Rosie Skene:

Hello
and welcome to episode 28 of Triumph Beyond Trauma. Thank you so much for being
here. Received a lot of feedback from last week's episode with Melissa Arndell
about the New South Wales workers compensation process and I'm thrilled that we
could provide something to help you navigate it now or possibly in the future.

During that episode, we talked about my program, the First
Responder Mental Wellness Method. For all new listeners, I'd love to quickly
share what that is all about. I'm deeply passionate about three things,
increasing the mental health literacy for first responders and veterans,
empowering them to actively take charge of their recovery, and provide the
tools and tactics that they need to be able to do that.

As a former first responder who's moved through PTSD, I deeply
understand the unique challenges and trauma that come with the job. My personal
experience allows me to connect authentically with others in this space. You
can trust that what I offer is grounded in that understanding. There's no woo
woo here.

The practices I teach, including breathwork yoga and
mindfulness, are trauma informed, evidence based, and specifically designed for
first responders and veterans. After experiencing the transformative effects on
these practices myself, I trained as a yoga teacher and breathwork educator
with the sole purpose of bringing these tools to others just like me.

I know that it's
daunting to engage with others when you're dealing with a psychological injury.
We resist vulnerability and need safe, judgement free spaces. For those seeking
alternative, please contact me. Or complementary therapies to medication, these
tools offer a practical, empowering path to recovery.

That's why I created this online program. It covers everything
from understanding first responder psychology, because, when we know what we're
dealing with, we can work on it better, to practicing both work yoga and
mindfulness. You'll learn both the why and how behind these practices. The
final and crucial element is integrating all of this into your home life with
your partner if you have one, kids, or whoever else is around.

The program gives practical advice on reducing anxiety at home
and moving forward with the skills you've gained, so that these new habits
become part of your daily routine. It might seem like a lot, but it's
structured to allow plenty of space for reflection and practice, helping these
tools become second nature.

You can now download a PDF from the website to share with your
GP or psychologist so they can help get it covered by your insurer if that's a
good option for you. If you have any questions, head over to
tacticalyogaaustralia. com, get me on the socials, or email me at hello at
tacticalyogaaustralia. com.

I'm here to help. Now, on to this week's amazing guest. Mitch
Parker is passionate about inspiring others to start in the transition from
emergency services, showing that there's life beyond the badge. Mitch has been
married for 13 years to his wife Sarah and has three children. His wife, a
retired NSW police officer, met him while he was instructing at the police
academy.

Service runs in this family, his father was a paramedic for 43
years and both grandfathers served in WWII. Growing up, Mitch was active in
rugby league, polo cross and motocross racing. After leaving school with a poor
HSC, he started an apprenticeship as a fitter and machinist. I quickly realised
it wasn't for him.

He worked as a bouncer before joining the police in 2004, where
he took on high risk roles including rescues during the 2015 Dungog Stroud
floods. and various life saving incidents. He also serves as a retained
firefighter with New South Wales Fire and Rescue. Throughout his career, Mitch
has received several bravery awards, including Commendation for Brave Conduct
in the Australian Honours, Silver Medal, Royal Humane Society of New South
Wales, Commendation for Courageous Action Fire and Rescue New South Wales,
Commendation for Courage, New South Wales Police.

Royal Life Saving Society High Commendation St John Ambulance
Save a Life Award. Currently Mitch is working with the New South Wales
Reconstruction Authority while continuing his service as a fire and rescue
operator with New South Wales Fire and Rescue. He's also a councillor and leads
the ambassador program for the Royal Humane Society of New South Wales.

It was a real pleasure to chat with Mitch and I love how
passionate he is to share that there is life beyond a first responder agency.
Can't wait to get stuck into it. I do apologize for my voice today. I've been
battling a little bit of laryngitis. The recording's much better than this, so
enjoy listening.

Uh, let's get stuck in.

:

Welcome to
Triumph Beyond Trauma, the podcast that explores journeys of resilience and
hope. I'm Rosie Skene a yoga and breathwork teacher and founder of Tactical
Yoga Australia. As a former soldier's wife, mum to three beautiful kids and a
medically retired NSW police officer with PTSD, I understand the challenges of
navigating mental health in the first responder and veteran community.

Join us for incredible stories from individuals who've
confronted the depths of mental illness and discovered their path to happiness
and purpose, as well as solo episodes and expert discussions. Together, we'll
uncover the tools to help you navigate your journey toward a brighter, more
fulfilling life.

Whether you're looking for helpful insights, practical tips, or
just a friendly reminder that you're not alone. Triumph Beyond Trauma has got
your back. You matter and your journey to a happier, more meaningful life
starts right here.

Rosie Skene:

Mitch Parker, welcome to Triumph Beyond Trauma. Thanks for coming on today.

Mitch Parker:

Thanks
Rosie thanks for having me.

Rosie Skene:

You're
very welcome. I would like to, like I do with most people, just start at the
start and, where you grew up and what led you to join the New South Wales
police and all the other organizations that you joined along the way.

Mitch Parker:

So I
grew up on the New South Wales central coast, um, sort of right on the border
of Lake Macquarie and the old Wyong Shire. just a little, little, little town,
went to a little school. Primary school, very small, very large, very populated
areas.

We don't have big the coast and like Mac got, um, high school,
when I finished high school, 99, , yeah. And then fell into an apprenticeship
sort of work. , but I'd always had this sort of burning desire to join the
police. So I'd sort of really enjoyed that. My father was a long serving, ,
ambulance officer back then.

They were referred to not paramedics as they are now. , You
know, I had a bit of history with my dad's brother. He was an amber on a fiery.
, a little bit of military history, my grandparents. , so yeah, it was
something that sort of really appealed to me. , and I actually just sort of
stepped back a bit.

I joined as a volunteer with the I don't think they'd just
become the Rural Fire Service, I think it was 97, 98, just my local volunteer
fire, fire brigade back then. And, , yeah, that's sort of a bit of the
schooling, not much, wasn't anything flash at school. Um, just a bit of the
grey kid.

Rosie Skene:

So when did you join the police?

How'd you get there?

Mitch Parker:

Yeah,
so 2003, I started, it was a very, , a time, very low, , class numbers. , And
I'd sort of, I fell into apprenticeship, which was a fitter and machinist. So
metalwork fabrication, wasn't something I want to do. It just fell into it. ,
and I think it was like 2003. I started the police, I got it, I hadn't met the
marks with my high school certificate back then, and I did a bridging course
that Charles Sturt offered.

, we were the first ones, and unbeknownst to me, when you, if
you completed the course, you were guaranteed entry. , that later changed. So,
yeah, I, I, that which helped me, because I had no idea, but I think it was in
2000, September, I think it was around September of 2003, I started as a, ,
Distance ed student.

So I'd sort of got the, the letter of offer obviously several
months beforehand and had distance education written on it. I had to go and
check the letterbox and that sort of stuff. Yeah. And um, and uh, you know, I'm
like distance ed. Good old day. Yeah. And I remember ringing, um, Bruce Guy was
his name. He was the, uh, one of the sort of head, he was a former police
officer worked at, at the academy.

And he said, oh, you are one of the happy phone calls I got. I
was like, why? And he said, oh, everyone's abusing me. They didn't get in. And
uh, but I got distanced and there was only 80 full time, I think a hundred. 100
Distance Ed, got off it. Anyway, so yeah, just started Distance Ed in
September, I think it was September 03 and just went through the motions where
I marched out in the end of August 04.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah,
nice. Where'd you go from, , Goulburn?

Mitch Parker:

Uh,
first station was the entrance, Tuggerah Lakes Command. , so I was there, I
moved between the entrance and Tookley Station and, , worked a bit at Wyong but
I was never stationed there because that was part of the three stations within
the command. , and then that was to, yeah, from 04 to 09, so just over the five
year window.

And then I got a lateral transfer to Port Stephens Command,
back then going to Raymond Terrace and then Nelson Bay stations.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah,
yeah. , quiet little place down there.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah.
Oh, the Terrace were interesting, like we worked on the coast, like in the low
socioeconomic areas, there was, you know, there was allegiance for themselves
where definitely in the terrorists they were allegiance to each other.

So it was definitely, uh, them versus us versus the cops versus
them, so to speak. So they all hate each other. But when we turned up, they
made up and hated us. So yeah, the

Terrace were interesting. Good luck.

Rosie Skene:

And then
you headed out into the country for a bit, didn't you?

Mitch Parker:

Yeah,
yeah. My Western service, as I tell my mates who actually do real Western
service, was Dungog.

So I, I, uh, I worked at the Terrace for about 12 months. I was
at the Bay for about 12 months. It was a little bit over two years between
those two, maybe a bit longer. And then ended up at Dungog Police Station in,
as a lock up keeper in, I think, sort of April, May 11, 2011. And then until I
discharged, yeah, discharged in 20

Rosie Skene:

oh, so
nine years. That's, yeah.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah.

Rosie Skene:

And
what's the population there?

Mitch Parker:

Uh
Dungog i think is about 2 thousand

Rosie Skene:

okay. So
how many cops did you have? Like two or three?

Mitch Parker:

Yeah,
it was a two maner. So it used to be, , years gone by, it was like the head
station for all the, or the mini division they used to call it. , so it used to
have the sergeant, which looked after all the other stations.

And so, yeah, East Gresswich, Patterson, , Clarencetown,
Dungog, Stroud. , I think Karuah Tea Gardens, but then, , yeah, we'd have just
been two constable positions. The last sergeant retired there in 2000 and that
got converted to a constable's position. So there was, you know, two of us.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah.
Nice. It's beautiful out that way.

Isn't it? Yeah,

Mitch Parker:

it is.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Plenty. Yeah. Nice people. Nice. Um, all the guys coming out
of the Barrington Top. So your rivers are crystal clear and stuff. Get a lot of
rainfall.

