The stories below trace pivotal moments in paul mallett’s life and reveal the values, voice, and public-service career they shaped.
This one time I led Tasmanian Community Programs at Australian Red Cross
paul initiated change for fourteen weeks, four days and forty seven minutes at Australian Red Cross in early 2024
This one time when I supported a Make-A-Wish fundraiser
paul was out of his comfort zone but pushed on to support a good cause in Winter 2000
This one time I saw hope after the Port Arthur massacre
paul witnessed a shift in the behaviour of a belligerent student following the tragedy in 1996
This one time in India I was intimidated by an armed security guard over a Muppet
Security at the Gateway to India in 2016 was 'next level', and paul caught the attention of an overzealous security guard
This one time I helped a friend to take the next step
paul had an exceptional friend who he helped to explore a career in teaching in the mid 1990s
This one time when I failed at maths but found inspiration
Level 3 Maths was a stretch for paul. But without taking a step backwards he may never have met two special people.
This one time we studied North America’s Indigenous population but completely ignored our own
paul believes the 1980's Tasmanian school curriculum's silence on Tasmanian Aboriginal history was deliberate and racist
This one time during the International Year of Peace we did nothing of value
Are schools houses of attention, or detention? paul reflects on the missed opportunity to engage students in the pressing issues of 1986.
This one time when I saved a puppy but couldn’t save a human life
paul took time to reflect on the role of government to create a safe community after witnessing a train accident in 1998
This one time when I passed my driving test but failed a former friend
paul learned the lesson of 'he who hesitates is lost' in the Spring of 1991
This one time when I tried to build an environmentally friendly home
paul had to deal with some numpties on the way to building an enviro-house in 2005
This one time when I learned the difference between the pursuit of excellence and perfection
paul's reading of Michael Jordan's book, "I can't accept not trying" helped put a few things in perspective
This one time when I built a mega gym in a day
paul believes access to quality and affordable fitness and recreational opportunities is a key to improving the health of the community
This one time I was told I was long in the tooth
paul was lucky to have private health cover but access to quality and affordable health care should not be about luck
This one time when I worked beside a former Deputy Prime Minister for two days
paul was keen to support the labor movement but feared becoming a political apparatchik
This one time when I did nothing of value while on high school ‘work experience’
paul was keen to explore the world of hotel management but spent the week as free labour
This one time I didn’t mind being called names
paul’s confidence grew as a result of some unexpected friendships
This one time Pop whittled me a cricket bat fit for Thor
paul's paternal grandfather was a man of few words, but his actions spoke loudly
This one time when I wagged last period to go buy a special book
paul left class early to fulfil a purchase that had been two months in the making
This one time when I won the Presidency of Tasmanian Young Labor
paul won the ballot through dumb luck and beat a future Premier in the process
This one time when I was knocked off my bike by an inattentive driver
paul was t-boned with a four wheel drive bull bar and knocked into the middle of the road
This one time when I was stuck in a toilet cubicle
paul's thesis sought to shine a light on the lived experiences of high school students at the turn of the century
This one time I narrowly escaped a physical assault… my mate wasn’t so lucky
paul was affected by the assault of his friend and the legal aftermath
This one time when I hustled my way into my first part time job
paul started paid part-work at 14 years old receiving less then $5.00 an hour
This one time, on Maths-Science Camp, there was panic at the disco
paul attended a special extension camp, but it didn't end well
This one time when I avoided a pub brawl by running like Forrest Gump
paul was enjoying one of the best nights out, until it wasn't
This one time I taught myself to swim… butterfly
paul learned to swim by watching others train and practicing by himself over and over again
This one time when I allegedly stole my own bike
paul's passionate about cycling, but he hasn't had a lot of luck
This one time when I took my first trip on a plane
paul's first interstate experience did not occur until he was 16
This one time when I stopped to remember my peers who had passed
paul recognises the impact of his peers on his own approach to leadership
This one time when I got my first computer
paul's access to a home computer at age 10 was a privilege
This one time when I resolved to be an active Ally
paul was determined to show his support for LGBTIQA+ communities
This one time I got hooked on architecture and building design
paul believes we must focus on the 'essential use' value of housing as the foundation for lives well lived
This one time I cheated to get on a kids TV game show
paul represented his school on the Tasmanian production of Quiz Quest
This one time when I was six I went out in the cold dead of night
paul woke up and couldn't find his Mum, so he went searching
This one time when I supported a dedicated team to implement The Sanctuary Model
paul sought to nurture a socially, physically, and psychological safe work environment from 2011-2016
This one time I made the team but I didn’t get to play
paul completed pre-season training with Launceston Cricket Club in 1986, but missed the summer competition
This one time I had a liked-minded mate and then he died
paul was reminded by Jeremy Ball to not seek to be the best in the world, rather to seek to be the best for the world
This one time after I graduated high school I went back
paul circled back to his Grade 10 mentor after all his peers had left
This one time when I was seven I fled school to see my Mum
paul can recall being a highly sensitive person from a very young age
This one time when I lost my Pop
paul's paternal grandfather was a tough, tormenting old bugger
This one time when I ran for City Council and lost
paul was the only candidate, out of 19 running, that lived in the northern suburbs of Launceston
This one time when I was made redundant and I dug deep
paul was made redundant after 15 years of dedicated service in 2016
This one time when I attempted to run for the seat of Bass in the federal election
paul announced his candidacy to run as an independent in the seat of Bass in 2016 and then hit a wall
This one time when I led my own Personal Training business
paul worked as a personal training from 1994, and ran his own (very) small business in the early 2000s
This one time when I supported refugees in Launceston to share their stories
paul worked with others to listen to, and amplify, the voices of Afghani refugees in Launceston in 2002.
This one time when I led a family homelessness prevention program
paul worked to prevent Launceston families from becoming homeless from 2002-2008.
This one time when I campaigned to free refugees
paul helped a local refugee family that was wrongly incarcerated in 2002.
This one time when I led the Financial Counselling Service
paul led the Financial Counselling Service in Tasmania from 2008-2016.
This one time when an 11 year old obliterated my self esteem
paul's experience of disfiguring acne laid the foundation for his reserved approach to social engagement
This one time when my neighbour taught me a lesson
paul learned to listen with head and heart in the summer of 1990
This one time when my teacher nurtured me
paul's teacher saw a spark and nurtured the emerging servant leader inside
This one time when I realised I struggled with spelling
paul navigated his difficulty reading and spelling by learning to learn
This one time when I crashed my first car
paul reassessed his priorities after surviving a serious crash in 1995
This one time when I was booted from Scripture
paul's love for books began in the Primary School library after being permanently excused from Scripture
That one time when I was bullied relentlessly
paul's experience of bullying in the late 1980's influenced his life path
This one time when I studied for my PhD and failed to submit, but found my life’s work
paul studied but did not complete his PhD at Flinders University 1998-2001
This one time when I studied to be a Teacher and then never taught
paul earned a Bachelor of Education (Hons) from the University of Tasmania 1993-1996
This one time when I led Gamblers Help
paul led the Gamblers Help service in Tasmania from 2011-2016.
This one time when I led Communities for Children
paul led Communities for Children in Northern Tasmania from 2010-2016.
