The spur of the moment decision to take a dip in Canberra was Slipper's way of cooling off after a brutal day of ACT Brumbies training. But in so many other ways it was the perfect symbol of how he's approaching a career second chance.

Head first into his first new team in more than a decade. Head first into rebuilding his career after twice testing positive to cocaine last year and being banned. Head first into battling depression. And head first into a new beginning in the capital.

Slipper hopes he can repay rugby fans in Australia this season, particularly those in Queensland who he feels he let down last year with his actions off the field.

But restarting in Canberra is different in almost every way from the life he knew in Queensland. He's moved from a childhood on the pristine Gold Coast beaches, captaining the Queensland Reds and playing 86 Tests for Australia to the shores of the lake and earning his stripes with the Brumbies.

Slipper says it's the change he needed. Somewhere so far out of his comfort zone that he can focus on rugby and being happy in life, and a place that has made him closer to his family even though he is 1200 kilometres away.

So when he was driving home from Brumbies training, taking a different route every day to learn about his new home, he pulled up to Yarralumla Bay and went straight in.

"It's just the way I was brought up, if there's water you jump in first and ask questions later," Slipper laughed.

"This move is something that needed to happen for me and it's just one of those things, you've got to jump in head first for the team and for the city.

"I understand that I have let down and disappointed many Queensland and Australian rugby fans over the last year - something I will have to forever live with. But hopefully I can repay them this year for everything that's happened.

"I'm out of my comfort zone in Canberra and I'm enjoying it, but the biggest change was not having my family around. In the end, they're just happy if I'm happy."

It's hard to tell Slipper's career was at a crossroads less than 12 months ago when he sits down at a Manuka cafe to open up about his move to the Brumbies.

The former Queensland and Wallabies skipper carved out a career as Australia's premier loosehead prop, playing at two World Cups and being a part of a Super Rugby championship in 2011.

But injuries and family illness led to mental demons raising their head. To put it simply: Slipper slipped.

The 29-year-old lost the rugby spark that had driven him to 105 games for Queensland and eight years of Tests for the Wallabies.

He breached Rugby Australia's illicit drugs policy and was suspended for two months. Queensland coach Brad Thorn, known for his strict stance on player behaviour, had decided not to pick Slipper again, even though he had a contract until the end of 2020.

The uncertainty and off-field distractions took a toll on Slipper and he's not yet comfortable speaking about some of the details, but he says he's the happiest he's been in two years.

He's the same laid back, confident and friendly front-rower who has been a fixture for the Reds and Wallabies for more than a decade.

It was a completely different story last year when his world was turned upside down. It all changed when he finished a training session and saw missed calls on his phone. The news from those trying to call him was shattering: Slipper's mum Deb had been diagnosed with cancer.

It was compounded by the death of his grandfather and multiple injuries, including a season-ending Achilles problem. Slipper says he dealt with it "typical blokey way". He shut down.

"My mum beat breast cancer about 15 years ago. We were younger then, it probably didn't hit me hard because of that. But to get another go at it is just bullshit," Slipper says in an open and raw interview.

"I went the wrong way about things and that's the embarrassing bit because mum can go so well.

"I didn't deal with it well. That frustrates me, but it is what it is. It was the wrong thing. But everything that has happened has brought us together [as a family] and she's a good example of how you should live your life. That's what I take out of it.

"The biggest thing I've learnt from it is to talk, and talk openly [to family]. Everyone in our family will tell you I was hard to talk to on anything deep. But that's one thing I've improved. And just to make time for the people who are special to you.

"Since everything has happened, I think we're a lot closer as a family. Our communication is better. I probably took it for granted being an hour up the road, so now we talk most days.

"I know mum is doing well, so that's all that matters. She's incredible, she trains every morning. That makes it easier for me, she's just really keen to get down to Canberra and hang out here."

Slipper hopes his struggles off the field with mental demons and illicit drugs can start a conversation to help others going through similar circumstances.

When he was finished his suspension in June last year, he said: "At the time, I didn't see a healthy ending there for a bit. I'm not all fixed, as they say. But I'm working hard and seeing the professionals."

His family became his rock and leaving them in Queensland was hard, but Deb has already been to Canberra twice. The first time was to help Slipper move into a new apartment in Kingston, the second for his Brumbies debut against the Rebels and a tourist stop at the War Memorial last weekend.

"Dad gave us all the coaching when we were younger, but mum was always there supporting. She rarely misses one of my games," Slipper said.

"But, she did miss my Wallabies debut [in 2010]. My little brother was playing for the school first XV side that same day and she chose him." Then he adds with a grin: "I'll never let her live it down. She hates it.

"She came to Canberra to set up my unit. It was fully furnished, so I don't know what she needed to set up, but she wanted to come down.

"In terms of living away, I feel like we're doing all right. It's just something for them to do to come to Canberra to come to visit. Mum's the matriarch, she runs our family."

The fact Slipper has already thrown himself into the lake gives him a sort of Canberra street cred lacked by many of the public servants sitting on the tables around him at the cafe.

But the best form of street cred for Slipper is rugby. Launching himself back on to the Super Rugby radar, forming a front-row partnership with Scott Sio and putting himself back into Wallabies World Cup contention.

Slipper's heart still lies in Queensland and has no ill-feeling towards the Reds. But being injury free and having his first full pre-season since 2008 has given him what he needed.

"Down here I'm out of my comfort zone. One thing I always realised was that the Brumbies were strong because of Canberra.

"I've watched a lot of guys come down here and they've turned club players into Wallabies. A lot of it is down to the program and the club, but it's also Canberra. I've got no one else here but the footy boys. For me, everything here is about the Brumbies.

"I had a coffee with Dan McKellar and as soon as I spoke to him I knew this was the right spot for me. I'll always love Queensland, it will always be home. But this needed to happen and this is the place I love to be right now.

"It would be nice to get some success down here. I'm just excited to play rugby again. It's not a soap story, but I'm enjoying myself, the Brumbies, Canberra ... I've got a new perspective.

"Hopefully I can repay the Australian rugby supporters this year, and in the fans in Queensland for everything that's happened.

"I've still got aspirations to play really good rugby, I can't tell if that takes me back to [the Wallabies]. But I want to play well for the Brumbies."