R U OK? Conversation Convoy rolls in to Federation Square, Melbourne

hello • 28 August 2017

The R U OK? Conversation Convoy, a six week journey around Australia's cities and regional towns, rolled in to Melbourne's Federation Square at midday for their second event in Victoria, today.

The Conversation Convoy is building on the question “are you ok?” by reinforcing the 4 Steps to starting a meaningful conversation and empowering Australians to ask, listen, encourage action and check in.

Thanks to the Audi Foundation, the four yellow SUV’s each represent one of the conversation steps and will roll into each event for a series of community-based events.

Approximately 300 people wandered through Federation Square and engaged in the activities as well as chatting to staff and sector partners, like headspace, ReachOut and Rural and Remote Mental Health.

Students from Brighton Secondary College also jumped in to participate in a series of 4 step activities.

Year 7 student Denni Nui asked an important question of the R U OK? team; “What happens if you ask someone if they’re ok and they say they are but you know they’re not?”

R U OK? spokesperson Anastasia Symons replied, “You keep checking in with them and let them know you are always there with an open ear if they decide to confide in you.

“If a conversation does get too tough, help seeking avenues are available on the R U OK? website and flagging anything too big with a parent or teacher is important,” she said.

CEO Brendan Maher welcomed guests and held a Q&A with R U OK? ambassador Steve Bastoni who shared his own story around addiction and his wife’s post-natal depression.

The Convoy's next stop will be at Gundagai Hungry Jacks on Tuesday, the 29th August.


· For interview, image requests or survey results, please contact:

·Nicole Warwick: [email protected] or 0412 934 643

·Lizzy Thomas: [email protected] or 0400 922 919

·Lisa Minner: [email protected] or 0456 475 033

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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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