Rosie Skene:
Stunning. Did you have a partner at that time and kids or were you by yourself
in there? How did that? Nah,

Mitch Parker:

, yeah,
so my wife, Sarah, , we met, so she's a retired police officer herself now.

Um, I think it was, yeah, Sarah came out in May 07. I think
it's class you come out in. Um, so we met pretty much straight up. Um, Sarah
was posted to the Brisbane Water Commander then. Uh, so yeah, we, when I got my
transfer, um, Sarah got a transfer to Lake Macquarie, um, so to Belmont. Uh,
and then we moved, yeah, then she actually stayed at Belmont.

Um, when we went to Dungog so she sort of, part time, so yeah,
we obviously married a couple of kids now and, well, three kids and, and then
she moved when we moved later on with, we get to it, moved transferred up to
Tamworth.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah,
right. Okay. Um, you, you know, when we were talking, you said that you've done
quite a few courses, but you really enjoyed, , The dirt bike, doing dirt bikes.

Mitch Parker

Oh yeah,
yeah. Like,

Rosie Skene:

and then
thinking about the landscape out there. Did you get to do a bit, , in Dungog or
that area? Cause that, that would have been fun.

Mitch Parker:

Mate,
yeah, it's a, it's a best, best kept secret of course, the trail bike, because
no one really knows about it. Like, yeah, the bosses don't know too much about
it, so you're left to your own devices.

And I was very lucky, my mate who was posted to Stroud at the
same time, we're both, trail bikes, we weren't a part of the FRA, so there was
a lot more flexibility in our rostering to do trail bike shifts. Um, so there
was only a couple of us trained, you know, it was the expense, um, so yeah, we,
we, We've got to ride, yeah, the Williamtown.

Yeah, you'd ride the back scrub all the way to Seal Rocks from
when you're up at Hawk's Nest.

Speaker:

Yeah, right.

Mitch Parker:

Uh, the
mountains of Dungog and Stroud, uh, a grass food. Uh, we'd do operations with
neighbouring commands and stations. So we would, we'd do the RAAF, RAAF land at
Willey Town. Um, yeah, on the back of that place.

Or we'd go out the, uh, So you'd go at the back of Curry and
Cessnock. That's very vibrant activity of trail bikes out there. Um, and then
you'd Coffs Harbour. So you did a world rally, did a few trips

to Coffs.
Yeah. Yeah. Um, which is really good. So you'd, yeah. So that was, that was a
really cool job. Um, And that was always our opportunity because, you know,
I've spent my whole life general duties.

It always, uh, yeah, we'd refer to, when we go to jobs in the
port, we go, I live to the duties boys, you know, we're, we're specialists and
they don't give us the hard time and take the piss out of us. But yeah, that
was a really, really good job. And we had the bikes at Dungog. So my partner
who joined me later in Dungog was also trained.

So yeah, mate, we were lucky. We had the car, the trailer, the
bikes. We were like a little, So if they had missing persons, jobs, uh, we did
media like dirt bike magazines did with us. We had big international motorbike
events. We just. Off we went. It was a That was a good gig.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah,
yeah, yeah. You gotta take 'em too, don't you?

The cops. 'cause it's not always great, but those little
pockets if you can . Remember those.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah.
And it was good times for in, in policing. People are always happy to see they
wanted photos with you, you know, especially when you're over at the, like, you
go and do the, the Nelson Bay New Year's Eve, uh, on the bikes and, um.

And people just line up to take photos with you. You know, like
no one lines up to take photos with the cops. never. Unless they're drunken
idiots. Like, yeah, that's the firies Firies

Rosie Skene:

get
that, don't they? Yeah. The

Mitch Parker:

firies.
Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. Poor fiery. So, so anyway, yeah, that's, that was one of
the courses I, I did, yeah.

The trail box.

Rosie Skene:

Mm. The
other one that, um, stuck out was a dig pro. Actually, it's something that I
thought about for about seven and a half minutes, but then remembered that I
had two kids and I was only part time, so I, I was never a chance, but you
said, , it's something that you were able to push yourself with.

Do you want to talk about that a little bit?

Mitch Parker:

Yeah.
So, um, yeah, the DIGPRO so close personal protection. That was, I did that.
Um, a mate did, I'm just trying to get the timings right. It was for World
Youth Week, so it was APEC or it was it oh seven I think from memory. And a
mate had done the course and, uh, in the old police weeklies we used to get at
advertised, I went, huh, that looks pretty cool.

And a mate of mine told me how much overtime he earned. And,
uh, like I, we were, this is pre kids. Um, and I'm just trying to think how,
yeah, this, this. Systems of how we did it. But anyway, the, uh, the, the
advertiser, I still remember my commander. When I put my application in, the
commander goes, don't let me down, Mitch.

And I'm like, well, I'm thinking how hard could it be? You're
just bodyguarding. So like standing around in suits, you know, like, holy crap.
Yeah. Totally underestimated that course. It was massively physically
demanding. Fatigue related, you know, they'd, um, that was a evidence to me,
the commander of the, um, who they called back then.

So there was any terrorism security group, anyway, whatever the
unit was called back then, the commander comes in. We did it at Holsworthy
Army Base and, um, at the MP school there. And the commander, Comes in and he's
like, who put their hands up? He wants to take a bullet, who's prepared to take
a bullet for their principal.

And I'm thinking, we've just seen Kevin Rudd rolled by, or roll
Howard. And then Rudd was getting rolled by Gillard. . And I'm thinking like,
like what? And anyway, those who didn't put their hand up, take a long, hard
look at yourself. And I'm like, and then he says, those are, you'll think this
is a junket, like the APEC you're wrong.

And I'm like, that's me. Yeah, so I thought, yeah, and I'm
like, Oh, so get out of here. And I'm like, I'm going to my boss, don't let me
down. I'm like, I'm not a quitter. , So anyway, it was quite funny. But yeah,
the course was, , I'd never experienced that physical demand. , historically
before, especially if you're academy training or even doing playing.

like sports and stuff. So yeah, it was really, really, really
cool. But we're fighting for permanent spots in North Sydney and I'm like, I
don't want to go to North Sydney. I thought it was, I thought it was to do
World Youth Week. , so anyway, I did the course and it didn't get offered.
There was only two, only two blokes got offered a spot on that course out of
about 20 odd, but there was, , we're all deemed certified operators, but then
blokes were getting jobs or in Sydney, but I was on the Central Coast.

So. Yeah. So that was, that was that

Rosie Skene:

never
thought about doing it afterwards as a,

Mitch Parker:

Oh,
they had, WITSEC, come and try and recruit us during

it. Um, but once again, I sort of, I just love the, um, I love,
I love GDs like, you know, like I liked doing that was before I did the Trail
Bike course, but, , Yeah, I just, yeah, no, I did it, , I think the closest I
came was when we had the floods in Dungog in 2015 and Hurley was the governor
of New South Wales at the time and he flew in and one of my mates, , Fergo,
who's now out, who was attached to Cessnock, , he's got a background in defence
in the commandos and then also in, , DigPro World come up and did a pseudo.

So that was the closest I ever got to do it. It wasn't a real
gig. So yeah, yeah, there were options. You could have applied, but once again,
travel to Sydney and , not my cup of tea. Yeah.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah,
awesome. Yeah, I reckon that would have been fun actually, doing all that.

Mitch Parker:

Well,
one of the, I remember one of the fellas who, The two blokes that got on it,
that got positions out of our course.

So I did, I did, went and worked at World Youth Week. And so I
was still at Tuggerah Lakes at the time. So all the entrances were Toukley. And
we had the compounder, if you, if you worked there. I did World

Rosie Skene:

Youth
Week, yeah.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah.
So we had, um, where were you there? Were you, were you?

Rosie Skene:

Um, I was down at, is it Barangaroo?

So I just worked out of there. And then, um, I just had to do
point duty a couple of other days.

Mitch Parker:

Well,
we had the, um, we had the, where the Pope was staying, the cathedral, so

we had that compound. So like, it was the world's safest place
because everyone was there and we were just walking around. But my two blokes I
did the course with that were successful, literally were just standing in a one
spot because they were considered the juniors.

Yeah. So I was like, Oh, well, we were just wandering around
freelancing and probably being in places we weren't supposed to be and watching
the Pope smoke his thousand cigars that he used to do. So, yeah, but anyway,
yeah, it was good. It was a good fun course and it helped me later on in life.
Definitely with physical stuff for sure.

Rosie Skene:

And was
it just that, knowing that you could push through?

Mitch Parker:

Yeah,
definitely. Um, like it was just that become like, even now, like, Or later on
in life, I could just pick up and run 5Ks. I know it doesn't seem much to some
people, but I can just go and run, like at 40 odd years of age now, just run
5Ks even longer.

Just go and do it. Which, you know, before that course, I would
have been in my 20s. Not a chance I would have been able to do it easily. You
know what I mean? Yeah, so. Yeah, yeah, just little things like that, mate.
Yeah, physically stuff. And it helped me. End up doing a selection for the GP
dogs at a special North region selection.

Um, so yeah, sort of help you get in prep for that as well.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah,
that would mean physically demanding for sure.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah,
yeah, it was. Yeah. Um, that's unique, really sort of interesting work line of
work as well in the police. Um, they had a special opportunity, um, to do that,
but yeah, same thing, just prepping for that.

Yeah, it's pretty. Yeah.

Rosie Skene:

So you
left to the police of your own accord, which is so, it's almost a little bit
unheard of, especially at the moment, , to just say, Oh, I've got another job.
I'm going to go now. How did that come about?

Mitch Parker:

Oh,
look, to be honest with you, it, it had sort of been on my mind. I'd always
made this comment.

