A veteran's journey back to family

Healing from trauma hasn't been easy for veteran Dan Baldry and his family. But together, they're growing ever stronger, thanks in part to the REBOOT Trauma Recovery program by PTSD Resurrected. “Doing the REBOOT program with my wife was one of the most rewarding things I'd ever done,” Dan says.

After Afghanistan

Dan served in the Royal Australian Air Force from 2009 to 2014, working in domestic and international disaster relief, and deploying to Afghanistan in 2012. While Afghanistan was a career highlight, it also left him changed.

“I witnessed some things there that sort of went against my moral values, and came back a little bit different,” Dan says. 

Around 10 years later, the effects of trauma caught up to him.

“It was definitely hard,” Dan’s wife Ruia recalls.  

“Dan was always angry, the kids were scared of him, and I'd got to the point that I resented him. I was in a very dark place trying to hold myself and my family together.” 

REBOOT Trauma Recovery program 

Dan had “tried everything” before joining the REBOOT Trauma Recovery program in 2025.

REBOOT is a three-day, evidence-informed program designed to help veterans and their families heal from service-related trauma. 

Gold Coast-based charity PTSD Resurrected delivers the program across Australia.

“Ultimately, REBOOT is a moral injury program. It's helping people dig down to the root causes of the issues they're facing, not just the symptoms like anger, drug addiction, alcohol addiction or marriage dysfunction,” PTSD Resurrected co-founder Andy, another Afghanistan veteran, explains.

According to Andy’s wife, fellow PTSD Resurrected co-founder Zoe Cullen, the program also provides much needed support for veterans’ partners. 

“Before REBOOT, I found that there wasn’t a lot of help for people who were experiencing what I was experiencing as the partner, as the support person,” she says. 

“I realised that I’d held onto things that were out of my power to change. Letting go of those things was beneficial to my healing,” Dan says. 

Hope and comfort 

Going through the REBOOT program gave Dan and Ruia comfort and hope.

“It was uplifting and very rewarding and gave us tools to be able to keep moving forward,” Dan says.

Sharing her experiences, and hearing that of other veterans and partners, was particularly beneficial for Ruia.

“REBOOT allowed a space for us to be really vulnerable and also connect with others who have been on a very similar journey,” she says.

Since REBOOT, the changes in Dan, Ruia and their children have been profound. 

“After REBOOT, Dan was a lot more patient, calm, loving, and more open to being vulnerable and showing emotions,” Ruia says.

“Probably the biggest reward is seeing my family see the changes in me,” Dan says. 

“They've seen the person I was and now they see me becoming a better father, a better husband, and a better person in general.” 

REBOOT Trauma Recovery is an evidence-informed RSL Queensland funded program designed to help current and ex-serving Defence members and their families heal from service-related trauma.  RSL Peer-Led Programs like these are funded by Dream Home Art Union and are all thanks to people like you, our supporters.