Thursday, September 11 was R U OK Day, a day to start meaningful conversations about mental health and wellbeing by checking in with friends, family and colleagues.
This year’s theme, "Ask R U OK? Any Day," emphasises that you don't need a specific day to reach out to someone who might be struggling.
To celebrate, our Status teams came together with Workforce Australia – Transition to Work and Disability Employment Services (DES) Participants, along with learners from Pivot Training. Here are some highlights from the day:
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗵: DES Participants, Pivot Training students and staff came together in one colourful, confetti-covered space. Everyone rocked their R U OK? tops, grabbed a cupcake and settled in for a day filled with connection, care and a whole lot of laughs. With plenty of food, treats and coffee, attendees enjoyed activities like stress-ball making, bingo, word scrambles and word searches, all while asking the all-important question “R U OK?” and opening up about the challenges people face in our community.
𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻: From 10 am to 3 pm, Participants enjoyed a range of calming arts and crafts, from planting small plants to diamond art, collages, canvas painting and origami. Nine Participants and five staff members joined in, sharing plenty of laughs (especially during the origami attempts!). Lunch was provided, and two more Participants, who couldn’t stay for the activities, stopped by to check in on everyone’s wellbeing.
𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘆: Participants came together for a morning of meaningful connection with Marie and Sam from the @thewellnessinitiativeAU. As independent providers of mental health Peer Support services, Marie and Sam brought not only their professional expertise but also their powerful lived experiences. Their talk struck a chord with everyone in the room, as they reminded us that mental health is a journey shared by all. After the presentation, Participants enjoyed a morning tea before moving into some painting and check-ins with one-another.
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘆: Across the way at Pivot Training Morley, our DES Participants joined Pivot Training learners for a day of connection and fun. The group kicked off festivities with a lively game of conversation bingo, before sharing a meal together. To close the celebration, everyone took turns sharing something they were grateful for. Many expressed gratitude for family, friends, and health, a strong and recurring theme shone through, gratitude for Australia.
𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗪𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝗨𝗽 𝗮𝘁 𝗢𝘀𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸: Participants wrapped up their five-week Mindfulness Workshop with a special R U OK? Day morning tea. They began the session by watching powerful videos that highlighted the importance of checking in, not only with others but also with ourselves. Over morning tea, the group shared feedback on the past five weeks, reflecting on their journey together.
One Participant shared that the workshop helped them get outside again, something they’d been struggling with since moving from the South West to Perth. Living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome means they’re often in constant pain, and it’s easy to feel isolated. But through this group, they not only found a reason to leave the house, but also made new friends their own age.
Another Participants spoke about how rare it is to find a space that feels truly human. In their experience, services can often feel cold and process-driven, stripping away any sense of real connection. But here, things were different. They described the workshops as a safe, relaxed environment where they could be themselves, receive mental health support and simply feel seen. They also shared that, as a job provider, Status has been the best at delivering prompt and effective mental health support, something they deeply appreciated.
Overall, across our sites, DES and Transition to Work Participants connected with our team and their peers, took part in a range of activities, and learned about the importance of checking in with others and themselves. They also explored this year’s theme, “Ask R U OK? Any Day,” which emphasises that you don’t need a specific day to reach out to someone who might be struggling.