Um, to make, so my, my mates actually said this for left. He
goes, I never thought you'd do it. You always talked about it. You never
thought you'd do it. Had had the balls to do what he say. But yeah, I'd been, ,
so I think it was, I, I I I, in 2007 or thereabouts, I joined fire Rescue as a
retained firefighter.

And so I'd been doing
the, the volunteers and I've, and I still, and I still do the firies today, and
it was about 2014. I just sort of thought, ah, and they advertised a, a job at
Hamilton Island as. To run their fire station and had like a number of
portfolios. And, uh, anyway, so I had, I got annoyed at work for whatever
reason, and the cops, and I just knocked out an application and CV and set it
off.

And they rang and to the point, um, About getting my wife work.
Yeah, because I was just going to do like a secondment, like a 12 month, 18
month leave without pay

Speaker:

and

Mitch Parker:

just go
and do Hamilton Island and run their fire station and everything else. And,
and, um, so that was sort of what sparked it. And then it come down and they
ran Mr.

Hamilton himself and they couldn't find accommodation for
family on the island. That was our biggest issue. And you had to live on the
island. So, and that sort of sparked it. So that was about 2014. Um, Leading up
to it, I sort of noticed a change, um, culture change in the police. Uh, I saw
some pretty adverse, um, treatment of other police, you know, by different
people, um, sometimes leadership within the police, whether it was justified or
not.

Um, And, and then I, I'd been subject to some vexatious
complaints, you know, really a period of time as well. And it sort of changed
my thinking that the way to treat me, because I'd had a very big run, um, uh,
getting a lot of awards, , I was quite unique in sort of the awards that I'd
got. And it sort of changed, , I just wasn't happy the way the police was
going, not what I joined or what I thought it would be.

And we're at a crossroads, when I say we, my wife and I, of
promotion. So it's sort of like right over, um, time's done, you know, it's
time to get promoted. The system was phasing out to what, moving to what they
have now. Um, it was a real sort of deadpool. Um, It's sort of the old system
had stopped and they were bringing this new one in and yeah this job with the
SCS come up and I always had this rule it's got to be something I want to do
something in emergency services you know better pay similar conditions I can
roll over my um uh my entitlements and um yeah I threw in and I got it.

I just got it first up and I'm like, wow. Um, so yeah, and I
decided it was a tough decision to be wrong. Uh, a massive decision. Um, and it
was like long drawn out process. I think the, like I started, I left it by my
last shift. It was, I started my new job, I think it was August 20, but I think
the application started around March that year.

20 from memory. So, uh, don't get me wrong. I had cold feet at
times. Should I really do this? Cause you know, big thing, leaving the police,
when you're in the police, you think it's the only thing in the world. It's
your identity. You, you think it's, yeah, everyone looks up to you as he's
like, you know, Wally Lewis or, , of rugby league, but you're policing and of
the employment world.

And, and, um, as my mom actually said to me, she said, I will
think of you, you've been thinking about this and the whole process for, and
mom had worked in the exec in health for a long time and she said, you've made
this decision a long time ago and you haven't changed your mind until now. It's
just really happening.

So anyway, I thought, why not? If I don't like it, I'll come
back to the cops as either as a leave without pay or a rejoinee. , And yeah, I
did it.

Rosie Skene:

And
that's it. You've been out of ever since

Mitch Parker:

yeah.
Yeah.

Rosie Skene:

So 2020,
you said. Yeah. So

Mitch Parker:

four
years. Yeah.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah.
Top flies. Yeah. It does.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah.
Hmm. Yep. 20.

Rosie Skene:

So you
did mention with the cops, you know, you think it's the best thing in the world
because everyone does till you leave and you see that,

um,

but it's
the, I think it's also, , The loss of identity might have been maybe a little
bit different for you, but I'm sure you would have felt it.

And , when you're in, you don't really talk about being a cop
that much. And you sort of go to lengths to, you know, you're not on the
Facebook and you never give out your phone number. I think I remember Reaching
out, doing something with Telstra. So I wasn't listed in the phone book and all
those, like back in the day when you had phone books.

Yeah, like you know, little things that you're told to do, but
then you realise when you get out, like, and then I guess what my point is. You
don't talk about it really because your friends, especially when you're at a
small station like you would have been as well in your two manner, , you would
have probably done a lot with your mate there.

Everyone in the town already knows that you're a cop. Um, but
then when you get out and I'm going to say it's probably is different for you
because you went in straight into another role, but people struggle with not
having a role at all. , did you have any of that at all? Even though you did
have something to go into, did you have any of that loss of identity of being a
police officer or any challenges like that?

Mitch Parker:

Um,
yeah, look, a hundred percent. Uh, and just for the record, I've always been
Mitch Parker on Facebook. I've never worked for ASIO and had some cryptic meal
because that was like, that's, that's like, uh, the unmarked cop car with the
dirty, you know, the old chaser rims on the Commodore that hasn't been washed
and all the 6, 000 antennas hanging off it.

Um,

Rosie Skene:

I'm
going to tell you mine. Mine was, , Esme Watson and from a country practice and
I even had the profile picture of Esme Watson with a pig or something like
that. I thought it was hilarious.

Mitch Parker:

Oh, I
did it. Yeah, that's funny. But everyone's always like, Oh, that must work for
ASIO I was, I've taken it to meet the end of my, but it's, yeah, it's like, as
I said, it's like an unmarked cop car.

The tags or the big undercovers, you know, the old days of
tags. They used to have the Asics joggers, the cargo pants, and the G Shocks.
And now they've moved to the, like the, uh, the Nike Air Force, you know, and
the Apple watches and, you know, as trends change, you can sort of stand out.
Um, so look, in terms of identity, a hundred percent, you're right.

I think what made it easier for me was I was still, I guess, in
theory, wearing a uniform. I still drive a car with blue and red lights on the
roof. Um, we know that there's, at times, a very unfairly pecking order in
terms of emergency services. So I can talk about, about the mistreatment of
other, of police to me, not knowing who I was as well, because I was wearing a
different uniform, which is really disappointing at times.

But it also was, you know, It was, it was quite good as well.
But yeah, I had that identity, you know, so I still had that. I was still, I
told my old sergeant when I got out, he said, how's your job? Yeah. And I said,
I'm like the lockup keeper, the new England Northwest now, mate. Like I've
just, I could just go wherever I want.

I've got the travel card, the laptop, the phone, the car. Yeah.
And I had, I had reasons, justifiable reasons to travel. So, um, I still, I, I,
I did struggle in initially because my workmates. were that constable to
sergeant level, like when I left the cops, you know, like you had the bosses,
the inspectors and above.

And I still remember I was in Tamworth. It was my first week
and I didn't have a uniform. I was just wearing whatever, but my work car was a
Prado. It had blue and red flashing lights on the roof. And it was actually a
Tamworth it was, or one of the GD's trucks. And, uh, And I pulled up and it was
the salute, you know, you always waved another emergency service and I waved
like I was And the the constable sitting in the passenger seat just stared at
me and just looked away and I'm like, what's his problem?

Speaker:

Oh,

Mitch Parker:

I think
and I went oh, I'm in an ses car like so um, yeah, so that that sort of really
that in in the early days, it really aggravated me because I but um, And I, I
come to learn and it wasn't until I reckon about six months later, um, and you,
you know, working your time out west, like very susceptible for flooding with
little amount of rain.

And I had many, um, we, we got whacked really hard, like more
area, for example, but he really right. And, and all of a sudden I was. Um, I
was leading all these agencies, like, cause we were the combat agencies, so
they were coming to me and I've got, like, and my rank in the SES was a
superintendent. I had this massive patch of area.

My main people I dealt with were, um, sometimes sergeants, who
held a leocon role. Um, in like in some of the sectors, but primarily
inspectors and above, and I guess it also helped me a bit that one of my old
commanders was a region commander for the cops by this stage for Western
region. So, um, and I knew him and he was happy to see me at meetings and bits
and pieces.

And then I sort of learned that I didn't. need to prove myself
to that constable to sergeant rank and look, I went across the fires, the
Ambos, it was the same, like, um, yeah, it was pretty, pretty poor treatment.
And I could see it more because I'd been on the other foot. Like I know how
they react with people that may not have, haven't been in the shoes that we've
walked.

I don't really understand or see that difference. Um, so, but
yeah, I have seen mates that have discharged now, um, or in the way or the
process of discharging and haven't got something. And they're really struggling
with that and they're getting, um, Yeah, so I'm getting really aggressive about
it or, you know, and requiring input in, in, uh, what I call inpatient
treatment at various facilities.

Rosie Skene:

, I
remember when I was talking to my psychologist and we were talking about that,
it was pretty early on. I had decided, I think, Pretty early on that I wasn't
going back. Um, even though I was leaving with a psych injury, I knew I wasn't
going back. She said, you know, how are you going to go? How are you going to
go with not wearing that uniform anymore?

And I was like, Oh, no, I'll be right. And even mates would be
like, Oh, don't you miss it? I'm like, no, I don't miss it. And then I took a
couple of years and I was like, yeah, I do. I never missed the uniform or
anything like that. But I think a couple of the mates. I did miss, but you
know, you're still friends with them outside anyway, and then finding a new
sense of purpose, um, is very, very helpful and just not tying your whole life
up into a job.

If anyone's listening that's still in the job, like, have
interests outside of the job, that's very helpful too.

Mitch Parker:

That
advice was given to me very early on in my career by an old pre 88 er, as they
all were when I went to the Central Coast. Um, and Trev said to me, he said,
make sure you got mates outside the cops, because I had mates, obviously,
before I joined, and I was only a pro, I think, at that time.

And I said, why Trev? Because massive, like, culture. We still
talk today, the group, most of us work together. And, um, and, and, and I was,
like, just mad. I'd sort of dumped my network. Because I was shift work and
yeah, we were asked to our weekend sometimes with midweek I said, why is that
Trev? And he goes because you never know what could happen, mate You know, you
can get injured.

