Tony Read’s journey to becoming a Peer Worker at Stride began with his own struggle to find the right support after two lengthy mental health hospitalisations. When he was discharged, he felt lost and unsure of where to turn.
“Either I didn’t know what support was there, or it simply wasn’t there,” the 57-year-old told a local Tasmanian newspaper in a recent interview. “It felt like there was no one who understood me or who could help me navigate the mental health system and guide me in my recovery.”
That experience set Tony on a new path, one focused on helping others facing similar challenges. Today, he is a Peer Worker at the Devonport Medicare Mental Health Centre, commissioned by Primary Health Tasmania and operated by Stride Mental Health.
Tony describes his first visit to a Stride-operated centre in his region as a “nirvana” – offering a level of support he hadn’t realised existed within Tasmania’s mental health system. Before the Devonport Centre opened, he also contributed to its co-design process, working alongside people with lived experience and mental health professionals to shape services that truly meet community needs. This collaborative approach helps ensure care is practical, relevant, and grounded in real experience.
Now, in his role at the Devonport Centre, Tony supports others in his community on their recovery journey, helping them navigate the system, access the right services, and feel understood and supported along the way.
