The Code 9 Foundation

Conversations with The Code 9 Foundation. Episode 45 - Anthea

On Episode 45 of Conversations with The Code 9 Foundation, our awesome host Tiff Cook chats to Anthea about a life changing event that took place. The event was when she found out that her husband had sexually assaulted their two young daughters. In an extraordinary chat between Anthea and Tiff, Anthea spoke about the journey from trauma to advocacy and resilience, building a support system in the face of unimaginable challenges and how laughter and sport became powerful tools for healing. Anthea and her children have been through what no person should ever have to go through, however they successfully navigated this period and are now opening up a world of advocacy and support for others who have also experienced what they experienced. Anthea can be reached on - silencetostrength.antheakenny@gmail.com If you would like to hear from Anthea, head here: https://www.crowdpleaser.com.au/From-Silence-to-Strength-Mental-Health-Motivational-Resilience-and-Inspirational

Conversations with the Code 9 Foundation. Episode 44 - Deb Richardson

In the latest episode of Conversations with The Code 9 Foundation, we welcomed back the brilliant Deb Richardson. Deb was a guest (episode 31) where Deb recounted her days as a member of Victoria Police and being caught up in the Russell Street bombing, however we also learnt about Yuri, the young 11 year old Ukrainian boy who Deb hosted in 1993. Well it is fair to say that a pretty special bond was created between Deb and Yuri before Yuri went home. There is much more to this story, so please check out Deb’s first episode. Deb and Yuri lost contact until 2017 where they reconnected and this contacted accelerated after Yuri saw Russian tanks roll into the Ukraine. What transpired was Deb asking what she could do for Yuri and the idea that Deb could knit some teddy bears for the young children who have been displaced, well Deb managed to get 14,000 “Yuri bears” knitted, yes that is correct, 14,000 “Yuri bears”, obviously a quite remarkable achievement. What is more remarkable is the earlier this year, Deb travelled to the Ukraine to deliver the “Yuri bears”. This is her story.

Conversations with the Code 9 Foundation. Episode 43 - Bret Lavars

Bret has been through what very few go through. The effects of being diagnosed with the extremely rare Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is truly confronting and for those that go through it, horrifying. GBS is a rare condition in which a person’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves. For an active and healthy man, Bret was admitted to hospital on a number of occasions, whilst medical practitioners tried to work out what was happening to Bret. His symptoms escalated significantly where he lost the use of his arms and legs and felt that he was burning from the inside. Eventually Bret got the diagnoses of GBS and the recovery period began. Bret had to essentially teach his brain to use his arms and legs again, to the point where he had to learn how to hold a cup again. It is very difficult to imagine what this would be like. It is a remarkable story of horrifying circumstances and the pure resilience of Bret, his wife Lisa and all of Bret's loved ones and what is absolutely brilliant, Bret is now back at work full time and is continuing his recovery with a great big smile. #GuillainBarrésyndrome #gbs #code9ptsd #youreneveralone #rollwiththepunches

Conversations with the Code 9 Foundation. Episode 42 - Sarah U'Brien

In this episode, Tiff has a chat to Sarah U'Brien. Sarah is the partner of Matt, a police veteran and former fire fighter who was seriously mentally injured as a result of his service to the community. In this episode, Sarah details with incredible clarity what it is like for the partner of a member who is seriously injured. It is confronting as Sarah articulates so clearly what she went through, and to an extent, still goes through, whilst looking after Matt, protecting and educating her two young daughter and also having to maintain her own health, both mental and physical. What is outrageously brilliant though, is the sheer resilience of Sarah and how she is now a trusted and sought after voice in this area. (Please check out and give a like and follow for "Living alongside PTSD" on Facebook and "Living_alongside_ptsd on Instagram). We are so proud that we have focused on the partners and carers of our members since our inception and this is the reason why. Sarah's cohort are often forgotten about when the member is injured, but this cohort plays an extremely critical part in the members recovery. Thank you so much Sarah for being so open, so honest and showing the world, via your voice, what it is like to care for a person who is severely mentally injured. #youreneveralone

Conversations with the Code 9 Foundation. Episode 41 - Tim Peck

Episode 41 of Conversations with The Code 9 Foundation sees Tiff have a chat to Tim Peck. Tim is former member of Victoria Police whose mental health declined to such a low state that he had an intention to complete suicide. Fortunately for Tim and everyone that knows him, Tim survived this period of time and is now dedicating his working life to help those that live with mental health conditions, particularly first responders. After leaving Victoria Police and a recovery period, Tim worked at Beyond Blue, the Police Association of Victoria as Manager of Welfare and is now working for Phoenix Australia, the Australian National Centre of Excellence in Posttraumatic Mental Health as Director of Responder Assist, a program dedicated to the mental health of first responders. Tim talks very clearly about his suicidality so this episode does carry a trigger warning but what is equally evident and a critical aspect of this conservation is that even when you are in the darkest of places, recovery is possible and you can still thrive after the darkness. Throughout all the journaling that Tim did in his recovery, he was able to convert it into a book, which promises to be a brilliant read. You can find his book here - blackincbooks.com.au/books/invisible-obvious.