I said I'm not gonna quit the cops, you know, I love this job
But he's like no, no, no, you know, you get injured you get sacked you get
moved and it was interesting I then observed people that would move into you
know, we work on a team in GDs and they get a tag And they wouldn't talk to you
or they'd have very little interaction.

You're like, what happened? Because they're in a different unit
or, and you sort of over time, you get to learn who your, your work colleagues
are and then who your people are outside of your workplace. So, so I was always
big on the early days, keeping in contact with people that had left, that I
valued our friendship and I wasn't wholly and solely locked into, um, But yeah,
it's very, very, very important thing to, to know.

Rosie Skene:

Yes, for
sure.

Mitch Parker:

I said
he did 43 years with New South Wales Ambulance. And he said you had to have
like a hobby and he, he was a mad horse duck.

And I can give expert evidence because I come from a, you know,
a horse family that the horse people are crazy, but, um, yeah. Uh, but yeah,
he, uh, that was his. And, and that's one thing, you know, cause in my,
especially my time in Dungog, you know, I've been, as I said, I've been doing
on call fiery, retained firefighter for a long time.

Um, so if there was a job when I was at the bay, you know,
there's a fair chance I was there in a fire truck or a police truck, uh,
Dungald was the same. Um, so yeah, you've got to, and I've really made it, and
I, I loved it. I loved the, the thrill. I loved using my skill to help people.
Um, but. I've, you know, you seem to work out the time runs so quick.

Um, so, yeah, it's very important to have something outside
your work workforce because it makes that easier to adjust.

Rosie Skene:

What's
the biggest thing that you think you've taken away out of leaving of your own
accord and then moving into? I mean, you're still in emergency services work.
You still work for the government of New South Wales now, but what's the
biggest thing for you?

Like the biggest positive you've had even?

Mitch Parker:

Look,
it's been a journey. Everyone has a journey. Um, there's no doubt about that.
Like everyone has a journey. Everyone's got a story to tell. That's the beauty
of podcast now. Everyone's got a story. Um, the biggest thing that I reckon
I've taken away is that, um, you be, you choose your destiny as best you can.

Um, and like I've just like I've had a couple of different
jobs, um, working in the emergency management framework and even to where I am
now. Um, and I, I think it's, you know, your worth too. So I felt very
throttled in the police too. That was sort of towards my end and I could see
and even on. For the recent hearing now, and yeah, there is that perception or
of those still in that there is a click in terms of high, like, yeah, the
hiring now of some people, not saying everywhere, but there is clubs that are
recruiting teams and, you know, whether it's fairly or unfairly.

But, uh, the position I'm in now is relatively senior in terms
of government. Um, you know, and then four years ago I was a senior Constable
on the truck and I felt contained. So now you're worth it. You can. Do it and
just do it. Uh, a really good mate of mine who was, uh, a police officer. He,
he, he did about eight or 10 years, uh, left the job through PTSD.

And he, um, he just randomly ran the other day. Well, it was
the other day, a couple of months ago. And he's, you know, he's from Mahana and
he's just moved to Noosa in his family. He goes, we're just doing it, mate. I
love it up here. We all love it. We just do it with his kids. And I'm like, far
out, mate. What are you like?

Awesome. Yeah. Really excited for it. But I love how he just
said, just do it. You know, like life's too short. I'm like, wow. So a lot of
people feel constrained, you know, with things too. So yeah, it's a bit of a,
it's a bit of a deviant answer to the question, but, um, Yeah, I just think
it's about knowing your worth and you've all got a journey and if you feel just
do it because yeah,

Rosie Skene:

yeah,
I've spoken to a few people recently and I've used the term you're not a tree.

You're not stuck in that one spot, you can be not happy with
your situation. You can just. leave it and create a new situation for yourself.
, and I think that's helped us as a family, my husband in defence and then him
leaving the fence after I left the cops, you know, we can do whatever we want.

There's no rules. Like really just choose your own adventure.
And if you don't like it, change your mind again, it's okay.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah,
you're right. And I still remember like when I, in my other job before the job
now, when I, when I come up here and I'd always imagine like these places like
your, , you like, yeah, your Inverells, your Ashford's, like your lockups, your
Gravo's, , your Bogabilla's just Bogabilla's its own community as we know, but
just, I just imagine these places to be so far, far away and although I
wouldn't change my 10 years, or just show my 10 years at Dungong, I'm thinking
far out, like, yeah, Yetmen, the beautiful little village, you know, um, how
close, and I'm thinking, like, and I would make a point when I'm driving
around, go, go and see the residents, you know, and sometimes you say, oh,
yeah, he's got the same old shit colour bond roof or the, , the same style,
typical government, , But I, I do sometimes think, geez, I should have moved a
bit more, you know what I mean?

Um, in the cops and you're too frightened because I was in
Northern region and Northern region was the jewel of the crown and that's it,
you know, and now they're much too

Mitch Parker:

much to
my mate was telling me at the moment, like places like, yeah, but who would you
ever think the Yamba would be hard to fill so, um, Yeah, yeah, definitely.

You're right. Don't be a tree mover out, but see where he, we
come to Tamworth. I came to Tamworth with the vision to get my stripes to the
lateral back to the coast because we're the central coast people and I'm still
here in Tamworth four years later in a different agency. And then again, I got
like within my own agency now there was a lateral movement for my role back in
Newcastle and I didn't take it because we really enjoy Tamworth and I never
would never thought in a million years that I'd enjoy it.

The kids love it, sport, it all works for us. Uh, and we say
how are you going to be there? I'll say we'll get the kids through school uh,
and then we'll, the wife and I'll reassess whether we head over the mountain
to, to you, you're at your side or back down to Newcastle or the Maitland area.
We don't know yet but yeah, yeah, yeah.

I get locked in.

Rosie Skene:

What,
what are you doing now?

Mitch Parker:

That's
a good question. No, no. So, so, uh, I work for the New South Wales
Reconstruction Authority. Um, so the, So you would have known, , New South
Wales government had the Office of Emergency Management, , which then became
Resilience NSW.

So Resilience was the start in the form of this really
formalizing that recovery and that preparedness coordination from a state
government perspective. , In Sorry, end of, I think it was December 22, they
renamed the agency, the New South Wales Reconstruction Authority, really
mirrored on the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.

, just on a side note, I don't build anything. I'm not a
builder. A lot of my mates leave, , stupid voicemails about, you know, can you
reconstruct my bathroom or send me harassment, harassing text messages. But, ,
Where the government, I guess agency for, Disaster preparedness and recovery
coordination.

So we know that, , and we don't say preparedness like you've
got the one dimensional. So the RFS have got their fire preparedness and fire
rescue and the SES with their flood and storm preparedness. But it's, , like
you've got your get ready in Queensland. We've got Jonathan Thurston. Have you
ever seen that?

And he's, he sort of talks about on the Queensland government
with his maroon shirt. It's like a whole of approach for people preparing. ,
for disasters, whether it's continuity plans from producers or just, yeah,
people like us that live on blocks, we're not susceptible to flooding or
bushfires.

We've got grab go bags and food to outlast if we're going to be
isolated with floods and things like that. And then a recovery coordination.
So, , when we have a, , we know campaigned events, predominantly a fire or
flood. In particular, the Western areas, , can get isolated for weeks on end or
days, it really varies.

When the agencies have
finished, you know, they've put their fire out or they put the flood out, um,
the The communities are still left damaged, whether it's burnt properties,
burnt livestock, fencing, , houses washed away, stuff like that.

So where, where the government's agency, you've got your, your,
, they called, , like your old docs or your facts, you know, they book after
you does your immediate relief. So they do the immediate housing and clothing
and food for the people that have had to be evacuated or might've lost their
properties.

But there's that where they call short, medium and long term
recovery. So, , Yeah, we're the agency that looks after that. So we will bring
in motor homes if you need to, temporary houses. We see on the Northern Rivers
is a really big thing with communities that are completely decimated. Um, yeah,
there's financial implications.

People might lose all their documents in a flood. So it's a
connection with service at New South Wales. They've got like, yeah, tying all
your recovery services together to really help those people because When I
lived in Dungog in, , in 2015, we saw the really bad floods there. I
experienced firsthand the lack of support.

We, when, when the floods were on, we had everyone, we had the
prime minister, we had the premiers, we had the governors, the governor
generals, we had all coming in and they're all doing their good,, their best
things. But then once, once it was all over, everyone left and the, and the
houses was people like people drownded their houses at that time and the
buildings were just left there, people were just.

Left to their own accord. Insurance companies wouldn't pay
because there was arguments over things. So where that government stop now to
try and run it, what they call a community centered approach to rebuilding the
community, uh, back to as normal as possible or even better if we can. So
that's what we're about it a bit of a roundabout.

Um, space.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah,
that's fantastic. I wasn't even aware. Like I've heard of, um, is it disaster
recovery?

Mitch Parker:

Oh,
Disaster Relief Australia.

Rosie Skene:

Relief,
yeah. And I didn't even really know that they existed till last year. , but
it's amazing how many organizations there are and it's fantastic that the
government has one.

Well,

Mitch Parker:

it is. It's and they introduced an act at the end of 22, which outlines powers like
our CEO, who's one of the current, , deputy commissioners of the police is
online to us now for for a period of time. There's powers we couldn't, in
theory, CEO can move. It's not as straightforward as that, uh, but they could
act powers to make, to make council or, uh, make the government do certain
things to move the communities if we need to, for, for them to be more
resilient in the future.

