A little bit about me...
I am a husband, father, son, brother and friend. I also happen to be a Counsellor, Mental Health and Lived Experience consultant, and Keynote speaker.
In 2015, after 10 years as a Police Offer with SA Police I was diagnosed with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression. I left my family, battled constant suicidal thoughts and was engaging in extreme risk-taking behaviour. This behaviour led to my arrest at work, the termination of my employment and a criminal conviction.
“Symptoms (of PTSD) was an important word in my recovery. I can have symptoms of a cold and still be highly functioning. I just needed to learn how to adapt.”
The following years resulted in a very intense recovery, working through a serious identity crisis and challenging my core values. I surrounded myself with a community of people; people who radiated the person I wanted to be, and I strive every day to become the best version of that person I can be.
I now work as a Mental Health Advocate for Military and Emergency Services using my own experience to encourage difficult conversation around mental health self-awareness and teach values-based decision making. I speak openly and vulnerably to organisations to help change organisational culture and I am a Mental Health First Aid trainer.
“I refuse to be defined by a period of my life where I wasn’t making wise decisions. I now have the control to define who I am today and who it is that I’m going to be in the future”
I am also a passionate ambassador for R U OK?, volunteering my time to talk to organisations about the R U OK? Message and the proud host of their upcoming podcast.
I have been married to Allira for 14 years and we have an amazing daughter, Grace and an excessively friendly Labrador named Remi.
