About Lukas Winward

The Personal Story That Changed My Focus

I've spent over a decade working with families as a counsellor, but it was watching my own parents retire that opened my eyes to what was really happening.

I saw firsthand how retirement, something we're told to look forward to—can quietly unravel your sense of identity, purpose, and connection. These weren't people who lacked resources or planning. They had done everything "right." But no one had prepared them for the psychological reality of retirement.

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The Epiphany

From age four, life has a script: school, uni or trade, job, promotions, achievements. It's all structured. You know your role. You know your value.

Then comes retirement and suddenly, all that scaffolding disappears.

Most of the advice out there focuses on money: super, savings, investments. But the real challenges of retirement sit much deeper. No one tells you how to rebuild your identity. Or how to make new friends at 65. Or what happens when you injure yourself and can't play golf for six months, where do you find connection and purpose then?

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These are the questions that matter. And they're the ones I help my clients answer.

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My Approach

Let's face it, most blokes and kids for that matter don't want to sit in an office and talk about their feelings. And honestly? That's not where the best conversations happen anyway.

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I've found that real progress happens when you're moving. When you're outside. When things feel natural. That might mean walking the fairways at Kingston Heath or having a chat in your backyard in Brighton. The environment matters, and so does your comfort.

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Why I Do This Work

Every week, I meet successful Melbourne men who feel completely lost after retiring. These are men who once led companies, managed teams, solved big problems—and now find themselves wondering what the point of each day is.

They feel invisible. Disconnected. Stuck.

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That's not weakness—and it's not permanent.

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I do this work because retirement shouldn't mean losing your identity. It should be a new chapter—not the end of the book.

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What Makes This Different

This isn't therapy with a clipboard and a couch. It's not awkward small talk in a sterile office. It's real, grounded support—tailored to you, your life, and what actually works.

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We talk where it feels right:

• On the golf course

• At your local park

• In your home

• Wherever you feel most at ease

If you're looking for a no-BS approach to navigating retirement, I'm here for that.

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My Background

• Registered Counsellor – Australian Counselling Association (Level 4)

• 10+ Years mental health and counselling experience

• Playing golf since age 8 (Handicap 12)

• Melbourne-based, specialising in retirement transition and men's mental health

Beyond Retirement Counselling

​In addition to my work with pre retirees and retirees navigating life's big transitions, I also run Lukas Winward Counselling, where I support kids and families through similar active, movement-based therapy. Whether it's kicking a ball at the park, walking along the beach, or engaging through play, I've found that young people—like adults—open up more naturally when they're not stuck in a chair being asked big questions. The same principle applies: real conversations happen when people feel safe, seen, and relaxed in their environment.