I often describe myself as a village builder. My work, my relationships, and my life choices have all grown out of a deep yearning to restore connection – to each other, to the land, and to the playful spirit that makes us fully human.
My journey began as a primary school teacher in Perth, where I quickly saw the limitations of an education system that prioritised outcomes over relationships. Children were being asked to sit still, to conform, to perform – yet their bodies and spirits longed for movement, play, and connection with nature. I felt this tension deeply.
I stepped away from the classroom and co-founded Educated by Nature, a social enterprise grounded in the simple idea that play and nature are not extras – they are essential. Through Bush Schools, nature playgroups, teen villages, and mentoring programs, I began to see how children thrive when surrounded by responsive adults, when held in community, and when given space to explore, take risks, and grow.
What surprised me most was how much the adults also healed in these spaces. Parents found community around campfires. Teachers rediscovered joy. Teenagers found belonging and agency through building and creating together. I started to realise that this work wasn’t just about outdoor education. It was about mending the broken pathways of our culture – pathways that too often lead to disconnection, isolation, and trauma.
That is what led me to the Evolved Nest. The framework gave language and evidence to what I had already been living and sensing – that humans are designed to thrive within webs of care, play, and community. It helped me see that the practices I was drawn to – responsive caregiving, multiple nurturers, deep nature connection, rites of passage, playful risk-taking – are not modern innovations but ancient wisdom.
On Whadjuk Noongar land, where I live, work, and play, I see echoes of this wisdom in Indigenous worldviews. Connection to Country, collective caregiving, and seasonal living are reminders of how far dominant culture has drifted from our natural design. The Evolved Nest offers both a mirror to reflect on our losses and a map to guide us back.
For me, this is not abstract theory. It is lived experience. I am playful every day – in my work with children, in my friendships, in my role as uncle. I have felt the healing power of laughter, of building together, of hugs and closeness, of deep conversation with trusted friends. These are not luxuries – they are life-giving practices that shape resilient, connected humans.
My story is one of remembering. Remembering that humanity already knows how to thrive. Remembering that play, touch, community, and nature are not add-ons but the heart of a flourishing life. And remembering that by living these values, and sharing them through my work, I can help others reconnect with the wisdom of the Evolved Nest.