About Us
Keeping You Afloat
A radically simple way for organisations to support early detection, reduce risk, and build a culture that supports help‑seeking and early intervention. Knowledge becomes the Lifevest to ‘keep you afloat’ and feel confident to navigate the path forward.
Since 2016 we have been delivering innovative preventative healthcare education programs to organisations and workplaces.
Like great rock and roll bands, we’ve honed our craft in the pubs and clubs of Australia, running smaller group sessions with a down-to-earth, no fuss and relatable approach. Participants were required come along with a recent blood test where results were interpreted and discussed in a supportive group setting.
These early sessions brought to bare two key insights for us:
Make it easy
Take it to the where the people are. Without symptoms there’s no need for a Doc right? Wrong. As much of 80% of common chronic diseases can be prevented by earlier intervention, only possible through building knowledge and confidence to take the right next step.
Make it human & personal
Better understanding of individuals risk factors to illness and disease is the shortest path to prevention.
The uniqueness & positive energy the program generated quickly gained traction and spread to sessions in public libraries, larger corporates & community groups.
Covid forced us to pivot beyond face to face contact. So we designed LifeVest 365 – a self paced workplace online training program, that can be stand alone or in combination with our workshops.
10 years later, we have delivered over 150 sessions delivered to around 500 participants. There have been countless stories of our impact, with a reoccurring quote ‘this program literally saved my life’ highlighting the profound effect LifeVest has had.
LifeVest is a unique, accessible approach to Preventative Healthcare training for any workplace or community-based setting.
So please reach out if you’re ready for some healthy disruption in your organisation!
LifeVest can make it happen. Too easy.
Dr Rebecca McGowan
Dr Rebecca McGowan is a highly experienced General Practitioner for over 3 decades and has Post Graduate qualifications in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Forensic Medicine, and specialist training as a GP.
For the past 7 years, she’s been the Medical Director and Co-Founder at LifeVest. Dr Rebecca is passionate about breaking down the stigma of health care & enabling people to be more knowledgeable and proactive with their own health.
Martin Prebble
Martin Prebble has spent his 25-year marketing and sales career in FMCG. Throughout his career, he has always gravitated to brands & people with purpose & authenticity.
Martin has founded several not-for-profit charities since 2016, including the Barrowthon & Prick n a Pint. Martin’s the Co-Founder and CEO at LifeVest. Martin has a true passion for purpose and is driven by helping others.
Our Beliefs
We all can live better, more happier lives if we’re healthy.
Health does not need to be complex, bewildering & elitist – it needs to be simple & digestible.
Knowledge needs to be in the hands of those who can make the change – the individual.
Prevention is not waiting for the bad to happen, it’s stopping it from happening in the first place.
Making sustainable behavioural change is a contact sport & needs to be tackled at an individual level.
In evidence-based scientific medical advice.
The healthcare sector is a sickcare system, not a healthcare system & needs to change.
We have worked with
Our History
Prick ‘n A Pint was conceived in 2013 as a legacy to a much-loved father, Steve Mattner, who unfortunately ignored the warning signs and died of prostate cancer. His devastated son, Chey, wanted to do something to change what he believed was a male tendency to ignore serious medical symptoms.
The First Prick ‘n a Pint was at the Tanswells Hotel, Beechworth, in 2016, with a simple structure: blokes would gather at a local pub, bring in their latest medical tests, listen to Dr McGowan talk about a specific topic such as diabetes, decode their latest blood results, and hear what could be done to prevent ill health not to mention some connection & interaction.
Prick ‘n A Pint was run from 2016 to 2020. Over 15 programs were run across Beechworth, Sydney, Melbourne, Albury & Wodonga.
The program was reviewed by Melbourne University and was described as magical in its ability to build trust, impart knowledge & renegotiate the tension between vulnerability and power for men. View the full report here.
Female programs were also run.
