A self-described, over-educated bogan*, Jay was born in the nineteen-seventies, half in and half out of a taxicab in the beautiful Australian city of Melbourne.

He’s studied acting, playwriting, directing, business management, youth work, and counselling, and is a multiple award-winning mental health professional specialising in trauma-informed care and recovery. Over the years he’s worked across the construction industry, community services, and health – as both a practitioner and a manager. He has been widely recognised for his work in disaster recovery.

Jay embodies the old saying ‘don’t judge a book by its cover.’ He’s bald, bearded, heavily tattooed, and looks like he fell off the back of a Harley. While he does love motorbikes, most of his time is spent helping people navigate their mental health challenges in rural and remote communities as a therapist.

He wears his heart on his sleeve, has a reputation for being outspoken, and is a fierce advocate for positive change in both the community and mental health sectors. Jay is deeply passionate about storytelling – as a vehicle for healing and change, as well as entertainment.

A published playwright by the age of nineteen, his writing career was temporarily derailed by the need to earn a reliable wage. Even so, writing has always remained his first love – alongside dogs and his family.

Though born in a city, Jay is a country boy at heart and has worked predominantly in small communities. A few years ago, he settled in a small town with the intention of focusing on his writing, only to be pulled back into frontline mental health work when the 2019-2020 catastrophic bushfires tore through his region and he was called into action across multiple disasters in two states.

Recently, Jay had a bit of an awakening. He realised he’d been living a role defined by his work – and somewhere along the way he’d put his life on hold. He’s now on a journey back to himself, documenting that process as he shares his love of supporting people to be mentally well, talks about the books and experiences that shaped him, and recommits to his first love: writing.

Despite being a popular guest speaker and mental health educator, Jay is a complete introvert at heart and is happiest at home with a book and his dog curled up beside him (usually on him).

Though admittedly unlucky in love, he’s developed a deep affection for the romance genre, almost as much as he loves horror, science fiction, and fantasy.

Jay (short for Jarryd) writes gritty stories, often set in rural towns, about ordinary people swept up in extraordinary events. His romances aren’t always pretty, but they are always tender. His science fiction is both dark and aspirational. His horror stories will make you double check that the back door is securely locked!

Jay writes romance under the pseudonym ‘Jack Sinclair.’

* WHAT’S A BOGAN?
An Australian and New Zealand slang term used to describe someone whose speech, clothing, attitude and manner might be considered ‘rough around the edges.’
Contrary to some stereotypes, it has nothing to do with racism, homophobia, or intolerance.
Jay simply prefers a ‘flanny’ over a business shirt, old boots over fancy loafers, and jeans over pants… and he’d rather headbutt a wall than wear a suit and tie.

CONTACTING JAY
Jay has a full-time day job that matters deeply to him. Outside of that, he prioritises time with family, friends, his dog, and writing. For this reason, he does not publish personal contact details.

You’re welcome to interact with Jay on Instagram @boots_still_on. Accounts that attempt to push sexual, abusive, or offensive content will be blocked and reported.

Please note: Jay does not provide individual mental health advice via any social media platform, as doing so would be unethical.

If you’re seeking support, please speak with your doctor or search for a mental health service online. If you’re in Australia, you can reach out to LifeLine, MensHelpLine, 13YARN, KidsHelpLine, or the Suicide Callback Service. Google them. Their numbers will pop up.