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.

Justin joined our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work program one year ago, striving to get job ready and find sustainable employment.

Through his time in the program, Justin has had a wealth of support from the Status Midland team, as well as becoming reigning champ of the RUOK mini-games drop-in session.

With support from his Link Worker, Shakti, our Employment Consultants and Youth Peer Mentors, Justin accessed multiple points of employment assistance offered through the Transition to Work program. He was able to build his vocational and non-vocational skills by exploring his options, as well as foster social and economic independence through Midland’s offering of workshops and social get-togethers.

To further work towards his employment goals, Justin took part in the ‘Job Launchpad’ program, where he received support to refine his resume, hone his interview skills and network with potential employers. Furthermore, Justin was able to attend job expos to meet local employers, as well as access practical job-seeking tools providing by our Industry Specialist Consultants.

Justin is now on his way to employment, actively applying for roles and searching for his dream job!

Wishing you all the best in your job search Justin!!

This month, our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants were visited by the Department of Transport, Mobile Services Team at Status Osborne Park.

Partnering with the Department of Transport Mobile Team, we are able to support Participants to overcoming their licensing barriers, often a major barrier in obtaining employment.

We are so glad to share that on the day, 8 Participants obtained their Learner’s Permits and 2 Participants renewed their Learner’s Permits.

To ensure the day ran smoothly, our team organised transport for Participants to and from the Osborne Park office. Lunch was provided to help calm any nerves, and our team checked in regularly to make sure everyone felt supported.

Congratulations to our Participants!

This week in Osborne Park’s 5-Week Mindfulness Workshop, they turned their focus to the future with an inspiring and creative activity, making vision boards.

During the session, our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants got to work exploring life goals, relationship hopes and the kind of lives they want to build. With magazines, scissors and glue, Participants were able to map out their goals and dreams, allowing them to always have a physical representation of their aspirations. Whilst making their vision boards, the Participants also engaged in meaningful conversations about their struggles and hopes for a better tomorrow.

The activity was a powerful way to bring clarity to our Participants values and dreams, allowing them to reconnect with what truly matters to them on their employment journey.

The team were thrilled to welcome new Participants into the group this week and found it heart-warming to see how naturally everyone connected. These workshops are valuable for both mindfulness and social connection, giving Participants the chance to feel seen, heard and supported while building relationships with their peers.

This week in Osborne Park’s 5-Week Mindfulness Workshop, our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants explored a hands-on strategy for managing stress and anxiety: creating worry boxes.

Each Participant wrote down their worries, and then placed them into a box as a way of saying, “𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘮𝘦.”

Experiencing worry is a natural response to life’s challenges. But when left unmanaged, those thoughts can become overwhelming and intrusive, making it harder to focus, sleep, or simply enjoy the moment. That’s why developing simple, mindful tools like the worry box is so valuable. This simple yet powerful activity helps create space between us and our anxious thoughts, making them feel lighter and more manageable.

As each week passes, we’re seeing more confidence, self-awareness, and emotional resilience developing in our Participants. It’s a privilege to witness Participants gaining not just tools, but a deeper sense of calm and control in their lives.

Last week at Status Osborne Park, our 5-Week Mindfulness Workshop continued with a relaxing and creative session of colouring.

Our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants embraced this session with enthusiasm, filling pages with vibrant colours. The atmosphere was serene yet joyful, the perfect balance of mindful focus and creative expression.

Did you know? When you colour, your brain gets a workout. The logical side decides which colours to pick, while the creative side figures out how to pair those colours together. While this is the theory, what truly matters is the moment. Colouring draws your attention fully into the present, helping quiet the mind and ease stress.

Through workshops like these, our Participants are making steady progress in overcoming personal barriers. Our weekly mindfulness activities ease the pressure of expectation, creating space for natural, stress-free growth. We are delighted to see the meaningful connections and calm moments growing stronger each week.

Last week, Status Osborne Park launched a 5-week Mindfulness Workshop in the lead-up to R U OK? Day this September. Each week, our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants are welcomed into a safe space with a range of activities designed to foster connection, support and emotional wellbeing.

The first session kicked off with a calming succulent planting activity. In the lead up to the event, our team worked hard to gather everything needed for a relaxing session:

• Post Placement Support Mentor, Andrea, sourced a wonderful collection of succulents—generously shared by her neighbour with a passion for gardening.
• Team Leader, Violet, hunted down quirky mugs and other materials from local op shops to make the activity personal and fun.
• Youth Peer Mentor, Sheree, facilitated the session with care and energy, while Link Workers, Zane and Catherine, supported the Participants throughout.
• Meanwhile, Link Worker, Asha and Industry Specialist Consultant, Emma, ensured the day-to-day operations of the centre continued seamlessly in the background.

It was a heart-warming, engaging session where Participants opened up, shared stories and formed genuine connections. Barriers began to soften, friendships started to bloom and the atmosphere was filled with laughter, reflection and a sense of belonging. The smiles say it all!

At Status, we are proud to be supporting our Participants not only in their vocational goals but also in addressing the non-vocational barriers that can significantly impact their journeys, like mental health.