Greg Dean

Senior Sergeant Greg Dean knows how often first responders are exposed to significant trauma through the many incidents they attend that impact their psychological wellbeing. Working as a police officer for over 31 years, including a significant time as the manager at the Welfare Services Unit, he understands the importance of reducing the stigma associated with help-seeking, which for many years has contributed to the poor wellbeing culture within the first responder sector.

Greg is a 2017 Churchill Fellow who through his research with law enforcement agencies across the USA, Canada and UK identified the importance of early intervention and normalising mental health conversations in the workplace in order to reduce this stigma and to provide a proactive and preventative approach to reducing the occurrence of mental health injuries. Greg has since been actively involved in creating and implementing numerous strategies and initiatives in Victoria Police at local, regional and departmental levels to educate Victoria Police employees across all ranks. He implemented and was responsible for the delivery of educational presentations about mental health literacy and wellbeing supports at all promotional programs within the service. Greg speaks regularly to different regions and departments within Victoria Police. He has been invited to present at an international first responder conference in the USA and was instrumental in the development and implementation of both London and Northern Ireland's first ever police peer support training course.

As a result of his work he was invited to speak with HRH Prince William. More recently, Greg has been invited to speak in the private sector to businesses and management teams around the importance of early intervention and the normalising of mental health conversations in the workplace. Greg was awarded the prestigious Australian Police Medal in the 2021 Queen's Birthday honours for his strong advocacy for mental health as well as being instrumental in promoting wellbeing amongst his colleagues and in the community.