Australian's reminded that every day is R U OK?Day 

hello • 8 November 2019

A decade on from the inaugural R U OK?Day, the conversation movement continues to grow from strength to strength. What started as a national day of action is now a year-round call encouraging Australians to authentically address the question and build an R U OK? culture in their workplaces, schools and communities.

Fostering peer to peer support is becoming an integral part of our workplaces, schools and communities, with organisations increasingly recognising that none of us are immune to the ups and downs life may throw at us.

Whilst asking R U OK? might not be the panacea to suicide prevention, it has a significant place in a sector-wide effort for early intervention. We are educating people on when to have a conversation, building confidence to ask the question and importantly, giving clear, practical advice on what to do when someone says, “No, I’m not OK”.

This year we called on Australians to ‘Trust the Signs, Trust their Gut and Ask R U OK?’ , a theme that helped people overcome uncertainty about when to have an R U OK? conversation.

The campaign was in response to research we commissioned that found nearly two-thirds of Australians (63%) were not confident they knew the signs that someone might be struggling with life. But encouragingly of those surveyed, almost half (49%) believed they’d be more confident starting a conversation if they knew the signs.

We took the ‘Trust the Signs’ message on the road to every state and territory, asked Australians to learn the signs at www.ruok.org.au , practice an R U OK? conversation using the ‘RUOK Mate’ Action on Google, and share the message in their own communities.

Recent research revealed 69% of Australians had asked someone “Are you OK?” at least once in the last month, and that people are increasingly willing to reach out and offer support to someone who might be struggling with life.

Eight weeks on from R U OK?Day, we encourage you to check in on those you might have asked. Life’s challenges are not resolved overnight. Consider being the colleague, the mate, the family member who is there for the long-haul, standing shoulder to shoulder with that person for however long is needed.

We would also like to remind Australians that it’s not only those in need who can access professional support services – that we can all call on those services to share our concerns or learn more about mental illness for example to ensure those we ask feel supported every day of the year.

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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.
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