Welcome to Life Unleashed, a non-profit founded by Veterans with one mission: to support Veterans and First Responders facing PTSD and related mental health challenges from their service. Our incredible dogs help these individuals and their families lead happier, fuller lives.

In fact, around 8.3% of Australian Defence Force members experience PTSD annually, a rate much higher than the general population. Additionally, about 30% of First Responders develop behavioral health conditions like depression and PTSD.

A tail of hope: how it began.

Integra Service Dogs Australia was born from the personal journey of one of our founders, who, following a mental health breakdown, experienced firsthand the gaps in institutional Veteran care. The staggering statistics from the 2016 Senate Inquiry into Veteran Suicide reinforced what many of us already knew – the pressing need for holistic and impactful support. Thankfully, a turning point came during a stay at the Xavier Wing of the St John of God Psychiatric Hospital where one of our founders witnessed the remarkably therapeutic impact of Service Dogs on fellow patients. Established in 2016 under the visionary guidance of Mr. Ken Lloyd, OAM MSs JP (NSW) and his Co Founder Ben Johnson, Integra Service Dogs Australia was born, before growing and evolving into LifeUnleashed by Integra Service Dogs in 2024.

A bond like no other: our training.

What sets LifeUnleashed apart is our commitment to training not only dogs but also empowering our handler clients—Veterans and First Responders—to train their own Service Dogs. Our comprehensive program focuses on developing a lifelong bond between the handler and their dog, fostering skills that go beyond basic obedience training.

This unique training model aims not just to alleviate PTSD symptoms but to create a lasting impact an emotional support, companionship, and re-engagement with families and the broader community.

Your support makes it possible.

As we continue to grow and evolve, we invite you to be part of our journey. Whether you’re a Veteran, First Responder, supporter, or potential donor, together we can make a lasting impact and help our heroes lead fuller, happier lives.

Patron Legacy

Their Excellencies General the Honourable David John Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Mrs Linda Hurley

LifeUnleashed by Integra Service Dogs Australia is proud to have had his Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Mrs Linda Hurley as our past Patrons. His Excellency and Mrs Hurley have been strong supporters of our work over the past nine years and maintain a keen interest in the ongoing support we provide to Veterans and First Responders.

The Governor-General provided the following quote in support of of our work:

“Linda and I are delighted to serve as Patrons of Integra Service Dogs Australia. Australia owes a debt of gratitude to our Veterans and First Responders and, by extension, their families. That is why the effort of Integra – its people, supporters and of course the dogs – is so critical. Integra’s mission, and the comfort and support they bring to those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, exemplify the richness of spirit to which we should aspire and that makes our nation the place it is.”

Patron videos.

Ambassadors

Matt Brumby profile picture
Grant Edwards profile picture
Anna Meares profile picture
Jess Cameron profile picture

Matty Brumby

“SPORT HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUR PERSONAL REHABILITATION, NOT ONLY PHYSICALLY BUT MENTALLY AS WELL” – MATTHEW BRUMBY

Matthew Brumby is para-athlete Ironman World Champion, Half Ironman World Champion. Invictus Games Co-Captain and Gold Medallist and Motivational Speaker.

Matty joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1994 as a Steward, spending time on board HMAS Newcastle and HMAS Brisbane. He was discharged in 2001 following a spinal injury due to a syrinx which formed inside his spinal cord. This injury was sustained during a clearance diver selection course, which resulted in the dehydration of his spinal cord.

Undeterred, Matt’s diagnosis opened new opportunities. Within a few years he competed in his first triathlon, narrowly missing out on selection for the Paralympics in Rio, before switching to long distance triathlons.

In 2018, Matthew co-captained the Australian team at the Invictus Games, alongside Nicky Bradley. It was here that Matthew met his Integra service dog, Willow. Prior to the Games, Matthew’s greatest achievement was winning the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Triathlon in 2016 on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

Matty understands the importance of building a strong support network not only to assist him in competing at events around the world but also as part of his rehabilitation. “Integra has been an important part of my support network”.

