Where are they now – Xavier Frost (SPC 2006-11)

The College recently reconnected with Xavier Frost (SPC 2006-11) who is following his passions in sport and exercise science and has worked across Australia. Xavier is currently using his skills to help miners in the Heathcote area and he still remembers the sweet taste of victory after winning his First XI Soccer final.

Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?

I moved to Bendigo following Year 12 to study a Bachelor of Sport & Exercise Science and a Masters in Exercise Physiology at La Trobe Uni.

I graduated and made the move to Central Queensland, based out of Rockhampton. I spent four years working with injured miners on the coal fields as a Rehabilitation Consultant and one year as Regional Manager of the provider I worked with. In the last 12 months I have returned to Bendigo to settle down with my partner. I currently work as the Health Coordinator at a Gold & Antimony Mine owned by Mandalay Resources, which is close to the town of Heathcote. I mainly oversee our health programs and medicals, as well as manage worker’s compensation injuries and return to work.  I plan on doing some further study in Occupational Safety over the next two years to expand what I am able to do.

 

Do you have family ties with SPC?

I have a bit of a mix of family ties with SPC. My uncles Pat and Brian Coughlan are Old Collegians from the 70s. My brother Daniel (1993-1996) attended SPC before seeking an apprenticeship. Mrs (Margie) Dodd who teaches Year 7 is my aunty and I have another aunty Annette (Clark) who you may have seen working in the uniform shop.

What are your fondest memories of your time at St Patrick’s College?

I have a lot of great memories from my time at SPC. Mainly the mates I made along the way. In the way of events, boat race week was a highlight. Playing with the First XI Soccer Team and beating Ballarat High School in the final was also one of my favorite memories from my time at SPC.

 

Which teacher from your time at SPC had the greatest impact on you? Why?

I had a lot of great teachers in my time. Mr (Peter) Hutchins who I had for Media Studies treated us as adults, in that, it was our decision to be there and to make the most of it, which I liked. During exams I know I felt a bit stressed and I assume others were in the same boat. Mr (Geoff) Brodie would take the seriousness out of them by adding to the exam rules on the front page: “No student is permitted to use the force during this assessment”. Only something small, but it made a significant impact on how I saw just one test.

 

How has your education shaped your professional life?

The focus on health and physical activity certainly paved the way for my current career. I particularly became more focused on rehabilitation and musculoskeletal injuries through my Health VCE subjects. Without this core knowledge, further education would have been particularly challenging.

 

How has your time at SPC shaped your personal values and your family life?

It’s been quite some time since I’ve lived in Ballarat, but I still have strong connections with my friends and family at home. At SPC you learnt to understand what it was to be a man, not in the machismo meaning, but something of more substance where you can provide value to those around you. I hope I can pass these values onto my own family one day.

 

If you could pass on one message to the students of today, what would it be?

Be yourself and everything will be fine.