming, leading to the questions: Where are my people? Where's my community? Where can I just 'be'?
Corporate
As David Thodey prepares to hand over the reins, customers are now firmly and proudly on Telstra's centre stage. Lisa Schofield looks back at this iconic Australian brand's quest to redefine its purpose as a launch pad for the future of a connected Australia.
DL Wellbeing Sali Stevanja. A breast cancer diagnosis is the most confronting physical and emotional challenge many women will ever experience. But they invariably put on their bravest face; they have to - their life depends on it. Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women.
"We learn what my limits are and we stretch them": Jonathan Goerlach and Corey Bacon. Photo: Stefan Postles Paratriathlete Jonathan Goerlach, 31, has Usher syndrome type 2, a degenerative genetic disorder causing moderate hearing loss, tunnel vision and night blindness. Together with coach and close friend Corey Bacon, 40, he's determined to reach the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
Interview about the designers entrepreneurial journey
Overcoming dyslexia can be challenging for anyone. But when you want to be a writer, it can seem insurmountable. Despite this, Catherine Rodie has proven that dyslexia is no barrier to carving out a successful career as a writer. She's not only kicked some goals, she's knocked them out of the park.
When Heather Smith graduated from the Australian Writers Centre's online course in Magazine and Newspaper Writing in 2010, little did she realise that she would become one of our most published graduates. She is now an author of six books and has been on the business bestseller list for several weeks.
Victoria Birch always wanted to be a writer. She just didn't know it was a viable option. Until now. The Sydney-based mother has always been interested in music. While living in the UK, Victoria would write music reviews, develop music websites and immerse herself in this artistic world.
For author and AWC graduate Chris Muir, writing the fictional adventure thriller A Savage Garden, set in Africa, was a natural progression for the life-long passion he's had for the country. But when you read this book, you realise that Chris' experiences in Africa are anything but ordinary.
Many of us have a "story inside us". And sometimes these stories are so compelling, so slam-down riveting, that they just need to be told. Geena Leigh's story is just that. From an abusive childhood and abusive relationships to 19 years of working as a prostitute, most people would understand if Geena Leigh, 41, never ...
Four years ago, after becoming a first time mum, Megan Blandford, 33, surprised herself. She did not feel compelled to return to her human resources role in the corporate world, a position she thought she'd only temporarily left. Instead, Megan found herself being drawn into a new world of writing.
Health and Wellbeing
A profile of a marathon runner with heart disease and a cautionary tale for other runners about heart disease
How to push through when you're head's telling you to stop
Parenting
When Girls actress Jemima Kirke found out she was pregnant as a teenager, she decided to terminate the pregnancy but chose not to tell her Mum, instead doing it secretly by using her savings and asking her boyfriend for help.
When new mum Jade Ruthven, 33, from Perth started posting images and updates of her new daughter Addison on social media, she no doubt thought it was the perfect way of sharing Addy's progress with her family and friends. Because it is isn't it?
Today we have apps for everything, but an app that calms our babies so we can sleep longer? Surely that's one app too far. When did it become ok to delegate parenting to an app?
No parent should ever have to say goodbye to their child, yet for the families and loved ones of Bali Nine Duo, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, this is something they've just had to do. Can you even imagine this for a moment?
As we form our personal opinions whether we should or shouldn't vaccinate our children - are we forgetting about those children whose parents aren't informed and who don't have a choice? And is that where the risk in our communities lies? As parent's we know that dreaded feeling of taking our little people to the doctors for their vaccinations.
How do we protect our children from the ever-present stream of tragedy in the media - should we switch off or should we expose them to the realities of life? It seems that as we watch the evening news or log onto a news site, we're overloaded with stories of tragedy, crime, grief - it jams our news streams and our consciousness.
Nutrition & Fitness for Older Kids Nine-year-old Aidan today, ready to take on his next challenge, the Cole Classic. Photo: Supplied On the first day of school this week, when nine-year-old Aidan Fisk was asked to do a self portrait and write descriptions of himself, along with "funny", "caring" and 'cool', he poignantly wrote "brave".
Is Forgotten Baby Syndrome a tragic side effect of the busy lives we lead today or is there another reason why these tragedies keep on occurring? Could you ever imagine this happening to you? Can you imagine accidentally leaving your baby in the back of a car and forgetting about him or her as you go about your day?
Do you sometimes worry that life is a constant rush, do you wish you could stop the clock? I force my rushing on my children. I'm forcing each day to finish a little quicker for them and without realising, I'm hurrying them out of their innocence and childhood and into the kind of life that I live.
Family Finances You're at a social function and people are chatting when the small talk heads in your direction. "And what is it you do?" or "So you have ( X amount of) children, you must be very busy?"
Kids Nutrition & Fitness I heard the news of the tragic passing of cricketer Phillip Hughes only moments before taking my eight-year-old son to his cricket practice. He waited with his cricket bag over his shoulder, eager to get out the door, impatient with his mum for scanning headlines as I stood at my computer, car keys in hand.
Kids Education Enlarge your child's world this Christmas through giving to those less fortunate. 'Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps ...means a little bit more!'. How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Dr Seuss. For many parents, Christmas is the perfect time to teach our children how they can help others less fortunate than themselves.
Travel
Soaking up the wines and the atmosphere in the NSW West
Travel review - my secret Fiji stopover spot
Slice of Life
ADVERTISEMENT During the course of any day we all fulfill a variety of roles whether it's as a partner, a parent, a colleague, a sibling, a daughter, a boss or a friend. Most of those roles require us to wear a different hat but sometimes we try and squeeze another hat on while still wearing the other and all kind of chaos results.