Macleay Borger laughs as he shoots hoops with boys at a regional New South Wales high school.
The students cheer him on, remaining close by Mr Borger's side as they guide him around the court.
Aged 34, Mr Borger is vision impaired after he lost his sight in a workplace accident nearly 10 years ago.
He works as a student mentor, drawing on his own experiences to guide and inspire others.
"The rewards are many, being able to come in here and have a chat with the boys, all the different stories they have, all their different backgrounds," Mr Borger said.
"I really look forward to it and being able to pass on the bit of wisdom I have."
Blinded in workplace accident
In June 2013, Mr Borger, from Port Macquarie in NSW's Mid North Coast, was working in a bar and made a mistake while cleaning a beer line.
As a result the alkaline solution used in the process was ejected into his face and eyes.
"I was just 24 years old, working, playing sport, having a great time," Mr Borger said.
"It was a routine beer line clean, but I got my steps around the wrong way and forgot to depressurise the keg we'd used … I got a pretty severe chemical burn to my face and eyes."
"One little slip up you wouldn't think would be so catastrophic.
"It's crazy to think how vital your eyesight is and when you do lose it, how much of a change it brings into your life."
Physical and mental recovery
Mr Borger spent eight months in a Sydney hospital where he underwent 13 surgeries.
He healed, but mental and physical challenges remained, and in late 2020 he was put in contact with a Lifeline worker at Port Macquarie.
He was told about a TAFE NSW Mental Health Peer Work course, designed to empower its students to support others by applying their lived experience of mental illness and recovery.
"I made the decision I was just going to go and do it," Mr Borger said.
After completing the course, Mr Borger was this year employed as a student mentor at Port Macquarie's McKillop College, also assisting in classrooms at the adjoining St Peter's Primary School.
"Being able to be back in the workforce has been good for my recovery and my mental health recovery," Mr Borger said.
"It's really good to be able to work with the younger kids too, and there is no filter, so it makes it a lot of fun."
Mackillop College's Warren Lorger said Mr Borger had formed a strong rapport with a group of year 8 boys.
"Macleay brings his own school experience and also the adversity that he has encountered," he said.
"They have been able to feel comfortable with him and talk to them about the challenges they have.
"The boys also feel responsible for looking after Mac [Mr Borger] and getting him where he needs to go, and it's been great seeing them work together as a little team."
St Peter's Primary School principal Geoff Leary said Mr Borger was a great role model.
"It's been a wonderful opportunity for our children to be able to understand diverse abilities a lot better and to appreciate how you can be very, very positive in circumstances that can be quite challenging," he said.
Family moving forward together
Mr Borger and his wife Emily had only been together for about six months when he lost his sight.
Emily was 21 at the time.
The relationship endured and they are now married with "three beautiful children", the youngest being eight months old.
Ms Borger said "being the eyes for the family" had been a learning curve and she was inspired watching her husband overcome challenges.
"I'm amazed by him every day, seeing just how resilient he is," she said.
"I am just really proud of him and we are all very lucky to have him in our lives."
Mr Borger said he was "blessed" to have his wife.
"Emily was happy to stay together and keep the relationship going," he said.
"We are able to do things as a normal family would, just with a little bit of a twist."