Matty is also a big advocate in the great benefits sport provides. “Physical exercise is good for the mind, body and spirit. Sport has a positive impact on your personal rehabilitation, not only physically but mentally as well, by being able to meet like-minded people and learn how they cope with their injuries.”


Grant Edwards

“THE REAL TEST OF STRENGTH IS COMING FORWARD AND SEEKING HELP WHEN YOUR STRUGGLE BEGINS” – GRANT EDWARDS

Grant Edwards was officially Australia’s strongest man from 1996-2000 and has pulled everything from steam trains and aircraft to mining trucks. Today he is an author, public speaker, and mental health advocate for Police. Grant is on a mission to remove the stigma of mental health, not just in policing but society wide.

Grant joined the police force in 1985, working in Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra and overseas. Grant had a diverse career working across family law, international drug trafficking, major organised crime, drug smuggling, child exploitation and human drug trafficking. Most recently, he completed a 3-year posting to Washington DC as the Australian Federal Polices most senior officer in Americas responsible for all law enforcement engagement with Canada, USA, Mexico, Central and South America. During this time, he hosted two global mental health symposiums for police bringing together experts from law enforcement, academia, policy, and the medical profession across the world to identify and enhance a unified universal best practice for managing the mental health of police, family and retired members.

He is also well-known for his sporting endeavours, winning Australia’s Strongest Man in 1999 and was mentioned in the 2001 Guinness World Record book for his strength feats. He has represented Australia in Athletics, Bobsleigh and Scottish Highland games. He has competed across the world in Strongman events including the 1999 World’s Strongest Man competition in Malta.

He has been a strong advocate for discussing post-traumatic stress and his own mental health struggles. He discusses the misconception that police must always be strong and unshakeable, which in turn creates immense pressure for those in the police force. “We have a highly stressful job and coupled with our personal lives. Things aggregate and it’s not good when the two collide. But most importantly, as individuals we need to look after ourselves first and foremost.”

Grant wrote a book in 2019, ‘The Strong Man’, in which he discusses his career and his struggles with his physical and mental health. Nowadays, Grant is the head of Aspect Frontline, a program created to support the mental health of Police and First Responders. “Mental health in our organisation and our profession isn’t a stigma. It’s a result of the highly demanding, stressful and confronting job we have chosen to do and the burden of wearing the badge.”

Anna Meares

“SOMETIMES THE HARDEST BATTLE IS GETTING THE CONFIDENCE TO WALK BACK INTO THE BIG WIDE WORLD” – ANNA MEARES

Anna Meares OAM is an Australian retired track cyclist. She is a 4-time Olympian, 2-time Olympic champion with 6 Olympic medals, 11-time world champion across four different disciplines and a 5-time Commonwealth Games Champion. She retired from cycling in 2016 after 22 years, with six Olympic medals under her belt. She won one of those medals at the Beijing Olympics, just seven months after a velodrome crash in Los Angeles, which resulted in a fractured neck for Anna, 2 millimetres short of a clean break.

Anna learnt very early in her life that the mind is an important tool. Ignore it and you are ignoring your chance to be the best version of yourself, to equip yourself with the skills that can help and cope/survive some of life challenges. “What I have learnt is that becoming strong of the mind takes time, a measurement that is different for everyone and, it takes many occasions to break, or to fall, or to lose, or to be facing a brick wall before you realise your full capacity, that you have to be in a vulnerable place in order to force yourself to ask for help”, Anna said.

Anna has been open about the struggles she experienced mentally and emotionally throughout her sporting career and in retirement from professional cycling, transition to life outside of sport and the personal battles that faced her in those times. In her book, titled ‘Now’, Anna discusses her grief and anxiety, how she processed and dealt with it, and the support she needed to get through it.
“Mental health is as important to face and accept help just as we seek support and help in the physical sphere of life as an elite Athlete”, Anna said.

