They deliver your mail, but Australia’s postal workers play a much bigger role in suburban life

Joel Bull is a man by many names.

To some in north-east Melbourne, he’s a confidant; an unlikely source of comfort during their darkest days.

To others, he’s a friend; a familiar face in times marred by uncertainty.

But if you ask Joel? Well, he’s just a plain old postie.

The 40-year-old is one of thousands of postal delivery workers across the country, who play a unique — and often unrecognised — role within the communities they serve.

They are a fly on the wall of suburban life; a witness to the highs and lows.

Streets change, toddlers turn into teenagers, and inevitably, the friendly faces that were there one day are gone the next.