I said it's not a sound straightforward, but it's not, but, um,
but yeah, it's, it's a big thing. And it, and Queensland had come up with it
because they're always getting whacked with their cyclones and yeah, heavy
storms and stuff. So, you Town infrastructure, because we're involved with
Treesport NSW in terms of road damage and repairs, so you might have millions
of dollars worth of road networks that are damaged due to the storms or floods,
so, yeah, it's a really good thing and it's much, very, very much, um, needed.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah,
yeah, that's awesome. And rewarding for yourself as well, like you're still
getting that sense of, , duty and service, I guess, TK? Uh,

Mitch Parker:

yeah,
yeah,

Uh, yeah, like don't have a uniform as such, like we might have
some corporate branded work shirts or something, but yeah, you know, like as a
joke of like a stocking station agent now, um, and you get to move and one
thing like in a Tenterfield fires,, late last year, you know, I, I love the
fact I went down and. Into a place from Drake in the book called the Rocky and
I went and met some farmers down there And they'll just it took me back to my
old days I've been a lock up keeper where I was having cups of tea and you know
Very very busy as a lock up keeper.

I'll never you know, but throw that in but but yeah I have my
cups of teas and scones and stuff with Farmers and so yeah, it is really good
in your work You work a lot with community, people, like authentic people got
the best interest in their community and they're elected leaders and things.

So yeah, it is a rewarding job and, and people always go, who,
you know, it's what do you do? And you tell them, they go, they go, Oh yeah.
And I said, you know what it is? And they go, no, I said,

Speaker:

okay.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah.

Yeah. So that's what I'm doing now, mate.

Rosie Skene:

.
Awesome. You mentioned before that your wife, Sarah, was in the police and she,
uh, recently discharged out, , and we were talking a bit before we started
recording about that she has PTSD. And I had Sarah U'Brien on a few months ago
now, I think, , and she was talking about her journey as someone living
alongside PTSD.

Do you want to talk about that from your perspective? Because
I've not heard from a male partner, um, before about that. Yeah.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah.
Yeah. I listened to Sarah's podcast and I know Matt, her husband, quite well,
uh, and I totally understand what they're going through at the moment and what
they have been, and it's, um, it just goes to show how unjust the system is at
the moment, you know, and hopefully there is improvements afoot.

Um, yeah, look, it's, um, I guess it's probably, and Sarah can
sympathize with this as well, but, you know, probably a little bit easier for
me in the fact that, um, come from the same environment that my wife was in. ,
so I could sort of sympathize. , it's a very scary process too. Um, because he,
you literally in the hands of an insurer, like an insurance assessor, uh, which
is an old, I'll pinch that from Sarah U'Brien

um, and sometimes the case managers that look after you, uh,
simply just, You know, it's a job to them sort of thing. But this is a very big
thing, as we spoke about earlier about identity, your, your health and
wellbeing. Um, and yeah, it was really hard. I like one of the things, , that I
found, , like trying to support my wife, like it was hard with the kids and
trying to keep it away from them as much as you could to like her emotions, ,
her outbursts, uh, you know, just, just, just what was running through her
head.

But it was, it, it was like, , When you break your leg, you're
on work and you break your leg, like your bosses aren't up you, you know, three
weeks into your 10 week healing time to be back on the truck or to get rid of
you. And that was the really disappointing part is it was very evident to us at
the time that, um, I can't say this for the police, but the insurer were trying
to process to to get Sarah out, I guess you could say, like to see a doctor to,
to certify that, which was really heart breaking considering she invested 16, 17
years of her time into that job.

Rosie Skene:

And she
hadn't made that decision quite yet either?

Mitch Parker:

No, no.
So she, she knew like, yeah, she was, she'd been, yeah, she was really, it was
really hard. And, and, and I had to sometimes try and run blocker and then
there's conflicting information from other police, either in or out. You know,
and trying to, and very confused because it's not a, it's not a process, like a
DVA process, not saying I know through and through, um, but you know, how you
sort of, your perceptions on how that works.

But yeah, it's very, yeah, it's been, it's been hard, um, but
you've got to be very understanding too. And I think it was easier because I'd
come from that environment. We've, we've got a lot of mates in various
emergency services that have been through it, um, as well. So, yeah, but, um.
Some really good programs out there for, for people.

Um, and, but yeah, some of them probably tokenistic too. So,
um, and, and everyone's different too. So you've got to fit them all for the
person, not what it's not a one size fits all.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah.
And I, I agree with that. I, um, I've spoken about a couple of times, like I
really, I really like to refer to the mental health, , options that you have
available, like a tactical options model for police.

Um, it's the same for your mental health, like that you have
all these options available to you and depending on who you are and what you
need, you can pick and sort of choose. Um, you know, to an extent, you know,
you have to go and see your GP and you have to get your work, um, capacity,
it's not that sort of stuff, but, you know, in, in relation to getting better,
you can pick and choose, which is good.

Um, and like you said, you know, some are tokenistic, , but
there are some good, there is some good stuff out there and even thinking about
yourself and your story and how you've, transitioned from the Police into
another department and saying, , you've got to know your worth. The guys from
Beyond the Badge,

really are all about that, you know, after talking to them, I
did their program and they're like, , there is a life outside of the cops, ,
and you can do things that you didn't know that you could do and you have
skills that you didn't know you had. So I think people knowing that as well in
that transition process, like it's tough now, , and it will be for a year or
two, , while you go through that process that you have to go through,
especially, , with an injury.

but then beyond that
there, there is a life outside, , and it will get better. If, if you're active
in your, you have to put some effort in, it's not, it's not going to happen, ,
by itself, but you know, yeah, there is, there is hope outside, , outside of
that. And there is stuff that you can do that you can use the skills.

Like they're not dead skills. You still have them. Yeah,

Mitch Parker:

no, no,
a hundred percent. And, uh, are you talking about Sean? That'd Beyond The
Badge. Yeah, Sean Haran. . I

met, I met Sean last year in Canberra. He's lovely. Yeah,
because a friend of mine, um, Al Sparks, who's a big advocate for post
traumatic stress and, uh, introduced me to Sean in Canberra last year, , which
was really good, and it is, and I was listening to, uh, your podcast.

Uh, other with Roger, , recently as well. What they, yeah, what
they do up in, , is it Queensland or something in getaway? Yeah,

Rosie Skene:

they do.
Yeah. Trojans Trek in Queensland and, , in the Flinders in South Australia.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah.
And there's, I think, I know Sarah Brian and her husband, Matt's getting
involved in, , due South I think it's called, which is Oh yeah, in Tassie.

Tasise, yeah. Yeah. So there's a lot happening out there and, ,
but like I said. Yeah, it's, , it's such a, even what I did was really, , I
really had to, a bit like a dog with a bone, you know If I want to do
something, I'll learn, you know, and, , if I'm really interested in it and like
when I had to do my application to get out, to apply for this job.

I spoke to someone and he talked about like in the capability
framework that we know now in government. And I'm like, what's that? He goes,
Oh, and I had to rewrite my application. It's just the things you need to get
through. I had to be self taught and the people that I heard were critical of
me leaving the police for another job.

Um, it's quite interesting now as time goes on, I've had, ,
People ring me, reach out to me, , through your Instagram, your LinkedIn. ,
Hey, Mitch, remember me? , and, uh, can you help me with this? Or I've seen
your agency's got a job. Can you help me? Or, and I can look, I can understand
where they're coming from because I was in that shoes, those shoes.

Um, there was even a police officer that I know that, um, and I
could see a very, very similar situation. I'm a little bit older, but, uh, and
trying to. to finish up with the police, but wanted to get another job and I'm
very happy to help that person. And it was very successful in getting another
job that they wanted to do within government still, which they wanted to do.

So it's, um, yeah, it's, there's a lot out there for you.
There's so much out there, you know, yeah. Um, yeah, whether it's financial.
Yeah, you're well paying jobs or even conditions like lifestyle. Um, you talk
it like you think about, yeah. When you're in the cops, I had goods yesterday.
Four days on six days off when you're on a, like a head station roster, like in
Dungog a little bit different.

You did nine and a half. Like I would say, yes, you know, and I
used to think how good it was. I could start it, start and finish at home. And
now like most government, the men's government's changed the direction, but
most people work from home now, , and, , You have those, , like I used to say,
I couldn't imagine just having two days off, but now you have, like most
government employees are a seven hour day, , and it's flexible when you start
and finish time.

So there's a lot of better lifestyle options out there for you,
but you've got, I've had mates that are desperate to get out of the police and
I said, don't jump at something. Just to get out because you won't kick
yourself six months later. You've got to, is it a job that you want to do? Uh,
that's the biggest thing you've got to make that decision.

Rosie Skene:

Good
point. Yeah. Going from, I guess, nine and a halves, but even a 12 hour shift
to seven. That's nice.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah. I
like mate. Another mate of mine who was in the police who he left for another
agency. And, , we have another mate who, , who drives, he works for, I don't
know what they call it, state rail, city rail, Sydney train, whatever they call
it now.

And we give it to him like, , uh, yeah, mufti day to day. We, ,
just group messages, you guys got your slippers off, , but look, it's a virtual
world now, COVID. That COVID revolution brought that to us, you're still really
important, you're face to face in authentic relationships.

So you still get out and about, but yeah, , there are different
lifestyle options out there. And, , and like you said, the seven hour day, I
couldn't believe when I got told that because, , I'm like, what, like seven
hours, like I'm used to being there, like Dungog was a bit different, but you
had to be there to sign on.

They just shift start time because the radio could go at 700 on
the dot. And if you didn't answer it, what are you doing? You know, So, yeah,
but, , but once again, it's really important. So I had some mates that are
really struggling, whether it's cultural issues within the workforce , or even
their own, and they're like, Oh, I'm going to apply for this job.

Can you help me with application? And I'm like, mate, do you
really want to do this job? Like why? , I just can't stand it. And I was like,
no, no, no. Cause then six months later, you'll realize that what you're
worried about wasn't that bad, or you could have worked around it and then
yeah. This isn't what you want to do, and you might even hate it even more.