Her success on the track is not the only thing that drives Anna. She has chosen to be a strong contributor to her community. Anna heard about Integra Service Dogs Australia while supporting veterans at the Invictus Games 2018 held in Australia. As an Integra Service Dogs Australia Ambassador Anna provides insight into what it is like to experience a mental health condition and gives hope and encouragement to others.

Jess Cameron

“As with everything in life, we can do so much more together than alone” – JESS CAMERON

What is your everyday job?
Currently a director in Defence People Group, Department of Defence.

How did you come to be an Ambassador for Integra Service Dogs?
I was invited by Ben Johnson the CEO, following my involvement with Integra early last year. I was quick to say yes!

What does holding this position mean for you?
It’s an honour to be associated with Integra and I don’t take it lightly. Sharing my knowledge of Integra’s mission is a real icebreaker and I love being able to bring awareness but just about service dogs but about mental health.

PTSD is the second most common mental health issue after depression, and for many serving members, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a burden they carry with them long after their service ends.

What superpower do you bring to the role?
Fortunate to work in a military and civilian environment plus I have experience working in communications and presenting so I understand the power of story telling and tailoring messaging to different audiences.

What unique way have supported Integra?
Breaking a Guinness World Record for the heaviest sumo deadlift in 60 seconds (female), I lifted a massive 4935kg, beating the previous holders record by over 900kg….and raising over $20,000 was a pretty unique way to introduce myself! I had an idea to break a world record as a personal achievement, but using it to promote Integra’s work was the best part. The fact that so many people donated was astounding, and it hit home that as with everything in life, we can do so much more together than alone.

What are you looking forward to?
To see more Integra Assistance Dogs out and about because it means more people have benefited from Integra’s great work. It means there’s more support available for the people that need it most, I think that’s what we all want.

Read more about Jess’s achievement here

Governance Board

Mark Holmes head shot
Ben Johnson head shot
Samantha Jansen head shot
Professor Zachary Stell head shot
Mr Phil Baker head shot

James Williams

James has over 35 years’ experience in commercial law and corporate administration, working as General Counsel and Company Secretary in a number of large publicly listed companies and major corporates. In this role, James has focused on legal and regulatory affairs, corporate governance and administration, risk management and compliance. James was previously a partner in a medium-sized law firm in Sydney before leaving private practice to work in-house.

James holds degrees in Commerce and Law and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and the Governance Institute of Australia. His experience is diverse, covering the manufacturing, retail, health and financial services industries.

James has extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector. He served as a director of
Guide Dogs for 35 years, of which 23 years were as Chairman of Royal Guide Dogs
Australia, and five as President of Guide Dogs New South Wales/ACT.

James is presently a director of Integra Service Dogs Australia Limited, Sydney Chamber Opera, Bach Akademie Australia Ltd, and the Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust. Former directorships in the not-for-profit sector include: Youth Off The Streets, Ruby Red Foundation, The Song Company Ltd, Research Australia Ltd and the support foundation for Neura (formerly the Brains Trust).

James is also a member of the Art Gallery of New South Wales Benefactors Conservation
Committee and a mentor, in law, for young artists participating in the Dame Nellie Melba
Opera Trust Young Artists Program. James is a former member of Cranbrook School
Council where he served for 6 years.

Overview

LifeUnleashed by Integra Service Dogs Australia recognises that strong, independent governance in our organisation is critical to the successful operation of our organisation and maintaining the integrity of the funding we manage for supporting Veterans and First Responders. Integra adopts a risk-based planning model for all activities we undertake.  LifeUnleashed is managed by an independent Board of eminent Australians that provide strategic guidance, independent governance and oversight to the organisation in the delivery of our services to Veterans.

