Ryan Protheroe

Before studying with CQUniversity, I worked in the funeral industry at 18 as a government-contracted undertaker, responding to crime scenes and traumatic deaths. A deeply moving collection of a young Aboriginal boy inspired me to pursue CQU's Certificate III in Community Services to learn how to connect with and serve my community with greater emotional maturity and cultural sensitivity.

Today, I serve as a Civil Infrastructure Crew Leader in local government, overseeing the upkeep of Moreton Bay’s roads, drainage networks, stormwater systems, and public spaces. My CQU qualification regularly informs my work, giving me the skills to foster meaningful, culturally informed interactions with community members during everyday operations and local weather emergencies, such as setting up sandbag stations during severe storms and floods.

On a personal level, I have achieved significant milestones by purchasing my first home at 21 with my fiancée and becoming a father. I am also writing a non-fiction memoir, Picking up the Dead at Nineteen, reflecting on youth, mortality, and personal growth. Looking ahead, I am eager to transition into a Local Laws Ranger and Investigations Officer role, leveraging my community service skills to promote safety, education, and regulation across our local community.