So,

Yeah, that's really important

Rosie Skene:

to
point. One thing I wanted to talk to you about is, , leadership. Cause you're
obviously in a position now where you're leading a few people. And. In here, I
actually grabbed this from your LinkedIn profile, but it really stood out to
me.

Speaker:

Okay.

Rosie Skene:

So
you've written here, on your LinkedIn profiles, you're a progressive people
leadership expert . Blended with a naturally inquisitive approach to building
culture that recognizes the value of contribution as a former police officer,
and knowing the culture there,

especially at the moment, that's a very far cry from what a lot
of people would be experiencing.

Where did that come from for you?

Mitch Parker:

Um,
look, um, yeah, I got a bit of help from a wordsmith. Um, but I'm sure there's
some truth

Rosie Skene:

to that.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah.
And a hundred percent. It's like, you've really got a value. The people, you
know, like, uh, I think I saw a quote the other day. Like you could buy a, you
know, it's an old quote, but you buy a man's time.

You can buy a man's strength, but you can't buy their
enthusiasm, loyalty, or trust. And that's what a lot of leaders forget. They
really forget that. They think you can, you know, in the uniform service, tap
your shoulder on the boss. Yeah, I'll do sir, but or ma'am, I can't stand you
and I'll only do what I have to, at least minimal to get through.

, I'm very lucky like with the team that I have, we've got a
lot of trust, a lot of mutual trust, empower them, encourage them. Um, And I
even tried to do this when I was in the police. Like I, uh, at Dungog obviously
didn't have FTOs, but I remember I was given actually a, yeah, sorry, I was the
FTO, but I didn't get given probationers, but I was given a probationer who was
struggling.

And what I observed was, you know, One thing I picked up early
on was you've got your, your seniors, right? When you're three up, there's
usually like your FTO. And back in my day, they're all barred up senior
constables or leading seniors. But they let me drive the truck, you know, cause
that's what you want to do.

They let me use the radio. I'd go to a job. And they'd let me
run the job. I had a really, really awesome FTA and let me run the job. And
then, then she would ship in if I didn't do it, which, you know, there was
things I need to do. And, but yet I was watching people struggle because the
two senior people were in the front of the truck.

The pro was jammed in the back. Don't touch the radio. Don't
drive the senior person to go to the job, get the details from the victim in
whatever. And then I'd say, right, I get your notebook out. And they had no
involvement in that. So I think it's really important to empower your workforce
and trust them.

Um, and yeah, you've got to have that trust and collaboration.
So you've got to sometimes wear here your heart and your sleeve is stuff that
you need to pass on and what you shouldn't pass on, you know, about
communication is really important to, um, so like not withholding information
that's especially relevant, but I think it's really, it's really important to
have a collaborative trust environment and 360 feedback.

So you need your team members. To be able to come to you
because when I do you do your one on ones, um, I'd say right now, what am I
doing is giving you the shits? Oh, nothing. I said come on like Everyone's boss
gives him the shits. Yeah, and they'd laugh and say oh, no, no, no or like,
yeah Oh, they will tell me yeah, whether it's in that or other so and and I
think it's really telling is when I left the police I needed character
references, and I was very selective, and one, uh, one of the inspectors I had
who's now, uh, since passed away, but, um, I knew I could trust him, but I knew
I couldn't trust my sergeant, I couldn't trust a lot of other people to do
that, because if it didn't come off, Yeah, it could really cause you issues
later on down the track.

But you know, with the team members now that have applied for
jobs, whether for internal staff opportunity or even external stuff like they
come to me, can you look over my application? That's a, that's a, that's a
pretty indicated trust and on their referenced because, uh, yeah, that's,
that's, that's what I hopefully try and bring.

It's a really big collaboration and it's not a, we're a team
like people say, Oh, my team or, um, Yeah, who works for me, like it's sort of
like we work together, so, and we're a team, so we all have our positions.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah,
that's fantastic. I really like that. It really, I find, , leadership something
very interesting, , and watching how people do that, there's obviously managers
and then there's leaders.

Yes. You can tell the ones who are leaders because their team
that they work with, , are happy to be there. And we'll do above and beyond.
And I think what we're seeing now, , especially with police is that they're not
willing to do that anymore because there's no incentive and, you know, with all
the shit that you get on the street as a cop, everyone's prepared for that.

Everyone, anyone that joins a cop, you know, it's not a great
job, you know, you're walking into domestics or whatever,

I think for a lot of us, it's that internal stuff that happens
where you think, oh, we're part of this one big team, but actually, it's a,
it's a bit of a far cry from that sometimes in some places with some people, ,
and that's really sad.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah,
it is. It's, it's so sad. I know that, , Jacqueline, , Jacqueline drew, I think
she, I heard a podcast of hers talks about professional embitterment and it's
sort of like, it's about that, , you know, you get all these different things,
but yeah, it's, it's that exactly what you're talking about that, that lack of,
like, I talk, um, with mates that are, you know, like a lot of them, as we
know, are exiting now, but the way I describe it to people that don't know, and
it's like, you've got a team of 10.

Yeah. Yeah. And one goes off, so nine carry the work at 10. And
now it's like the team of three are carrying the work at 10 and they're just
still getting whacked with the crop. You will, you will, you will. I even had
a, um, a mate recently discharge like recently. And, , it was disappointing to
hear, and he was venting to me that, , he went for another job.

Um, you know, which was, which was a good move for him, but the
sergeant told him, I said, Oh, you've got a few outstanding jobs on your work
off, , can you just get them done before you finish? And it's like, what? Like,
and like that sergeant coming over on his last day, didn't come over to
barbecue with him, like, it was like, can you get your work stuff squared away
before you, you got a couple of shifts to go, I noticed, can you fix up these
events?

And it's not as if they're outstanding murders or whatever, you
know, it was like, what? , there was other people, he goes, do you know this?
And even on his last day, they're like, Yeah, probably speak out of school, but
he'd said, Oh, they rang you. Oh, can you just go and check on this address for
me?

Um, this was just another, he goes, do you know, it's my last
day. Like I'm literally finishing a couple of hours. Oh, why don't you stitch
up? If you could just get the details for me, that'd be great. And, and which
is really sad because this person was really, was Switzerland. Never caused
dramas at work, got along, never, never shied away from work, loved by a lot of
people, by the community.

And the last day was literally shut the door and go. Not saying
he wanted to be piped out or anything, but, um, it was just like, yeah, I just
couldn't believe it. It was very disappointing to hear, but it hadn't changed.
Um, so yeah, yeah. Leadership is like you said, leadership and management and
we do. It's definitely a difference between managers and leaders.

And there's a space for it. You do need your chain of command,
but, um, yeah, leadership's changed this day and age and, but yeah,
collaborative with your team is a big thing and being honest with them and
having those hard conversations and they, and they should feel comfortable to
have hard conversations with you.

, I, I even had a similar conversation with, Uh, a senior
executive within my agency today, like I'm not a hard conversation, say that,
but really open that I could felt I could go on just to say, Hey, you know,
talk to them openly. And it was good to have that confidence that I could do
that. Cause I guarantee I wouldn't have been out doing it in the police.

Um, no way, no way in hell, except for the one person who was
my character reference for the job that I got, so, that was it,

Rosie Skene:

yeah.
Imagine going to your HR duty officer and just going, you know what really
shits me off about you?

Mitch Parker:

Well,
it wasn't even, yeah, it wasn't even like that, it was more about some stuff,
but you feel safe to go and talk to them.

Speaker:

Yeah.

Mitch Parker:

And,
and, and people do talk about safe spaces and stuff. And I think on, on that
sort of end note, I talked about, , you've got the National Police Remembrance
Day, as we know, it's in September and, and they do a march in Canberra and,
and I'm very lucky that, , I think it was really nice. I got an, I've had an
invitation a couple of years in a row now from our, on the, , from the.

One of our local commands up here acknowledging me for as a
retired police officer, , I don't, I think it was just a job, but as a former
police officer to go and participate in, there's probably that connection there
with , the leadership, which was really, really nice to be invited. , I think,
and, but I'm going down to Canberra with, , a bunch of other mates and it was,
it All kicked off really from Sarah U'Brien's husband with his walk last year,
and then, and Al Sparks, who we spoke about earlier.

And, you know, there's a group of us going down and hopefully
build because you look at, , yeah, the defence had their ANZAC day, and we're
not saying they're all, you know, fought in the second, you know, the first
world conflicts, but there's been subsequent conflicts and peacekeeping. But we
as a country celebrate that and acknowledge that and mourn.

, but usually, you know, within the police, it's really funny,
like, it's once you're an ex, get out, , you're an ex, and it shouldn't be that
way, there should be that, , that, that acceptance. So, yeah, we, we, there's a
group of us going down again, it's bigger than last year, uh, and it'll
progressively get bigger, and there's people from, like, retired police from
all over the country going down.

So, which one I've made to one of the organizers, and a good
catch up.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah,
that'll be nice. It is nice getting back together with people, , From the
police, isn't it? Like just sitting back into that. , especially when they're
people you like, but that mate ship and having digs at each other and all that
sort of stuff.

Oh,

Mitch Parker:

sledging. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

Rosie Skene:

The
sledging. Yeah. It's good fun. And, um, you know, you're in a safe space too
when you. And you've got your actual mates around.

Mitch Parker:

Well,
yeah, and I'm one of my other mates, once again, a former police officer, and
he achieved some pretty good things in his time in the police. And, and he
said, when your mates aren't putting a shit on you, you're doing something
wrong.

, and I only just recently did a trip out west with some old
workmates. Um, it was, it was seven of us, seven of them, and there was only
two of them that are left in, fewer transitioning out, but sitting around a
campfire in Outback, New South Wales , on the Darling River. And it was like
sitting in the muster room.

