Matty Newlands thought he was managing. Until one day, he wasn’t.
In this episode of Behind the Badge, Matty shares how the weight of the job slowly crept in—changing how he saw himself, how he connected with others, and how he coped in silence. After leaving the police, the fallout only got louder.
Now a councilor, mental health advocate and co-founder of frontline mental health, Matty talks openly about identity, burnout, and the power of finally speaking up.
We explore:
“Everything comes at a cost”—how the job changed him
Suppressing emotion and losing connection
What happened when the structure fell away
How owning his story helped him start again
If you’ve ever struggled with what the job takes—and what’s left behind—this one’s for you.
To find out more about Frontline Mental Health:
Music thanks to:
These Four Walls - Hard Rock Band Gold Coast QLD
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SmokeSoap – Australian Firefighter Decontamination Soap
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