Waking up with a sore hip followed a few months later by a phone call from the Australian team doctor challenged everything I had previously known and was significant to me achieving my goals. I went from a 22-year-old Australian Water Polo player to the news I required major hip surgery which may result in me never playing water polo again. While I understood the significance of Sport Psychology on success, prior to this moment mental health wasn’t a priority to me or something I thought was required to be an elite athlete. Navigating this challenging period of time involved accessing a wide variety of support but in hindsight it was this moment that shaped the person I am today and consequent career path I have journeyed.

Forced Retirement from International sport at the early age of 22 was the point in time that shaped my ‘what, why and how’ in my life. This experience allowed me to understand my role in the education of young people. I wanted to impart the skills I had learnt through my journey to successfully building my mental fitness in others, specifically adolescents. I achieved this through coaching, as a PDHPE teacher, mentoring and as a mum. Imparting the skills to allow young people to be grateful, resilient and mindful and to allow them to thrive in their lives is something I am very passionate about.