10 years ago, the sledging, the laughter and stuff. It was,
yeah, so there was, there was that good component. , so that's good memories.
I've had to have the police and then carry out, but, uh, yeah, but I don't want
to, I really enjoyed my time in that space. And, but that's, that's part of my,
my journey. Yeah, it'll always, it'll always be part of it.

Rosie Skene:

I wanna
ask you about, you're a councillor.

And is leading the build. So is this a program that's just sort
of coming up with the ambassador program for the Royal Humane Society of New
South Wales? What's that about?

Mitch Parker:

So, ,
yeah, the Royal Humane Society has been going since the 1800s. Yeah,

so you would have seen
police or other military services receive awards for brave acts.

That's what it's about. It started off as a shipwreck. , The
Royal Shipwreck and Relief Society. So, back in the days when the ships would
come in, , they would come aground. Obviously, the old timber ships would get
torn apart. People would call swimmers, they'd struggle. People would go out
from the shore to rescue them.

Speaker:

Okay.

Mitch Parker:

, they
would then become widowed, generally, because their He would drown or she would
drown trying to rescue the people and then the there's no pension scheme back
then So there was like a fund that you would get money if your husband or
whatever died rescuing someone husband or wife So I become the royal humane
society later on.

I can't remember the exact date , and they bestow awards on
those who basically risk their lives to save others, you know So it's it's got
to be within it's across the commonwealth So we essentially report to the head
of the Commonwealth, being the King, but not saying I'm having barbies at
Buckingham Palace or anything, which would be good if he's listing Charles,
but, just throwing it out there.

So yeah, the Royal
Humane Society, , affiliated with Government House in New South Wales. So the
Royal Humane Society of New South Wales and, They're looking, obviously,
changing with the modern world, , and I'm in the process, I've got a councillor
role, , there, and Uh, it's a, it's a volunteer role.

Mitch Parker:

It's
not a paid gig or anything of any means, but counsellors are made up. There's
an executive and then there's counsellors, essentially the commissioners of, ,
the four ages. So it's a police, fire, RFS, , police, fire, RFS, SES. , and
there's some other people that have notable people that I've managed to, um,
yeah, I was offered a position last year.

It was really shocked, actually. I thought it was just going to
be a bit of an assistant and yeah. Cause it, and they just, I'm going to make
you a counsellor. I'm like. Wow, you know, um, so, um, the chair has asked me
to build and assist, , an ambassador program. So the ambassador program is to,
, reach out to the community because there's a, a trend of emergency services
and the odd civilian being recognized for their brave acts.

And we've got to take, we've got to take into consideration the
importance of the Royal Humane Society and its history because it, it sits
above any other. in order of precedence about any other awards. So, you know,
the Police Valour Award or Fire Rescue's Conspicuous Bravery. Yeah, they're
pretty, they come with post nominals.

The Royal Humane is actually senior to them. So, there's a lot
of history which is to the medal or the, to the award, honours and awards
buffs, that's quite significant. Um, so, yeah, a bit of slowly sort of working
on this program of having people to, to really build the brand outside
metropolitan areas or within the honours of your, your police, your fire, your
ambulance.

Um, so at the moment I've got, uh, you know, I've got, you
know, a mixture of people. Um, uh, one's a former police officer, you know,
overseas peacekeeper who's looks after that sort of North coast. Like you said,
almost Northern region. Uh, I've got a lady, uh, that I worked with in the SES
who was a senior volunteer, but also an officer in the Australian army.

Um, you know, looking after the Southern part. I've got a
gentleman out. , West and I've got another, uh, senior paramedic well known and
respected in that sort of river in a Murray sort of patch. So it's sort of,
it's only early days yet. And, um, yeah, building this program to, it helps
identify mainly the community people because we know generally.

And yeah, it depends on personalities, but the awards within
agencies go through your normal honours and awards committees and get sent
externally, but there's a lot of good acts of bravery that people do that go
unnoticed because I, uh, the knowledge or the experience of the police
attending or the ambulance, for example.

Um, or it just happens and no one knows about it because
nothing actually even happened. So, uh, but, but, you know, you're tapping into
your local networks, you know, your, your elected leaders, your mayors, your
councils, like, and, and also, yeah, really building that reputation and
knowledge. externally to try and recognize those people that that would
normally go unnoticed because there's a lot of good deeds that go unnoticed.

So it's sort of about what's happening at the moment. It's in
early days, but it's a really, really, um, exciting, um, thing to be a part of
and to be, to be given the courage to build it.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah.

Mitch Parker:

Like,
yeah, it's really cool.

Rosie Skene:

You
yourself are a recipient of a, an award or two.

And is one of those. from the Royal Humane Society as well. ?
Yeah, yeah,

Mitch Parker:

that's
correct. Yeah. Oh yeah, kind of. Um, it was, I received a silver medal from the
Royal Humane Society a few years ago, um, alongside some work in, in Sarah
U'Brien's husband. What is that? He's actually a repeat offender, uh, with his
work in the police rescue.

Speaker:

Yeah.

Mitch Parker:

Uh,
they've only got one of each. Um, From their all humane society just shows the
caliber of Matt. But, um, but yeah, essentially that's what it was. And I only
recently celebrated it was early this year that I'm the, well, they think I'm
the first recipient to ever become a councillor of their society.

Um, yeah. Um, which was, uh, so yeah, I, I reached out to, um,
I was in my old job, um, and I thought I'd like to be a part of something
external, like, you know, it's sort of branching out and, and, um, yeah, as
time got on, um, It so happens at the time the chair lived in Armidale at the
time, he's now the president, and um, he himself is a long serving retired very
senior officer with the Australian Army, and now senior uh, with the um, uh,
DRA as we mentioned earlier, Disaster Relief Australia, yeah, and uh, so we
met.

I was really shocked because I think I'm in Tamworth, I'll
just, I'll brush this bloke and the chair lives an hour up the road. And I was
like, wow, so we're connected and yeah, and that's how it sort of slowly
started. And I think it was, um, Yeah, maybe a bit of, I guess I can say this
before it gets too much like a bit of youth on my side, um, and enthusiasm, I
guess, and they're great people to be a part of, um, and some of the other, you
know, the delegates of the commissioners with other other agencies.

Um, I already already known previously, so it's quite a good
working environment, and it's amazing to hear the acts of bravery of what
people have done, , that finally get there. , so probably to add on what I said
before with the ambassador program to say, if you. So we're, we are launching a
new website.

There's an on, like at the moment if you wanna nominate
someone, you know, if Rosie from from the coast wants to nominate someone for a
brave act, you've gotta fill out a form and post it. You know, that's very Oh,
in the

Speaker:

mail?

Mitch Parker:

Yeah.

Rosie Sken

e

Oh, okay.
Gotta get a stamp.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah, I
was talking about a mate stamp collect the other day.

Yeah. Uh, so you've gotta get a stamp. That's exactly right.
And go to Australia Post and off you go. Um, but it's in the process of being
developed a new one. So it's an online. nomination. So obviously there's a lot
of stuff you need to go through, but it needs to be verified as well. But the
ambassador program, um, we'll, you know, these representatives within the areas
will, we'll go, okay.

And they've got experience too, mind you, for the people that
have, , that are part of this ambassador program. So they'll go, okay, let's, ,
raise his nominated Roger for ABC, right. Let's go verify these. Let's get some
more information. And then you do the write ups, uh, and then it gets edits.

Being part of the recent round of, , Receive like the or
because there's there's various different levels of awards that they give out
and it's to sit there with these you know we've got retired professionals
supreme court judge you know you've got commissioners and to hear everyone's
opinions and discussions on why they should receive a certain there's a
criteria and we literally put it to a vote or it's unanimous or whether what
award they get and Um, so yeah, it's, it's a lot of good work that goes on and
this will increase that.

So then you'll be able to say, Oh, I heard about that. And
let's punch it in and that'll come through and we can, we can validate it and
hopefully acknowledge that person. That's

Rosie Skene:

fantastic. And when do the, when are the, um, awards awarded? Is it just once a
year or do they have certain, is it like Australia day or something like that?

Mitch Parker:

Uh, so
yeah, they don't, they're not like the Australian honours and awards, but they
are, it's usually what an investiture is usually once a year towards the, The
latter part of the year. Um, so this, this one will be in November this year. ,
so the process is, so we've, we've gone through, we've identified a number of
recipients, , organized with the governor to have government house for the day,
, with obviously the governor's staff, , and then you as a recipient will
receive a correspondence, whether via email, Or a letter depends.

And I remember being in, I was really, I was actually at a
search warrant and I just popped up my phone. I went, Holy crap. You know,
cause I was just waiting to come by email. I'm like, Oh wow. Um, but yeah,
you'll get notified and then in due course you'll get your formal invitations.
You've got to accept the award.

And, uh, and it's a, it's a, it's a really good day and, and
I'm very fortunate myself, I've, I've, I've. government house a number of
times, , for awards, , which is something really unique that you can, you can
say and be able to share that with all the kids and my wife and my family and
get some really nice photos and stuff and people can enjoy that.

So yeah, that's, that's sort of how the, The process works. ,
and you know, there's media coverage there as well to try and influence it. But
it's really branching out outside those metro areas to the civilians is what
we're trying to do in regional areas.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah,
that's fantastic. And I can imagine it would be a really nice day.

Have you ever had, have you ever heard of anyone that's not
accepted one?

Mitch Parker:

Um, no,
not, well, I've only sat on my first committee as such. So we have meetings and
we get the awards. Um, no, I can't say any of. Cause generally the ones that we
get, uh, uh, already vetted by the internal awards committee. So that's a lot
of ones that we've got.

And those that have come through civilian wise, so just like
out of this world. So it's not as if you could write a good story and, and I
go, we just go, yeah, that's great. Like there's certainly validation behind
it. Like there was a member of the, , the public, , in the Southern part of New
South Wales, they're going to too much detail that did a really horrific surf
rescue.

