Heart of Tasmania - Design~Inspire~Change
Background
Inspiration
Inspiration
In February 2022 I literally crashed and burned out from working a very stressful social work job dealing with multiple complex trauma cases. My caseload was about 33 educational settings including a couple child and family centers.
I had been on stress leave, recently separated with my partner ( arguing over me wanting to start a timber
In February 2022 I literally crashed and burned out from working a very stressful social work job dealing with multiple complex trauma cases. My caseload was about 33 educational settings including a couple child and family centers.
I had been on stress leave, recently separated with my partner ( arguing over me wanting to start a timber business), and taking thc to help with my sleep and anxiety. Sleepless nights and high thc use lead to me having a full blown psychotic episode whilst driving my work car. Prior to this I was doing graffiti all over the walls of my mums home. I was subconsciously suicidal and thought the world was ending and people were out to kill me.
I ended up in a police chase and landed in maximum security prison with the likes of Martin Bryant and other homicidal / suicidal inmates. I was placed in solitary confinement and fed through a hole in the wall. I was bouncing off the walls and spent 6 weeks seeing psychiatrist and other health professionals. I journaled everyday and came out with 6 folders - which eventually laid the foundation for Heart Of Tasmania.
When I was released on bail - the feeling of freedom only lasted a week or so before reality hit me. It hit so hard, I had lost everything, my well paid secure job, my wife, access to my 3 children, my home, my sanity. I lost hope, the mountains were too big to climb and because I wasn't part of a union I had no case for workers compensation. I was also broke.
I started having suicidal thoughts and had plans to just end the suffering. It was the most selfish thing I could have done. After a failed attempt my MH worker called me as i was making plans to end my life again - I told her I had a go and she diligently sent the PACER team to the rescue. I landed in hospital.
6 weeks in the psychiatric ward drugged up with 4 types of meds, then transferred to Mistral Place(low needs) , then hospital in the home for another 8 weeks, and then ongoing psychologist, psych nurse and mental health worker visits. The meds made me feel like a zombie - sleeping16hr days , this was way worse than prison I thought about what I could do to go back in.
Inspiration
Inspiration
Inspiration
Slowly but surely with the help of friends and family and psychologist and GP, I crawled out of the darkness and back into the light. Climbing out of one hole into another and then out again. and again. and again. Life wasn't done teaching me my lessons. I was sentenced to 175hrs community service- and had ticked 5/6 verdin's principles
Slowly but surely with the help of friends and family and psychologist and GP, I crawled out of the darkness and back into the light. Climbing out of one hole into another and then out again. and again. and again. Life wasn't done teaching me my lessons. I was sentenced to 175hrs community service- and had ticked 5/6 verdin's principles for my mental health at the time. Basically I was unwell and it was out of character.
When I was on bail - and due for sentencing - A friend of mine bought a big slab of Huon Pine and needed me to turn it into a bar top for him - he literally bought it to me , bought the tools and said go for it. The smell of Huon Pine triggered happy memories of times I enjoyed playing with timber and this paid job (little did I know) was the birth of Heart of Tasmania .
I was so scared to read my journals and plans I had written in prison because I knew there was intricate details of a business plan within the pages. When I finally started to read through the pages - it gave me, strength, hope, and a realization that everything happens for a reason and that I was meant to go through the hardship so I could share my story one day.
I started to sell all the timber I had hoarded over the years and then started playing with the timber again. Step by step , 2 years later the seeds I had planted way back in 2022 started to sprout - thus Heart of Tasmania was born.
I draw inspiration from a variety of sources, mostly my children, my professional life as a social worker, nature, music, and the people and places I encounter in my daily life.
Heart of Tasmania's Mission is to be able to create jobs for disadvantaged youth and for me to be able to build a therapeutic web of supports around them whilst they are working within Heart of Tasmania . We want to build a company that will help empower young people and give back to our community. My goal is to create wearable art and support youth to do the same. Art that evokes emotion and tells a story and adds value to those who come in contact with it.
Services
Inspiration
Services
Heart of Tasmania offers a collection of designer jewelry as well as other timber products.
Depending on timeframes and capacity we also offer a range of services, including commissioned pieces, custom name boards, upcycling old furniture .
Contact us to discuss your project or to schedule a meeting if your feeling our vibe and want to
Heart of Tasmania offers a collection of designer jewelry as well as other timber products.
Depending on timeframes and capacity we also offer a range of services, including commissioned pieces, custom name boards, upcycling old furniture .
Contact us to discuss your project or to schedule a meeting if your feeling our vibe and want to discuss a potential partnership opportunity.
For Wholesale/Stockist /Franchise opportunities please email and please let us know who you are and what your passionate about.