I worked as a chef for 22 years in kitchens across Geelong and Melbourne, including cafes, restaurants, pubs, and clubs.
However, I have struggled with my mental health for over 30 years.
In 2021, I experienced two mental health breakdowns within just six months while working in two different kitchens. This led to severe burnout, and I had to hang up my apron, finding myself without any other skills to fall back on.
Drawing from my experiences in both the culinary world and my mental health challenges, I decided to focus on mental health within the hospitality industry.
In December 2021, I became Australia’s first ambassador for the Burnt Chef Project, a UK-based (now global) organization dedicated to eradicating the stigma surrounding mental health in hospitality.
To demonstrate my commitment to this cause, I even tattooed the “F–K Stigma” logo on my arm.
I now work as a Lived Experience peer worker in mental health, helping patients in very acute states of mental instability.
