School community shows power of support and connection

hello • 12 December 2022

Tom Price Senior High School (TPSHS) is located in Tom Price, 1400kms from Perth, Western Australia. The 320-student school, as well as the local community, have been impacted by suicide and wanted to make a difference by taking part in R U OK?Day activities in 2022.

 

What activities did your school community participate in to recognise R U OK? in 2022?

 

TPSHS utilised the resources from the R U OK? Website for Secondary Schools. The Student Services team prepared packs for teachers to use during our weekly session on the Wednesday prior to R U OK?Day as this helped get the conversations going before the actual day.

 

Our Year 7 English classes participated in a R U OK? Poem competition and the Year 8 English classes participated in a poster competition. These were judged and displayed on R U OK?Day.

Oszkar's R U OK? poem

Shaela's R U OK? poem

On the morning of R U OK?Day staff and students shared a yellow pancake breakfast, staff face-painted the R U OK? symbol onto students’ hands and faces; and merchandise was given out to the students. During this time staff and students were heard talking about the importance of connection and supporting others. At lunchtime students were given a yellow iced cupcake with the R U OK? cupcake logo supplied from R U OK? website on top.

Why is R U OK? important to you and your school community?


R U OK?Day is an important message to remind students and staff to reach out and ask 'are you OK?' if they are worried about someone. It's a simple question that can be asked on any day to promote conversation and wellbeing. Our school and local community has been impacted by suicide and we strongly value R U OK?’s message as it is a simple and important reminder. 

Staff at TPHS brought a splash of yellow to their R U OK?Day activities.

What was your highlight from the day?


The submissions from students were amazing! To hear the students talking about R U OK? throughout the day, was uplifting.



Thanks Tom Price Senior High School for taking part and for encouraging meaningful connections at school, not just on R U OK?Day, but all year round.

View The R U OK? Education Resources

Students reflect on meaningful connection through R U OK? National Student Art Competition

12 November 2025
Collages of life’s joys, portraits of loved ones, cultural celebrations, and reflections on the barriers to connection - the Creative Legends and Finalists of the R U OK? National Art Competition expressed creativity, vulnerability and individuality through their incredible artwork.
A montage of images of people in relationships

Why support matters when relationships end

30 October 2025
Relationships shape our lives so when any meaningful relationship ends, the loss can be deeply personal and painful. 

Announcement from the CEO, Katherine Newton

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.
Show More