ABOUT JO
Dr Jo Prendergast is a psychiatrist, author, comedian and breast cancer survivor.
Jo graduated from Otago Medical School New Zealand in 1992 and did specialty training as a psychiatrist in Sydney Australia, obtaining her RANZCP fellowship in 2000. She has worked in a wide range of settings with teenagers and adults in public mental health services and private practice in both New Zealand and Australia.
Jo’s book about supporting the mental health of young people ‘When Life Sucks’ was released by Harper Collins in New Zealand and Australia in September 2023 and the UK June 2024. The book was written using Jo’s unique voice as a psychiatrist, comedian and parent of teenagers.
Jo started standup comedy in 2017 at the age of 48. Jo was nominated for Breakthrough Comedian at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards 2020. Her multi award-winning debut comedy show ‘Jo Ghastly: The Cool Mum’ sold out the entire season with 5- star reviews at Adelaide Fringe 2023, had full houses at the NZ International Comedy Festival 2023 and toured to Melbourne Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Fringe in 2024. Jo’s second solo show ‘Cancer and Cartwheels’, about Jo’s victory over breast cancer (and her cartwheeling ability) toured to Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and NZ Comedy Festivals in 2025. Jo is currently developing her third show ‘Dr Jo Prendergast is #coping’ for 2026/2027 festival touring.
Screen appearances include Niall Johnson’s feature film ‘The Stolen’ and TVNZ’s ‘Adam and Eve Show’. Jo has featured as a guest on a wide range of TV, radio, and podcasts in NZ and Australia including The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show, The Project, Channel 9 Today Extra, ABC Weekend Breakfast and TVNZ Breakfast. In the UK Jo has appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live and Insane in the Men Brain.
Jo brings her unique combined experience as a psychiatrist, comedian, author, parent and cancer survivor to media and podcast interviews, her comedy shows and conference presentations. She currently works as a psychiatrist assessor for ACC and tours regularly as a conference speaker and comedian.
Jo is available for interviews, live performances and conference /corporate speaking engagements when her busy schedule allows.