Who is John Rutter and Authentic STEPS
Hi and Welcome to Authentic STEPS!
Have you ever heard that saying
"if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life"?
Well I have found what I love to do and that statement couldn't be more true. Nothing gives me greater fulfillment then to help a Young Person build a positive self esteem and identity, find passion and purpose in their life and seeing their confidence grow as they realise they have what it takes to healthily navigate their future. I am now the person that I wish I had next to me when I was a young person. The feedback I get from parents is that I help them see the gaps, give another perspective and then provide strategies and simple techniques for deeper awareness and connection within your family.
How I got here
Getting to this point hasn't been an easy process, but in looking back, every bump, twist and turn seems to have been for a reason, and I am grateful for it all. You see, my passion to support young people in their development, preparing them for life, but also to help them see the beauty of today all comes from my own life experience as a young person.
It's as a parent that I feel you truly see how precious life is.
The discoveries I have made from pivotal moments, mistakes and experiences in my life have sparked a passion to study human behaviour and crack the code on getting the best and most that life has to offer. What also drives me is my own children and being a Father and a role model to them.
Why I do it
I founded Authentic STEPS in 2017 to address and combat two devastating statistics in the lives of young people; and in some ways through my programs and resources, I am answering that question "What advice would you give to your younger self?".
I came into studying Youth Work, human behaviour and mental health practices as part of my own life journey in my 30's through recognising character and emotional battles that I had taken from my own childhood. But what really got me fired up to make a difference and build programs and experiences of genuine support for young people was recognising these two stand out statistics for adolecents:
1. That suicide is still the leading cause of death for young people in Australia under 25 years! The leading cause of death!
2. That half of all lifetime cases of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders begin by age 14 and three-quarters by age 24.
How critical are these early years in our lives, but where is the simple and effective support? That's why I do what I do.
Work with me
All of our staff are qualified Youth Workers or highly experienced educators and certified mental health program facilitators. Personally I have been working in the youth industry and studying human behaviour and mental health psychology for over 15 years and I could not be more passionate about what we do in walking alongside young people and families through the challenges and triumphs of life. I just love it and I am proud to say that we are really effective in what we do.
I am also a father of 3 great young people that mean the world to me and they are one of the main reasons I know how to do this is because I have had to take "Authentic Steps" in my own lives; to acknowledge the mistakes, hurts and broken areas that needed healing and then rebuild healthy and effective habits for my family’s future.
So I certainly understand what it takes to move through the challenges of life and I am humbled that the lessons and experience that I have had now allows us as an organisation to positively impact other families.
Nothing we teach in our programs is just theory, I have lived it or living it so everything we do through Authentic STEPS comes from our heart and works! It is out passion to create emotionally strong, united, healthy and engaged families through providing a range of relevant and practical resources, support services and programs that empower and equip every member of a family to live the best life they can.
maybe you saw me here?
My Passions for Life are:
The day I became a Dad, everything changed. Maybe that is a bit of a "no brainer" statement to make, but what an awesome change that was. I love being a Dad to my 3 young people; all of which are teenagers now. I would do anything for them and love the close relationships that we have developed over the years. Although my Mum and Dad have now passed away, their legacy is very much a part of our family and we are close and connected with our extended family members. Family is everything to me.
I have had my fair share of challenges in life (mostly self-induced) and that can make it hard to see the great things life has to offer. I really love my life and see it as an adventure with endless possibilities. I have had so many different careers looking for what is "my thing", and through that I have had so many adventures and had to reinvent myself at times. In the end, I want to look back and be known as someone who loved people, loved life and had lived it with passion.