Gunnedah teenager named Young Conversation Leader

Gunnedah teenager Kohbi Barrow, 13, has received the Young Conversation Leader Award at the R U OK? 2023 Barbara Hocking Memorial Awards. 

The awards recognise those who help create a world where we are all connected and protected from suicide and are presented in five categories: Workplace, Education, Community, Conversation Leader, and Young Conversation Leader. 

Kohbi has been speaking at workplaces since he was nine years old and now connects with other students to promote positive mental health and to encourage others to do the same. Kohbi also started the Coffee Lid Project, an initiative to encourage others to be kind to each other and raise awareness about the impact of bullying. 

R U OK? Community Ambassador, Deepti Bhatt, announced the award and congratulated the teenager for his efforts to promote connection and meaningful conversations. 

“We’re never too young to learn how to be a good friend and ask R U OK?,” said  
Ms Bhatt. “Our Young Conversation Leader Kohbi is setting an example for young people about the importance of making connections, looking out for one another and encouraging everyone to ask, ‘are you OK?’. 

“Kohbi has helped those around him feel more supported and connected and we are grateful to him for his efforts to promote the R U OK? message and values.” 

The Barbara Hocking Memorial Awards were first presented in 2019 in memory of the late Barbara Hocking OAM. 

“Barbara was a fearless mental health advocate and campaigner,” said Katherine Newton, R U OK? CEO. “Her leadership and achievements had a positive impact on how people living with mental illness and their families are treated and regarded in Australia. 

“These awards honour her lifelong commitment to peer support by highlighting the opportunity we all have to make a difference to those in our world.  

“Barbara was one of the first leaders in the mental health and suicide prevention sector to recognise the merit of the R U OK? mission in breaking down stigma. Our nominees demonstrate the values she lived by every day.” 

Details of all categories, finalists and winners for The Barbara Hocking Memorial Awards can be found here.