Dean’s powerful story began with his addiction to drugs as a middle-class teenager initially following a football injury. He quickly moved on to heroin and petty crime which eventually led to a period of imprisonment for more serious offences.
He describes his time in the criminal justice system and long-term battle with addiction in harrowing detail. His personal experience and observation of the difficulties faced by other ex-inmates resulted in his passionate advocacy for changes in the criminal justice system.
Bio:
As well as being an advocate for change in the criminal justice system Dean Lloyd is a Counsellor and Diversity Consultant – and Licensed Real Estate Agent!
He wants to change we think about criminal justice by providing the language and framework.
He is also passionate about building robust, diverse, sustainable & healthy work place cultures.
In the interview Dean describes having just been awarded a fellowship to go and study abroad posing the question. Can we build safer communities by closing a prison?
His ultimate goal is to close Long Bay Prison.
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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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
📺 Series on this channel:
– 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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