Former Mackay police officer to launch Triple C Wellbeing Service

A former Mackay cop is in the fight of his life as he undergoes chemo, but all he can think about is helping others.

Former police officer Josh Roberts after being diagnosed with cancer is trying to launch his own counselling service.

A former police officer, undergoing treatment for stage four cancer, is raising money to launch his own counselling business.

Father of two Josh Roberts, 37, was diagnosed with stage four non-hodgkin's lymphoma after his GP found a small lump in his sinus on Easter Sunday, 2024.

What they first thought was a benign growth quickly spread, swelling up Mr Roberts face and reaching his liver and tail bone, sparking the urgent need for him to begin chemotherapy.

Mr Roberts latest scan in September showed a significant reduction in the cancer and is hoping to soon be in remission.

Now with his prognosis looking good and the last round of chemo drawing near, he’s looking to start his own counselling service, Triple C Wellbeing Service.

Mr Roberts spent 12 years in the Queensland Police Service.

Originally from Bundaberg, Mr Roberts first moved to Mackay as a police officer, with a background in behavioural studies.

He served in the Mackay community for five years, before starting a graduate diploma in psychology at James Cook University and later working as a case counsellor for UnitingCare Queensland and the services manager for the Vinnies alcohol and drugs rehabilitation service.

“I want to work and I feel like that’s where my strengths are, where I’m not bound by clinical frameworks but can be more client-driven and person-centred,” Mr Roberts said.

Mr Roberts said his work would be in the niche below psychologists and psychiatric professionals, comparing his service to seeing a personal trainer at the gym after first visiting a physiotherapist to treat a physical injury.

“It’s a cross between counselling and a life coach,” he said.

“I’ve worked in the police and I’ve worked in NGOs and that’s a really good apprenticeship for life experience.”

Mother Sharen Roberts visited Josh in the hospital during his treatment.

Mr Roberts will offer counselling for people suffering alcohol and drug abuse, anger management issues, offer support for frontline services workers, and general mentorship and coaching for young people.

However, since his diagnosis, Mr Roberts had to go on leave from his job with the Queensland Government and is in need of additional funds to make his dreams a reality, so he launched a GoFundMe.

“I’ve significantly depleted my savings and currently have little capital to invest in my business,” Mr Roberts said.

“I will continue working four days a week in my current government role, using my spare day and any available time to build my business and help people in the best way I know how.”

His fundraising goal of $5000 was reached within a day, with the entire sum being paid by a “generous” patron Mr Roberts met through a mutual friend while visiting the US.

“He just said he wanted to help anyway he could,” he said.

On top of that, other donations have brought his total to $6100 which will allow Mr Roberts to look at renting a space for his one-on-one counselling sessions, which start at $85 for an hour.

Mr Roberts, after receiving approval from his medical treatment team, is hoping to launch his business in 2025 and wanted to thank everyone who supported him.

“I am deeply grateful to my mum and partner for their financial support during my treatment, as I haven’t been able to work since July,” he said.

“I have very generous friends that’s for sure… special thanks to my buddy in the US for his very generous donation.”