Born in Brighton, England, Sean moved to Australia at age seven. His dad’s Irish heritage led them to Fremantle, beginning a life of adventure in Perth.
At 15, Sean’s navy dream ended due to colourblindness. He joined the Western Australian Police Academy in 1978, quickly finding his passion in policing.
Sean served 15 years in the police, including the Tactical Response Group in 1985, fulfilling a lifelong ambition with thrilling, high-stakes operations.
Leaving the Tactical Response Group in the early ’90s due to internal conflicts, Sean faced anger and disillusionment, leading to transitioning struggles and bouts of PTSD.
In the mid-’90s, Sean moved to Sydney, reuniting with his partner Julie. He briefly worked as an ambulance officer, finding new purpose and establishing deeper roots.
Shifting to corporate security, Sean worked globally, regaining confidence and skills. In 2017, he co-founded Beyond the Badge, aiding police and first responders in career transitions.
Today, Sean focuses on improving mental health support for first responders, playing golf, and continuously expanding Beyond the Badge.
*****
We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes.
Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.
If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here – https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact
We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!
Warmly,
The Kintsugi Heroes team
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Theme Song: “Broken” by Colin Lillie
This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.
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Kintsugi Heroes is a not-for-profit Australian podcast network sharing real stories of resilience, disability, and transformation.
Named after the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold — the philosophy that what’s been broken can become more beautiful for the mending — every episode honours the cracks, the rebuild, and the human underneath.
We believe every story matters. Every scar has something to say. And every person quietly finding their way through deserves to be heard.
🏷️ Topics we cover: resilience, disability, trauma recovery, mental health, transformation, lived experience, chronic illness, neurodiversity, grief, identity, community, caregiving, refugee stories, animal therapy, ageing, older Australians, wellbeing, invisible illness, inclusion, personal growth, hope, rebuilding, human connection, Australian stories
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– Kintsugi Heroes — real stories of resilience | hosted by John Milham
– Animals & Us | hosted by Natalie Stockdale
– Grit Diaries: from Grit to Grace | hosted by Simone Allan & Maryan Bova
– From There to Here | hosted by Emma Bellamy-Dodd
– Golden Threads — stories of disability & resilience | hosted by Dan Dougherty
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