R U OK? Conversation Convoy rolls in to remote Beagle Bay Primary in Western Australia

hello • 9 August 2017

STUDENTS at remote Beagle Bay Primary School saw four yellow R U OK? SUV’s roll into their playground this morning for a series of events aimed at encouraging students to recognize the signs, if a friend or loved one appears to be struggling.

The activations were designed to teach the students the four steps to starting a conversation with someone they’re worried about. The steps include Ask, Listen, Encourage action and Check in.

The activations included writing a postcard to someone they care about, a buzzer activity where students had to listen to conversation scenarios to identify if they were the right or wrong way to ask someone if they were ok and how to help them.

For the younger children, an R U OK? sack race took place designed to encourage team spirit and collaboration with their school mates as well as a jumbo game of Jenga and a gigantic R U OK? jigsaw puzzle.


R U OK? CEO Brendan Maher spoke to the students about ways they might recognize if a school mate was having a bad day.

Responses included; they looked sad, they were sleepy or they were crying. When asked what they should do next, the students collectively cheered, ‘Ask them R U OK?’ and received a special yellow bandana for their efforts.


Maher said, “This was a fantastic event and we were absolutely thrilled to see the students so engaged in our activities,

“We know the four steps - while simple - are incredibly effective in teaching people both young and old, the skills to help them start difficult conversations.”


The R U OK? Conversation Convoy started its journey at Yulara in Uluru and will progressively make its way around Australia to host a series of regional, remote and metro events within schools, parks, workplaces and significant locations within communities.

Beagle Bay is the Convoy’s third event having recently visited Katherine in the N.T. and Uluru prior to that.

Next stop will be Dampier and Wickham in W.A.

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by Katherine Newton • 16 October 2025
After ten years of teamwork, partnerships, growth, and countless conversations, I will be stepping down as CEO from 1 December 2025. It has been an extraordinary privilege to contribute to the growth of this movement and to witness meaningful change before my eyes. Gavin Larkin founded R U OK? because he believed conversation has the power to change lives. One seemingly simple question, when asked with genuine intent and care, can start a meaningful and sometimes complex conversation. And that’s what Gavin wanted. For people to look beyond responses of “I’m fine” or “All good” and ask, “Are you really OK?”. The notion of going deeper with conversations, of asking a second time, of trusting our guts and moving past our hesitation - is being grasped and moving beyond one day to any day. Whilst saying “G’day how are you?” will always be a greeting - we can do more. When Gavin lost his father to suicide he wanted to try and protect other families from the pain his endured. He wanted to get people talking and having real chats about how they’re feeling with their mates, their family and their colleagues. In locker rooms, lunch rooms, and lounge rooms across the nation. But he approached it from a different angle. Gavin wanted all of us to have the confidence to support the people we care about who might be struggling with life. To make conversations a natural part of our behaviour, to openly show our signals of support. So as R U OK? generations continue to evolve, my chapter is coming to a close. How fortunate I am to have been part of the story. From hesitant glances during presentations in 2015 to queues of people waiting for a conversation in 2025. From yellow wigs in the office, to welcoming yellow-swathed Ambassadors to share their lived experience. From yellow coffee cups in a café, to yellow cars driving into communities nationwide. And yes, there’s been a few cupcakes along the way. Social change is happening, and we are all a part of it. No one organisation can prevent suicide, no one individual can save everyone - but the power of many can make a difference.
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