About us
Prevention is better than cure
The Metabolic Symphony project started in response to the alarming trend of type 2 diabetes, and other types of metabolic dysfunction, being diagnosed in children and teenagers – with a high proportion of cases occurring in vulnerable Indigenous communities around the world.
Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and numerous cascading health issues are no longer a consequence of advancing years or alcohol abuse. The global food and physical activity landscape has declined to such a degree that children as young as 3 years old are being diagnosed.
In response, Metabolic Symphony Program founder, Joanna Giles, enlisted an international team of researchers and credentialed health and education specialists to create a set of innovative teaching resources that present the ‘healthy lifestyle’ story to children and their families from a fresh and quirky scientific perspective.
Children take a fascinating journey through the human energy management system and discover how they can keep their own ‘Metabolic Symphony’ humming.
Clinical partners
We are sincerely grateful for the ongoing clinical guidance provided by the Diabetes and Endocrinology Team at Perth Children's Hospital in Western Australia (WA).
The Metabolic Symphony project is also very fortunate to have received seed funding from the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Early funding provided by the PCH Foundation supported trials of the Metabolic Symphony Program in nine Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal primary and high schools, including regional and remote schools in The Kimberley, WA.
We are extremely grateful for assistance afforded to us by the late Honorable Ernie Bridge AM, and his dedicated team during early research with Aboriginal communities in The Kimberley, WA.
We are here for the long haul
Metabolic Symphony is a social enterprise dedicated to supporting the global community to bring about generational behaviour change that will eradicate preventable lifestyle-related disease from the child and adolescent population.
Our goal
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Be a trusted source of life science education
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Provide accurate, accessible and engaging education resources for teachers, families and health professionals
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Build collective knowledge and individual capacity to help people live more intuitively and be inspired to empower others
Sharing the love
The Metabolic Symphony Project is driven by passion not profit.
We use community-focused promotion and distribution strategies to accomplish our mission, and strict governance to maintain commercial independence.
A percentage of surplus net profit is distributed to the global community to fund initiatives that align with the Metabolic Symphony mission. Please contact us to discuss your local effort and how we can support you.
Disclaimer
The Metabolic Symphony resources and YiYO games provide general science and health-related information only. They are not intended to provide medical advice. If you have concerns about your health, please consult a registered health professional.
Founder story
Joanna is a passionate child advocate, health educator, professional coach, communication specialist and mother of two.
Jo’s focus on child health and wellbeing began while working at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia where she spent a decade creating internationally award-winning patient education videos about managing type 1 diabetes.
I had the great privilege of working with children who were bravely leveling up to the challenge of integrating type 1 diabetes (T1D) into their lives. At diagnosis, the child patient and their family had to absorb a tonne of information about how their metabolism works, the food they should eat and the way they had to live to stay on top of their condition. They had to get their head around a daily medication regime and hear about the heartbreaking health complications that develop if diabetes is not well managed.
We produced video resources to make their learning journey easier. I gained a deep understanding of metabolic function and witnessed first-hand how education could empower patients and significantly improve their quality of life and health outcomes.
I was horrified when preventable conditions such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) began to emerge in children and teenagers. It occurred to me that the lifestyle management education we provided to families living with T1D could be re-purposed to build a T2D/NAFLD prevention program for the general population.
I am passionate about raising the collective consciousness around why our ancient metabolism is struggling to cope with modern life. I believe this ‘inside’ knowledge will help people make better moment to moment lifestyle choices for themselves, and for those who rely on them for sustenance and behavioural guidance.
Meet the team
Melanie has been supporting the Program since 2018, conducting scientific reviews of the curriculum content to ensure it aligns with contemporary knowledge and research. After graduating with a Bachelor degree in Biomedical Science, Melanie branched out into environmental science - completing a PhD with the CSIRO and University of Western Australia. She is currently serving as a Principal Environmental Officer at the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. Melanie’s personal passion is to use her diverse scientific knowledge and research skills to improve population health through lifestyle and nutrition research and education. To this end, she has recently completed a Master’s Degree in Human Nutrition at Deakin University and is currently studying for her Certificate III and IV in Fitness with the Australian Institute of Personal Trainers. “I am committed to maintaining a neutral scientific lens for the Program. My hope is that Metabolic Symphony will become a trusted compass to help children and their families to navigate conflicting nutrition and lifestyle trends and ideologies.”
Melanie Bruckberger
Scientific Advisor
Perth,
Western Australia
Peta is an Instructional and Curriculum Designer with a passion for creating engaging educational resources that inspire learners to think critically and prepare for the future. Peta has been developing and the Program curriculum in primary and secondary schools since 2023 and has established a lesson plan structure based on the Gradual Release of Responsibility framework and the Australian Curriculum assessment standards. With a Bachelor of Education, Master of Education (Teacher Librarian) and a Certificate IV in Fitness, Peta brings a unique blend of expertise to her role.
Peta Costello
Teacher, Curriculum Designer
Darwin,
Northern Territory
Nadja creates the slideshow presentations that accompany the Program lessons. She specialises in translating complex concepts into clear, visually engaging presentations that bring the curriculum content to life and promote student engagement. “As a parent of an active teenage boy, the Program content resonates very strongly with me. I am proud to be contributing to work that carries genuine social value and has the potential to make a significant global impact.”
Nadja De Munnik
Learning Resource Designer
Johannesburg,
South Africa
Steve has been supporting the Program since its inception in 2011. He is a highly creative and innovative digital designer, brand specialist, illustrator and web developer with over 30 years of international experience. Steve designs the student worksheets and posters, and ensures that the distinctive logo, colour palette and engaging visual environment he conceived is consistently applied across the website and lesson plans.
Steve Williams
Creative Director
Manchester,
United Kingdom
Josh has been involved in the Metabolic Symphony mission since 2018. He is a skilled and perceptive commercial photographer and filmmaker and has been instrumental in defining and articulating the Program’s social posture and strategic direction. Josh coordinates social media engagement and promotes the Program and Games across independent and mainstream media.
Josh Fernandes
Brand Strategy and Social Impact
Perth,
Western Australia