About

Hello! I’m Dr Deb Roberts, a Melbourne-based small-business owner operating in the wellbeing space.

Over the past four years my business has evolved from having a school’s program focus into building a brand that provides yoga, speaking and writing services to individuals, groups and corporates.

In 2021 I launched ‘Deb Roberts Wellbeing’ and despite the challenges of the pandemic (or perhaps because of them!) my business has attracted interest from sports personalities, sporting clubs Essendon and Melbourne Storm, corporate Australia and established wellbeing brands, including Endota spa.

This year I’m supporting Mind Medicine Australia on their Lived Experience Panel as a means to progress the dialogue and use of available and legal services for people with treatment resistant mental health challenges. I have had two family members who have ended their life seeing no treatment pathway forward. One was my older sister who tried countless medicine combinations, therapies and facilities over 30 years.

For 2024, I’ve been the podcast host on the Mind Medicine Australia podcast and produced over 30 interviews with fellow humans from all walks of life (international researchers, patients/clients, family members who have lost loved ones to suicide, government bureaucrats, private and public financial lenders, private and public providers, activists among others).

I am also proud to be a speaker, writer and ambassador for Beyond Blue, Australia’s leading mental health advocacy organisation.

My unique approach combines western and eastern health methodologies and a philosophic inquiry that fuels my passion for self-care.

My mission is to create healthier and kinder communities by taking action to support the physical and mental health of groups and individuals.

I invite you to visit my services page and see which one of my workshops or seminars would best support you and your team in 2022.

More about me

American born, I grew up in Kansas and studied at the University of Texas, in Austin. In 1999 I completed a PhD in Public Health at The University of Melbourne.

I’ve held executive positions in the public and private health care sector, an Adjunct Faculty member at Monash University.

Other professional milestones include founding a successful school’s based yoga teaching business Yogabean, completing over 1000 hours of yoga teacher training mindfulness/meditation training, and becoming a registered Senior Teacher with Yoga Australia.

In 2016 I founded SOS-Care, a program which celebrates self-care and aims to destigmatise and normalise discussions around mental health. This program was piloted in Melbourne schools and today is a bespoke support system for educators who wish to address well-being needs in their community.

I live in the inner-city bayside suburb of Elwood, Melbourne (Australia) with my supportive and witty husband, teenaged sons, and our lovable four-legged companions Sparky and Indi.

If you have any yoga or wellbeing questions, I would love to hear from you!

The following list is a selection of Academic Articles authored by Dr Deb Roberts (né Yarmo). To read recent articles by Deb, visit her Blog.

1. Phillips VL; Yarmo Roberts D; Hunsaker AE; Certified nursing aides and care assistants; views on falls: insight for creation and implementation of fall prevention programs; Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, Mar2008; 9(3):168-172. 5p.

2. Yarmo Roberts D; Stoelwinder J; Untangling the web: the need to clarify care co-ordinating models for people with chronic and complex conditions; Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Oct2006; 30(5): 413-415. 3p

3. Yarmo Roberts D; Australian Health Review, 2009; 33(4): 558-559. 2p. (Journal Article - editorial) ISSN: 0156-5788

4. Yarmo Roberts D; Australian Health Review, 2009; 33(3): 492-493. 2p. (Journal Article - editorial) ISSN: 0156-5788 

5. Yarmo Roberts D; Australian Health Review, 2009; 33(2): 301-302. 2p. (Journal Article - editorial) ISSN: 0156-5788 

6. Yarmo Roberts D; Australian Health Review, 2009; 33(1): 11-12. 2p. (Journal Article -editorial) ISSN: 0156-5788 

7. Yarmo Roberts D; Australian Health Review, 2008; 32(4): 593-594. 2p. (Journal Article - editorial) ISSN: 0156-5788 

8. Yarmo Roberts D; Australian Health Review, 2008; 32(3): 494-495. 2p. (Journal Article - editorial) ISSN: 0156-5788 

9. Yarmo Roberts D; Australian Health Review, 2008 May; 32(2): 208-209. 2p. (Journal Article - editorial) ISSN: 0156-5788 

10. Yarmo Roberts, D. Reconceptualizing case management in theory and practice: a frontline perspective. Health Services Management Research 2002, 15, 147-164

11. Yarmo D, McDonald M, & Wendborn J. Case Management at Warringal Private Hospital: Challenges of Development, implementation and evaluation. Australian Health Review, 1998, 21(4) 221-237.

12. Yarmo D, Scanlan N, Edge V, Getson J. Embracing the continuum of care: An Australian Private Hospital’s Experience. Journal of Case Management, 1998, 7(3),127-134.

13. Yarmo D. Research Directions for case management. Journal of Case Management 1998, 7(2): 87-94