Our Board includes the following distinguished Australians as members:

• Integra Chairman – Brigadier Mark Holmes, AM MVO (Retired)
• Mr James Williams, (Chair, Guide Dogs Australia)
• Mr Phil Baker, Partner (KPMG ACT)
• Ms Samantha Jansen (PWC Senior Consultant)
• Mr Ben Johnson (CEO and Co-Founder)
• Professor Zachary Steel PhD M. Clin Psych

LifeUnleashed is a private Not-For-Profit organisation established in 2016 to support Veterans and First Responders suffering from PTSD with high quality Labrador Assistance Dogs. Integra was founded by Mr Ken Lloyd, (Retired) OAM, MSs, JP and Mr Ben Johnson.

Mark Holmes, AM MVO Brigadier (Ret’d)

Chairman

Brigadier Mark Holmes was commissioned from the Royal Military College – Duntroon in 1986 to the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. Brigadier Holmes has served with distinction in the Australian Army for more than 30 years. Brigadier Holmes has been awarded the Defence Force Service Medal, Australian Active Service Medal (ICAT and Iraq Clasp), Australian Service Medal (East Timor), a Commander Australian Theatre Commendation, the Meritorious Service Medal (USA), and the Timor Leste Solidarity Medal. He has been granted membership of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO). Brigadier Holmes was recognised in the 2017 Australia Day honours with an Order of Australia in the Military Division (AM) for his service to Army modernisation and management Defence contributions to institutional reform. As Chairman of Integra, Brigadier Holmes provides strategic guidance and leadership to the Integra Board as part of his ongoing commitment to improving transition support, mental health and wellbeing services for ADF veterans.

Ben Johnson

CEO & Co-Founder

Ben has more than 25 years’ experience in senior roles in the Australian Government in delivering transformation programs in portfolios including The Prime Minister & Cabinet, Education, Indigenous Affairs, Employment & Training in Australia. Experience has included leading large complex program delivery teams, international delegations, policy advising, regulatory reform and leading teams across multi-disciplinary programs encompassing technology, process and culture change. Programs have varied from national program of $1bn or greater to intensive regional programs and national regulatory frameworks. Since 2016, Ben has been working full time to support the development of Integra’s program for supporting Veterans and First Responders in the development of the their Labrador Service Dogs. As Integra’s CEO Ben is responsible for the internal management of the organisation, leads engagement with our corporate supporters and manages reporting to the Integra Board, the administration team and our volunteers.

Ms Samantha Jansen

Samantha has a passion for helping organisations solve their biggest problems through translating and connecting technology and business worlds to make the complex simple and get meaningful results for people. 

She is a natural collaborator that has the ability to execute strategic and operational initiatives. Her experience includes delivering outcomes for clients through providing strategic guidance, designing, planning and executing strategic customer and digital transformation projects, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Through my work with the Integra Board I strive to bring a client centric approach ensuring we are setting up the organisation and our clients for long term success to live happy and fulfilled lives. 

Professor Zachary Stell, PhD M. Clin Psych

For over 30 years I have been working with populations affected by trauma and mas conflict, including veterans, emergency service workers, refugees, asylum seekers and those affected by trauma.

I am the president of the Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2019-2021), the peak professional body for advancing understanding, prevention and treatment of traumatic stress within the Australasian region, and for promoting mental health, resilience and post-traumatic growth.

A major focus of my work is to partner with government, industry and policy advisers to improve the recovery environment for those affected by traumatic stress injuries.

My work in partnership with asylum seekers in Australia has helped to develop an evidence base on the adverse mental health consequences of harsh asylum policies including the use of immigration detention and temporary protection visas. In recent years I have worked with UNHCR to develop a Guidance Note on the Psychologically Vulnerable Applicant in the Protection Visa Assessment Process.

Mr. Phil Baker

Partner at KPMG in our Canberra Technology Risk and Cyber team. I bring enterprise technical insights and experience to your department. My skills span a wide range from high level strategy to low-level, hands on delivery of technology and cyber solutions. I am focused on Defence and National Security technology and cyber solutions.

Donate and help us make a life-long difference.