From the meatworks to mending men's souls

Peter Stojanovic was working in a Melbourne meatworks when a spiritual epiphany led him to a new life, working with violent men to help change their thinkingPeter Stojanovic's family fled their tiny town in the former Yugoslavia because of religious persecution.Under the community regime, life was a struggle and after Peter's father became a Christian it became dangerous.Borders were closed to the outside world, but the family hatched a daring plan to escape.After they came to Australia, Peter soon joined the rest of his family working in the meatworks at Altona in Melbourne.But life was pulling him in other directions.After he got the 'spiritual bug' himself, he became a pastor in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, then a marriage counsellor.Now he helps men convicted of Domestic Violence offences by the court to work on changing their behaviour and their thinking.To binge even more great episodes of the ‘Conversations podcast’ with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, singers, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.