Growing up in a mining family, Matthew saw firsthand the struggles and lack of understanding for people working in construction, mining, and FIFO jobs. He also witnessed the mental health issues that impacted families and people who lost mates to suicide, so he made it his lifelong mission to help.
With an extensive background in Mining, trades, and Defence, Matthew graduated from CDU in 2019 with a Bachelor of Psychological Science and played an integral part in bringing MATES in Construction to the NT. MATES is a peer-reviewed, industry-backed charity whose suicide prevention model was successfully delivered to 10% of the territory’s workforce, educating over 5,000 workers in suicide prevention.
Matthew was appointed as the Northern Territory Government's Veteran Engagement Officer in 2023 and continues to help develop and implement initiatives in support of the territory’s veteran community.