Raised in the southwest of the UK and now based on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Xena Schembri is an award-winning author, qualified counsellor, international speaker, and passionate advocate for safer families and communities.

Together with her husband Simon, Xena co-founded the charity At The Ark in 2010. Through this work, they support families recovering from child sexual abuse and domestic and family violence, providing counselling, practical support, education and pathways to healing. Xena also runs a private practice, Anchored Counselling, where she continues to walk alongside individuals and families on their recovery journeys.

Xena was honoured as Heart of Women – Woman of the Year (2020) for her work protecting children and women, named a Westfield Local Hero (2020), and received the Group Making a Difference Award (2024). She is a published author of five books and a respected voice in trauma recovery and child protection.

Author & Creator

Xena’s autobiography, Broken to be Beautiful, is a deeply honest and powerful account of surviving domestic violence and rebuilding a life of strength, healing and hope. Through her raw storytelling, she brings understanding to those who have experienced abuse and insight to those who seek to better support them.

She is also the author of the Brave Little Bear three-book child protection series, created to empower children, families, educators and professionals with self-protective behaviours and the language of safety. Her heart is to see future generations “armour-plated” with knowledge and confidence to change the statistics of child abuse.

The series includes:

• Book 1: A gentle introduction to self-protective behaviours for children aged 3–7

• Book 2: For ages 6–12, exploring body consent, secrets and surprises, fear feelings, online safety and more

• Book 3: A practical guide for adults, carers, parents and educators on empowering children with protective behaviours

Xena often shares, “I couldn’t teach my children self-protective behaviours because I had no understanding of them — now I will protect as many children as I can through these books.”

LIFT – Live in Freedom & Thrive

Xena’s latest work, LIFT – Live in Freedom & Thrive, is both a book and a transformational healing program. Developed from lived experience, counselling practice and years of supporting survivors, LIFT guides individuals through a journey of restoration, growth and renewed strength.

LIFT is offered as:

• A powerful book guiding readers through healing and personal growth

• A face-to-face course for deeper group or individual transformation

• A forthcoming online self-guided program, allowing participants to work through the course at their own pace with the support of qualified counsellors

Through LIFT, Xena equips individuals not just to survive their past, but to live in freedom and truly thrive.

One in 5 – Child Protection Workshops

With a deep passion for prevention, Xena also delivers One in 5 Child Protection Workshops, equipping parents, carers, churches, schools and organisations with the knowledge and practical tools needed to protect children and create safer environments. These workshops empower communities to confidently teach self-protective behaviours and respond well to disclosures.

Xena’s life message is simple yet powerful: to bring hope, healing and protection to individuals and families, and to see future generations grow up safe, confident and empowered.

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To book Xena as a speaker, for a LIFT course, or for a One in 5 Child Protection Workshop,
please email: beautiful@attheark.org.au