Mick Cutajar to present paper at policing and terrorism conference in Abu Dhabi on November 4-5.

The well-known Wollongong martial artist will speak at an international conference on policing and terrorism after having completed a course which he says saved his life.

Mr Cutajar said focusing on completing his Master of Terrorism and Securities Studies degree at Charles Sturt University helped him through a very difficult time in his life.

The 47-year-old is still battling depression and anxiety, but knows things could have been much worse had he not had an outlet of reading and studying.

Mr Cutajar’s problems came to a head after returning home from a successful judo tournament in Japan late last year.

The Wollongong judoka overcame a limited preparation and the weight of history in winning bronze at the Asian Judo Championships.

“I was on a real high but as soon as I got home things went downhill quickly,’’ Mr Cutajar said.

“I was hit with the possible closing of my judo centre. Then I was hit with a lawsuit for an incident that happened five years ago which I’m fighting in court now, and then when I started doing my uni course I lost my bakery job.

“It took its toll. I get off the plane from competing in Japan and get hit with a lawsuit, I’ve got to move my business and I lose my only job in the bakery which I’ve had since a teenager... and it took its toll.’’

Then, when his uni course wasn’t approved for Austudy, Mr Cutajar finally sought medical attention.

“I don’t want to be on medication but the doctors have given me medication to try and sleep,” he said. 

“Sleeping more than four hours has made a massive difference.

‘’Completing uni and being picked out of it to go on this conference (Abu Dhabi) and have my paper read out and possibly published in a world security journal is also helping greatly.’’

Mr Cutajar, who is covered in tattoos and has spent time in prison for robbery, never thought he would get depressed.

“People would say I will be right but I started to break down and cry because I really couldn’t deal with it,” he said. “A clinical psychologist which I still see every three weeks has helped. 

“I never thought I would get anxiety and depression especially after all the things I’ve been through. I actually thought I could handle it but I found myself not sleeping, not eating, not communicating with people. I kept it to myself. People said to stop uni but reading and doing the course saved my life.’’

Mr Cutajar presents his paper at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on November 4-5.

“I can’t wait to talk about security issues I deal with and teach here ever year.’’