Mr Mark Reidy

Mark Reidy enlisted into the Australian Army in 1990 during his 16-year career he has spent a total of 7 years deployed overseas on active duty on 9 Military Operations. One of Mark’s roles throughout his career was part of the SASR Logistics Specialist Pack for preparation of Iraq Invasion in 2002/03. Mark served in IRAQ with SASR for about 7 months and also Afghanistan for about 5 weeks, where he gained experience in Air Terminal Operations in warlike conditions. Mark once again was to return to Iraq in 2004 for another 7 months as part of the Force Level Logistics Asset at Baghdad Airport embedded with the USAF. During this deployment Mark injured his back prior to a mortar attack on his compound where he was treated in country and continued to deploy, he was also awarded a Commendation Citation for his service whilst deployed to Bagdad Airport. Mark returned to Australia and was then subsequently posted to Recruit Training Centre, Wagga, Wagga as a Recruit Instructor until his transfer to the Army Reserve in Jun 2006. Mark gained experience in the corporate world working for Lockheed Martin as a Logistics Manager during this time Mark was seconded to many Government Defence contract and further educated himself with a Diploma of Logistics Management, and Defence Supply Chain Management. During this time Mark found it difficult to adjust to civilian life outside the Army and was diagnosed with PTSD in 2009. It was in 2009 by chance that Mark found cycling as an outlet for his mental health and joined the Adelaide community of cyclists to help him with his social reintegration. If it hadn’t been for cycling Mark would have chosen a very dark path with the PTSD. Mark has been able to create some amazing goals in life due to his passion with adaptive Mark was employed with The Road Home where he created the Invictus Pathways Program helping veterans & First Responders use the power of sport for rehabilitation this program is a collaboration between The Road Home & University of South Australia. With this program now with University of South Australia, Mark briefs Prince Harry (Founder of the Invictus Games) annually on the program. Mark is also the Cycling Coach for Team Australia in adaptive sports programs such as the Invictus Games & Warrior Games. Mark also is very passionate with regards to the Lived Experience peer support for veterans and First Responders where he helped initiate the first Police Support Group with Police Association of South Australia.  Mark’s passion in life is now to help others that are going through the battles of reintegrating back into the civilian life and the struggles that go with battling PTSD. Mark is also on the Animal Therapies Committee SA, Community Advisory Group SA Mental Health Commission, and also conducts some public speaking duties with his role as a volunteer for raising awareness of the veteran and the stigma that surrounds PTSD. He is also a parent to 2 children and his trusty Assistance Dog Alba in his spare time!