There was a lot of, uh, someone put him in, , there was a lot
of lack of evidence, but we're able to speak to a number of key people within
that area, yeah, within authorities and agencies, which you could verify and
not say we didn't believe it, but you just have to fact check it because
people, you know.

People you don't know can spit a yarn, but, but no, not, not
that I know, but they, they very well could have been historically, I would say
they would be, because there is a certain criteria to, to meet too. And as I
said there, yeah, because there's not many, I know my, like with my silver
medal. , it's inscribed, I can't remember the figure, but it was like only, I
think it's 10, it's got a number, but it's like, it was like the 600 and
something, or I can't remember the figure now, but only ever been handed out
since the 1870s.

You know what I mean? So it's not as if, like, investiture,
it's probably about, you were happy, happy to say investiture will range from
say 20 to 30 awards a year. So yeah, they're not huge, but yeah, it's pretty,
um, yeah, it's really, it's really, it's really good to be a part of something
like that because there's some just unreal stories and it's, and I know a
couple of the recipients that this year and I'm killing me. I can't say
anything to them.

Rosie Skene:

That
would be fun actually to know that.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah.
Yeah. And then yeah, to

Rosie Skene:

go and
spend the day with them.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah,
it's, , and then with their families and is it to a particular and, and, uh,
and one, like we say, go back to putting crap on your mates. , cause when you
get, like when the police send through, generally they'll send a redacted event
report, , police statements or reports, you know, Godfrey reports.

Um, and so you get to read them and read the reports of other
police and, , Yeah, I've got a few lines I'm going to give. I made a bit of a
stick about, , the fellow that I know, one of them in particular, because I've
seen some of their stuff, but, , but no, truly deserving acts, but that's
really, it's really cool.

Rosie Skene:

And you
said that you're, are you the only person to receive, is it, I don't want to
get it wrong, because it's important. Is it the Courage Award from the NSW
Police and Fire and Rescue NSW?

Mitch Parker:

Um,
yeah.

Rosie Skene:

Am I
right?

Mitch Parker:

Yeah,
yes, well, yeah, yeah. Um, so having, I've been awarded the New South Wales
Police Commendation for Courage for a job.

So that's the ribbon with the eagle on it. And then I've
received the Fire Rescue Commissioner's Commendation for Courageous Action,
which is like their equivalent for another job. Yeah, so quite a unique little
set. In the last year's investiture at, um, for the Royal Humane, there was a
former police officer, dog handler, who's heavily involved with the Australian
Bravery Association now.

So, um, And, um, Brownie, he's a, he's a receiver as offender
too with bravery awards, but he, he was wearing the fire rescue courage award.
He's got the police valor award, um, for a job he did as a, you know, when he
was a dog healer at a house fire Lochinvar many years ago. And, uh, I said,
Oh, like, how'd you get that?

And, uh, and he said the commissioner. So, yeah, I think him
and I are pretty much the only two that have got that. Um, yeah, well, he's got
the Valour Award, so it's a one up, but yeah, it's pretty unique circumstances.
Um, but yeah, they're the fire rescue one. It's, uh, we got, there was a couple
of us got that, um, for the Stroud Floods or Dungog Floods.

Um, and, um, but I think we, from memory, we were like
firefighters five, six, seven and eight that ever received that award in the
retained, sorry. So the permanent, but I mean the permanent retained workforce.
Yeah. So that's very, yeah, very unique, um, unique awards.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah.
Can I ask you a question? When you receive awards like that and you're employed
by the police, how do you feel about it?

Is there, like, obviously pride and the recognition would be
amazing, but there is a, there's a little bit of a stigma with cops in relation
to being commended for the job that you do. I feel like, um, Was there any of,
did you feel anything like that?

Mitch Parker:

Um, so
with the, the, the police, when I got my award for my work in the police, it
was to do with a bloke drowning in a dam.

Um, and. The fire is one was people trapped in houses in pretty
horrific circumstances. So, um, look, there's definitely that perception. Like
a lot of people used to take the, like I take the Vicky out of me, but it was
just, we sit around the campfire at Tilpa there at the night and they were
saying to me, you know, one job, one medal in Dungong, you know, typical
Parker, you know, um, but yeah, look, um, yeah.

And, and, And some people have shots at others, and I've got a
mate who's a recipient of the Australian Bravery Medal who's still a serving
police officer, and he's got the courage twice from the police for two
different jobs, so he's definitely had a go, and he's copped a bit of flack.
But one thing that people have got to understand is that, Look, we've all
worked with people, Rosie, that have written themselves up for awards or tried
to like, we don't get about that, but I can wholeheartedly tell you, uh, that I
never did that and many other people haven't, but they've got to be vetted by
an awards committee and you can see through that now, now being on the other
side, you can see that, you know, like, so, um, yeah, like I, I, I did it
because I'll probably outside it, but it was really exciting to receive it.

Um, And yeah, it's, it's people got to remember that, that
they've got through an awards committee. So you've got to be nominated. So when
I got my bravery award from the police, it was my sergeant. Unbeknownst to me
the time nominated me. Uh, he was a recipient again of the police valor award
from his time and a bravery medal.

Um, but then it went from him to the local awards committee to
the region awards committee. to the State Committee, and then it went, uh, one
of them got sent to Canberra, so I got one from the Australian Honours and
Awards. So, you know, there's a lot of people that have vetted that award.

Speaker:

Yeah.

Mitch Parker:

So,
yeah, you can have, I find it really disheartening when you hear people that,
ah, you know, because, you know, Historically, there's a lot of people have had
to vet them and yeah, independent and whether it's through statements, videos,
like all sorts of stuff.

So now I haven't felt like that, but once again, yeah, it's
been, I've been, I've been very fortunate to receive those awards because many
people do things that do not go unnoticed. I said that to go unnoticed.

Yeah.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah.

Mitch Parker:

Yeah.
Which is really disappointing.

Rosie Skene:

Amazing.
I, um, yeah, no awards over here, but I think it's,

no, I, it's pretty impressive actually. I think it's great. And
you should feel proud. I would hope that that's not the case that you can
receive these awards and not feel actual pride for it.

Because they're obviously well deserved. And like you said,
it's got to be vetted however many times to get the award. . And the
recognition. So I'm glad it wasn't like that.

Mitch Parker:

Mate,
I, I, I go back to government house last year and I still remember, I can't
remember, it was a couple of female police officers and the smile on their face
when they were getting their medal.

They couldn't, you know, when you're a kid and you're so
excited about Christmas or a new bike and you just cannot want the smile off
your face, no matter how hard you try. And I remember thinking, wow, like look
at the pride that that person's feeling. And it obviously deservedly so. So
yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely.

Um, But, um, yeah, I can't say I've copped too much flack. I
did have a mate tell me once just to be mindful because people do get, there's
a bit of animosity about it, um, which does happen. And I, um, but yeah, even
now, like I get, like I've been very fortunate. I've received. a number and my
mates just give it to me all the time.

But hey, that's what it's about. That's right. And I'm happy
for him to do that. And, uh, and I always make jokes. Like I'm, yeah, you guys
know a good tattooist. Why? I'm getting some gongs made up, getting a tattoo to
my chest. I'm getting the stickers made up for my car, you know, and so I
always give it back to them.

Rosie Skene:

. Before
we end our chat today, , do you have any advice for people thinking about
leaving the COPS? Um, or any, any agency really to take a chance on something
else?

Mitch Parker:

Yeah.
You just got to, um, do your homework, back yourself. You can do it. Like,
don't feel, um, like I'm proof there's a lot of other, um, things There's a lot
more proof of others out there that have done it, that have leapt.

Um, you know, people I've worked with, one person in particular
has left the police after 20 years as a sergeant and just, you know, moved
across and is loving it. , so there's plenty of us out there that are expert
evidence or, you know, we're a set of precedents, but just do it, do your
homework, make sure you're happy, lean on those you can, you know, you can
trust too, your loved ones, like your partners, your spouses, if you've got
them, um, parents, you know, there's always someone you can lean on to get that
advice because sometimes you might be clouded in the moment because you're that
fed up, you just want to get out because you just need to get out of that
environment.

Um, You know, you do have your leave in tolerance, too, if you
need to. Just take a break and have a week off just to think about it. But, but
yeah, just do it and try it if you can. Like we've all, we will all carry scars
from what we've, we've seen and done and been involved in. There's no doubt
about that.

Um, so don't ever feel that it's, that you, you can't, you're
too proud to speak to. Um, but, uh, yeah, definitely. It's definitely, um,
yeah, but like I did it, it was hard. everyone goes through it. Um, but would I
change it? Absolutely not.

So, yeah.

Rosie Skene:

Thank
you so much. It's been a real joy to chat with you today.

Different conversation to what I'm used to, which is, but I I'm
so grateful that you came on to have a chat about your story. So thank you.

Mitch Parker:

No,
thank you. And I'm glad, it's good to hear what you, what you're doing out
there. You've got some really interesting guests. Um, it's a really trying time
for, for first responders too.

And, um, uh, I know it's, yeah, having, having podcasts, like
everyone goes for walks now, does gym training, drives, whatever. You turn them
on. Gone are the days of, except for me with AM radio, the kids give it to me,
ABC New England Northwest. It's an old man's station, dad. That's right. I'm
old kids. Yeah. I love it.

I love it. But, um, but you know, podcasts is a really good
thing and it gives people, um, there's been a number of different podcasts that
I've referred people to that are struggling and just listening and it certainly
helped them. But I think it's great. Keep doing it.

Rosie Skene:

Yeah.

Mitch Parker:

Happy
to chat.

Rosie Skene:

It's
been really good.

Thank you.

Rosie Skene:

I hope
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Your support means the world. My name is Rosie Skeen. Join me
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Trauma. Until then, be kind to your mind and trust in the magic of your
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