Josh has spent 14 years working in the mental health sector – as a nurse, a case manager, and now as a Senior Mental Health Peer Worker at STEPS. But it’s his own lived experience that sets his work apart.
Based in Maroochydore on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Josh brings something to his role that no qualification can teach: a deep, personal understanding of what recovery really looks and feels like.
From emergency departments to peer support
Josh’s career in health began far from the Sunshine Coast. Originally from the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, he worked in protective services before living and working overseas. Returning to Australia, he trained as a nurse and worked in Sydney emergency departments, where frequent mental health presentations sparked a growing interest in specialised mental health support.
He went on to work as a case manager supporting people with high and complex needs in residential and community justice programs, building a career shaped not by ambition, but by a desire to grow and help others do the same.
“I’ve always sought roles that give me the chance to grow as a person,” Josh said. “Money or status never interested me. Every role I’ve had, I came away with new skills, experiences, friendships and connections.”
The power of lived experience
Josh joined STEPS in 2019 when the Queensland Government introduced the Individual Recovery Support Program, becoming the first peer worker to join the STEPS Mental Health Services team.
For Josh, the move to peer work was a natural one. Living with Bipolar disorder has given him a firsthand understanding of hope, self-determination, and the profound difference it makes to feel truly heard.
“I’ve met so many people who didn’t just need services, but someone who truly understood what it’s like,” he said. “Peer work lets me use that experience in a meaningful way and walk alongside people on their journeys.”
A day in the life
As a Senior Mental Health Peer Worker, Josh splits his time between meeting clients in their homes or out in the community, and supporting his team through supervision, mentoring, and training.
He recently became a certified instructor with the Crisis Prevention Institute, delivering safety intervention training to STEPS staff on how to better de-escalate in a mental health crisis.
Asked to describe a typical day, Josh keeps it simple: “Like a box of chocolates – you never know exactly what you’re going to get. It’s dynamic, sometimes challenging, but always meaningful.”
Grounded and grateful
Outside of work, Josh is working on earning his pilot’s licence; he has a lifelong passion for aviation that he pursues, alongside long days outdoors and road trips with Mia, his Labrador puppy.
He’s not someone who waits for big milestones to feel grateful. “I find a highlight every single day,” he said. “It helps to keep me grounded.”
“Because of STEPS, I genuinely feel part of something for the greater good of our small space on this weird and wonderful planet.”
About STEPS Spotlight
STEPS Spotlight is our way of celebrating the incredible people who make up the STEPS team.
Each month, we share the story of a staff member whose passion, dedication and unique journey help shape the heart of our organisation.
Stay tuned for more stories across the STEPS community, or in the meantime, revisit our previous profiles!
