Kintsugi Heroes: Uncovering our Hidden Value

Michelle grew up as an only child in Melbourne, surrounded by adults, in a quiet home shaped by grief, missed connections and a sense of being different from other children. Her early childhood was defined by few friends, no pets and a risk-averse environment, where independence grew from a lack of emotional nurturing and encouragement to play.

Michelle learned to craft a polished exterior, which hid the turmoil within. She had two ...

Lance grew up moving often, with a tough childhood and feelings of not fitting in. He struggled at school, found it hard to make friends and often felt alone.  Early on, Lance showed signs of ADHD and anger, feeling out of place and hearing constant criticism which shaped his self-belief and experience at home and school.  

He started work young, taking on paper rounds and mowing lawns. After working as a builder he f...

 Mark grew up in Albany in WA, enjoying nature and learning from his schoolteacher parents, who blended creativity, resilience and the support that shaped his values and curiosity. After finishing high school, he went on to university in Perth, where he made lifelong friends. Mark began a corporate career in logistics and sales, working for Rio Tinto across Australia and Asia, learning about business, hard work and balancing c...

Nicole grew up in a loving family in Cape Town, South Africa before moving to Australia with her parents and siblings at the end of high school. 

Nicole met her husband Chris in her early twenties, married young, and together navigated early adventures including running a café and art gallery in Hawk’s Nest. After starting her family, she devoted herself to raising two children. She found joy and perspective in daily life throu...

John Dwyer left school at age fourteen and started as an apprentice saddle maker. While working in leather, John became interested in computers. He taught himself basic programming on early computers and helped computerize the factory. This growing interest led to a new direction in technology.

John joined the tech industry in the early 1980s. He spent eighteen years at Microsoft. During this time, he held leadership roles and lived...

Dave grew up in Maroubra, a tough part of Sydney, raised by a single mother in an environment of poverty and violence, surrounded by people with difficult ideas and constant stress. His early childhood memories include feeling unsafe at home due to a father who left early and a mother who struggled with her own challenges after a troubled upbringing.

Dave endured psychological abuse and manipulation from his stepfather and mother, o...

Craig Goozee OAM grew up loving sport, always seeing himself as a sprinter and never dreaming he would one day run ultra marathons across some of Australia’s toughest terrains.  

Craig spent nearly 24 years in the New South Wales police force, choosing proactive roles that kept him out in the field and, later, in covert operations such as the Anti-Theft Squad, Special Operations and the State Major Incident Group. In 1997,...

John Broadbent grew up in Yorkshire, born into a low working-class family, before moving to Australia at age ten, which marked a big turning point for his life and perspective. He trained as an engineer and fully immersed himself in the world of science and logic, John spent his early career excelling in a technical environment, sometimes missing the deeper emotional side.

The early 1990s brought a significant shift, triggered by a ...

Gunter grew up in a home filled with conflict and the strong influence of a mother who survived complex trauma and a gentle but wounded father, both from Vienna during the Russian invasion. As a teenager, he became fascinated by philosophy and Buddhism, which helped him realize that being a man involves intention and not just reacting to the world around him.

He struggled with performance anxiety and statistics during his psychology...

Growing up as a farmer’s daughter in rural Australia, Ruth spent her childhood exploring creeks, drinking fresh milk, and roaming the paddocks with my siblings. Life was simple, honest, and deeply connected to the land and community. 

She developed a passion for water early, competing in state-level swimming, water polo, synchronised swimming and lifesaving, and became the first female Beach Inspector in New South Wales. Since ...

Adrian “Moose” Skeggs was born and raised on Lord Howe Island, a small, close-knit place he calls absolutely idyllic and full of daily adventures and learning.  Adrian faced a tough start. His mother was bedridden for years, and he often pushed boundaries, seeking attention and connection from his community.  

Despite childhood challenges and going off the rails, Adrian’s community stepped in, sponsoring him to attend...

Danni started her working life as a police officer where she saw death early but rarely spoke about it and learned firsthand about the challenges of facing mortality. Danni also dealt with the deaths of several family members and often became the person responsible for bringing people together and supporting her family through loss.  

She experienced strong death anxiety and struggled with her own fears about dying, often avoid...

Kat Finnerty grew up as the eldest of five children in a multicultural family. Her upbringing taught her resilience and responsibility, shaping her perspective on life from a young age.

At twelve, Kat lost her mother to cancer. This experience deeply influenced her understanding of impermanence, grief, and the importance of finding meaning during difficult times.

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her twenties, Kat faced significan...

John grew up in the western suburbs near Parramatta, playing footy, learning a trade as a sparky and always wanting to become a police officer, inspired by his grandfather’s advice.

His early lessons in communication as a sparky on job sites shaped how he approached policing and helped him connect with others.

In 1997, John joined the police.  He worked in various roles, including Middle Eastern Crime and property teams, develop...

Serena grew up in Singapore in a home that valued stability, achievement and following a well-planned path. She studied law for its prestige and structure, later working as a lawyer for the government.  

After years in a secure career, Serena realised she felt trapped by expectations and began questioning her purpose. Taking time away from work to reflect, she discovered a passion for personal growth and exploring new...

Lynn grew up in a large, devoted Mormon family, deeply connected to her great great grandfather, Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church, and shaped by strong traditions and high expectations.  

As a child, Lynn worked hard in school, followed strict family rules, and tried to live up to the “Mormon royalty” label placed on her by her community.  

Then at 19, she left everything and everyone she knew and moved from Utah ...

Darren grew up in a military family, moving often as a child and experiencing different cultures and ways of life. As a young man, he dreamed of acting but instead served as a paramedic and police officer, always drawn to helping others.  

Long years of frontline work took a toll, leading Darren to struggle with depression and eventually be diagnosed with PTSD. Life brought further challenges, including living through...

Karen was born in England to Irish parents and moved to Australia as a baby, growing up with a childhood full of change and learning to adapt to new situations.

Early on, she faced undiagnosed medical challenges with clumsiness, gastrointestinal issues and hypermobility, always feeling there was something different and relying on instinct and persistence. She lived in Northern Ireland as a young adult and England in her thirties, wh...

Steve grew up feeling different, always curious and passionate about things his friends didn’t understand. Early on, he developed a love for words and storytelling that set him apart.

As a child, Steve struggled with perfectionism and low self-esteem, not knowing he was neurodiverse. He saw the world differently and often felt isolated and misunderstood in social situations. Misdiagnosed and unsupported, Steve’s challenges with OCD ...