INTERVIEW: How Nick turned his horrifying trauma into a lifeline

When Nick Irving was 15, he experienced a trauma that changed his life forever. His brother Jack died in his arms after a tragic accident, pushing Nick into a spiral that saw him turn to crime. But Nick managed to turn things around, and now runs a Gen Z mental health organisation that's providing support "by boys, for boys". In this chat, Nick opens up about how he managed to get back on the right path, and what he thinks is the key to helping many boys and young men to feel connected and understood. If you or anyone you know needs support help is available, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Guest:  Nick Irving, Headstart Australia founder and mental health advocate Get the whole story from Hack: Follow us on Instagram and TikTok Subscribe to the hack podcast Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

An episode of the Hack podcast, hosted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation, titled "INTERVIEW: How Nick turned his horrifying trauma into a lifeline" was published on April 8, 2026 and runs 25 minutes.

April 8, 2026 ·25m · Hack

Summary

When Nick Irving was 15, he experienced a trauma that changed his life forever. His brother Jack died in his arms after a tragic accident, pushing Nick into a spiral that saw him turn to crime. But Nick managed to turn things around, and now runs a Gen Z mental health organisation that's providing support "by boys, for boys". In this chat, Nick opens up about how he managed to get back on the right path, and what he thinks is the key to helping many boys and young men to feel connected and understood. If you or anyone you know needs support help is available, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Guest:  Nick Irving, Headstart Australia founder and mental health advocate Get the whole story from Hack: Follow us on Instagram and TikTok Subscribe to the hack podcast Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

Episode Description