Since graduating from St Joseph’s College in 2012, Seth Westhead has completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences, worked as a youth mentor for more than 10 years, consulted for government and non-profit organisations, and delivered keynote speeches to a diverse range of audiences.

Seth now holds a Master of Public Health and works as a research fellow, specialising in Indigenous youth health. He is also a devoted husband and proud father of two.

Seth caught up with us in the 2024 edition of Harvest to discuss how his time at the College helped him build the life he has today, and the role compassion plays when forging connections.

How did your time as a St Joseph’s College student prepare you for the career and life you have now?

The values and experiences I gained from my time at St Joseph’s were pivotal in my development as a young person. I learned the value of being of service to others and the joy that comes from community outreach. The school environment helped shape my understanding of what it meant to be an active and contributing member of the local (and global) community, as well as the importance of giving back. These experiences and values are still very much alive in me today and influence the work I do and relationships I have, both personally and professionally.

Why is viewing others and ourselves with compassion so important?

Compassion is the gateway to forgiveness and service. It is also key to understanding our own imperfections and shortcomings, finding forgiveness for those part of ourselves, and growing. One of the greatest joys in life is being able to help others and having compassion is the first step.

How does compassion influence the different approaches you take when mentoring, presenting, or facilitating for different audiences?

Compassion helps us transcend our differences and connect as human beings no matter where we come from, or what we identify with. In my work, connecting with the audience (through compassion and understanding) allows me to find the similarities we share and communicate my message with clarity and relatability. Without connection, the message will always fall on deaf ears.

How do you share the value and practice of both compassion and respect with the men you mentor when public figures and social media content devalue and dismiss both of these?

I have heard compassion labelled as weak, which is interesting as I would identify it as quite the opposite. Being compassionate requires a lot of strength and a willingness to see and understand the struggles and suffering of others. It is not an easy thing.

I find that men of all ages don’t actually identify with the social media stars or celebrities they are exposed to. Rather, they long for role models and examples of the values they hold and wish to live by. Helping men find different role models for the values they hold is a powerful way to refocus and disregard the social media clickbait.

What actions can anyone take to promote compassion in their community or in their own lives?

I believe the first step is to have compassion for ourselves by reflecting on the moments we have struggled and where we have made mistakes. Then, we must find forgiveness for those times. It can be a tough thing to do, and sometimes reflecting with a professional or someone we trust is helpful.

From there, we can identify those experiences and feelings in others to find common ground and understanding. Through that process we can see where our unique skills and experiences are valuable and needed. The process and act of being of service can be extremely rewarding and healing.

We are in a time where compassion is extremely important. Technology and social media have allowed us to be more connected than ever before, yet we find ourselves more divided. I see compassion as a vehicle to transcend differences and come together again. It can be the glue that holds communities together.

Through compassion we become active in our service of others. We create space for reflection and understanding, and in the process deepen our respect for all life.