Shane

Men's Wellbeing & Personal Development

Lived-Experience Men's Mentor

Supporting men to reconnect with themselves, understand their emotions and build a life worth living.

About Me

My journey into men's wellbeing comes from deeply personal experience.

Following the breakdown of my marriage and two long-term relationships, I also experienced the devastating loss of two first cousins to suicide, followed by the loss of my youngest brother and best friend to suicide.

There was a time when I questioned whether I wanted to be here myself. Thinking about my boys was initially what stopped me. But eventually I realised there was another reason to keep going: I owed it to myself to do the work, heal and become the best version of myself I could be — for me, for my boys and for the people I love.

That was the beginning of my own healing journey.

What I have learned through that journey now drives my desire to help other men who may be struggling, feeling disconnected or wondering how to find their way forward.

What Drives Me

I've experienced my own mental health struggles and know the impact suicide has on the people left behind.

Those experiences have created a strong desire in me to hold space for men — somewhere they can be heard without judgement, understand what is happening within themselves, and begin discovering a different way forward.

I want to share the knowledge, tools and lived experience that have helped me, offering men hope and supporting them to build a future in which they can realise their potential.

For me, this isn't simply about getting through difficult times. It's about helping men discover who they really are and the life they genuinely want to live.

What I Do

My work is about taking men on a journey of self-realisation and personal growth.

I help men explore and understand their emotions and recognise that emotional awareness can be part of being a strong, healthy and grounded man.

It's about becoming an empowered man you can be proud of — and, in turn, becoming the best husband, partner, father, family member and human being you can be.

My approach is grounded in my own lived experience and the tools and insights I've developed through my personal journey.

I am particularly passionate about men's mental wellbeing and suicide prevention, creating connection and helping men recognise that there can be hope and a way forward.

My Vision

I want to create safe spaces for men who are struggling with their mental wellbeing, including men who may be experiencing a loss of hope or thoughts of suicide.

I'm beginning locally and through one-to-one conversations, Zoom and social media, but my vision goes much further.

Eventually, I would love to use my own land to hold day workshops and weekend retreats — giving men the opportunity to step away from everyday pressures, reconnect with themselves and others, and spend time in an environment where honest conversations and meaningful change can happen.

I want men to know that asking for help doesn't diminish who they are — and that life can look very different on the other side of difficult times.

Why I Joined the Get Ahead Collective

I joined the Get Ahead Collective because I want to learn more about the business side of turning this purpose into something sustainable, while being part of a community of like-minded people.

I value having a place where we can share, grow and learn together, support one another as our work evolves, and expand our collective knowledge.

I'm also excited by the opportunity to build relationships with other service providers. None of us needs to provide everything ourselves. By developing a trusted network, we can connect the people we work with to others in the Collective when they need something beyond what we personally offer.

For me, that's what a genuine community is about.

When I'm Not Working

The people in my life matter enormously to me. I love spending quality time with my children, family and friends.

I'm happiest outdoors and enjoy bush walks, trail running, hunting and fishing, as well as simply being in nature.

I also love travelling — discovering new destinations around our beautiful country and further afield internationally.

Nature, adventure and quality time with the people I care about are an important part of keeping me grounded and connected to what matters

My Approach

I believe many of us carry emotional wounds, beliefs and patterns that began early in life. We can learn to suppress our emotions and, over time, become disconnected from parts of our authentic selves.

My approach is about identifying the negative constructs and patterns we may be carrying, exploring and releasing the emotions attached to them, and finding greater peace with our past.

From there, we can begin consciously creating the life we actually want — reconnecting with our own values, wants and needs and discovering the authentic person underneath the expectations and conditioning we've accumulated along the way.

Ultimately, I believe the journey is about reconnecting with our authentic self and deeper sense of purpose.

What I Offer

I currently offer one-to-one mentoring, both locally and via Zoom, creating a confidential and supportive space for men who want to talk, explore what is happening in their lives and begin making positive change.

I am also developing a broader community and programme of support, including:

• Men's groups with regular check-ins, support and brotherhood

• A six-week introductory men's programme

• Ongoing men's groups and personal-development programmes

• Kickstart workshops

• Day workshops and, eventually, weekend retreats on my land

My longer-term vision is to create a pathway where men don't have to undertake this journey alone, but can experience genuine connection and brotherhood as they build an authentic and empowered future.