Interests

• Empowering people to reach their best
• Rock & Water Program for young people
• Group program development and facilitation
• Working with young people under stress
• Team development
• Leadership and coaching
• Training
• Manhood and the transition to adulthood

Background

I started my career as a professional athlete. I attended the Australian Institute of Sport for two years and played in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) for four years. The experience of playing a team sport at a high level was one of the hardest but most rewarding parts of my life. Through this experience I gained a deep understanding of teams and the communication, leadership styles and team dynamics that are required to succeed at the highest level. During my basketball career I developed a passion for supporting disadvantaged young people.

At the completion of my sporting career, I naturally gravitated to the field of youth work. I have had 10 years experience working within both government and non-government youth work settings. Primarily this has been with young people presenting with complex needs and behaviours (e.g., having backgrounds of abuse and trauma). I have worked within a range of service areas within the South Australian Department of Families and Communities. Roles have included mentor, youth worker, senior youth worker, supervisor and programming coordinator/consultant.

Program Developer and Facilitator

During my youth work career, I developed a strong passion for group-based experiential programming. I have significant experience in delivering programs for young people who present with complex needs, learning difficulties and challenging behaviours. I have developed, supervised and facilitated a range of programs to meet the complex needs of children and young people within both alternative care and school settings.

I worked closely alongside Connected Self’s Psychologist, Ivan Raymond, and together we successfully implemented the Rock & Water program for young people with backgrounds of trauma. The success of this program is well known throughout Australia and the world. I am accredited as an Advanced Trainer of the Rock & Water program and I regularly train psychologists, social workers, youth workers, teachers and other professionals to deliver the program. I have been personally endorsed by the founder of the Rock & Water program, Mr Freerk Ykema, to deliver the program.