Royce is an Australian man who grew up on Darkinjung country (Central Coast, New South Wales). Royce highly values the holistic nature of life and the importance of kinship. Royce began his studies in psychology before transferring into occupational therapy, maintaining his focus on mental health. An occupational therapist’s approach of perceiving people’s health and well-being within the full scope of their lives, really enables opportunity to integrate this importance of kinship within therapy. All dimensions of peoples’ lives are considered as influential factors to health and well-being (environmental, social, spiritual, physical, mental etc.), rather than a sole focus on the individual.
Royce recently completed his postgraduate master’s degree in ‘sexual & reproductive health – psychosexual therapy’ to further consolidate his holistic intent to life and education and broaden his skillset as a therapist. He also loves philosophy, sociology, and anthropology. Throughout his pre-professional placements and within the first 5 years of his career, he has experienced working with a diverse range of people, from child/youth complex trauma to adult/elderly populations, within both community and inpatient settings.
Royce has diverse interests in life; he enjoyed playing multiple sports growing up (rugby league, cricket, golf and basketball) and still enjoys watching and occasionally playing them. Eastern practices such as yoga, qigong and meditation have been fundamental to supporting him through life’s hardships and his maturity from his 20s into his 30s as a man and father. Royce is a qigong (translates to energy work) practitioner, which is a Chinese practice that intends to integrate mind-body-spirit through breath, movement and sitting (static) forms. Royce is a musician; he plays guitar and sings and is currently learning didgeridoo. He highly values creativity – especially song and dance, as critical ‘occupations’ to supporting the vitality of the human spirit.
Royce grew up feeling like an outsider in the modern world, and it was his exploration of his spiritual connection to himself, country and cosmos which began to support him feeling connected and establishing a healthy sense of kinship in life. Royce is an avid learner and has found immense benefit in listening to first nation’s elders from Australia and the Americas. Royce recognizes the importance of reconciliation and the sacred journey of the human collective in ‘walking together’. He recognizes the privilege and honour of the position he is in, and he ultimately loves connecting with and supporting other humans in their lives.