R U OK?Day 2019

hello • 11 September 2019

Trust the Signs, Trust your Gut & Ask R U OK?

R U OK? ASKING “ARE YOU OK?”

· R U OK? launches innovative voice technology resource

· R U OK?Day event held at Barangaroo Reserve, Sydney

· Nationwide show of support from individuals, landmarks and organisations


“Are you ok?” is the question being asked across the nation today to remind Australians that every day is the day to meaningfully connect with those we care about and start a conversation that could change a life.

To help people navigate the conversation, R U OK? today launched an innovative voice technology resource available to all Australians whenever and wherever they choose.

‘RUOK Mate’ is an Action on Google, created and developed for R U OK? by creative agency The Works. The tool provides strategies on what to do if someone says, ‘No, I’m not ok’.

Anyone who might be worried about family, friends or colleagues can access the interactive conversation scenarios on their Google Home or Google Assistant enabled smartphone or device by simply saying “Hey Google, talk to RUOK Mate” .

R U OK? CEO Katherine Newton says it’s important to deliver the R U OK? message to people in ways that keep pace with changing technology.

“We know the majority of Australians believe talking to someone who’s struggling can make a difference. We are focused on building confidence in people, so they know when and how to have an R U OK? conversation,” said Newton.

“It’s vital we utilise new ways to build that confidence and ‘RUOK Mate’ has the potential to do that in a way that we have not seen before. We hope to empower people to trust their gut instinct and ask the question as soon as they spot the signs that someone might be struggling with life.”

World Champion surfer and R U OK? Ambassador Layne Beachley is supporting the project and is excited about the practical nature of ‘RUOK Mate’ .

“This is a great use of technology to reach those people for whom voice assisted technology is becoming commonplace,” said Beachley. “Having struggled myself it wasn’t until I was asked ‘are you ok?’ that I recognised I needed support.

“I’m proud to champion this resource that will increase the confidence and readiness of Australians to have meaningful conversations that can change lives.”

In a nationwide show of support, thousands of R U OK?Day events will share the message to ‘Trust the Signs’ and start a conversation across local communities, schools and workplaces including morning teas, community walks and sausage sizzles.

The official R U OK?Day event will be held in Sydney at Stargazer Lawn, Barangaroo Reserve. The Hon. Bronnie Taylor, NSW Minister for Mental Health, R U OK? Chairman Mike Connaghan, CEO Katherine Newton, R U OK? Ambassadors Layne Beachley, Sam Macmillan and Brooke Blurton and health sector partners will join the public for a free breakfast and a chance to learn more about the signs.

Around the country, iconic landmarks will light up yellow to signify this national day of action including The Adelaide Oval, Brisbane’s Story Bridge, Canberra’s Telstra Tower, Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Buildings and Perth’s Town Hall.

Organisations have also thrown their support behind the ‘Trust the Signs’ message by making subtle changes to their brand identity to encourage meaningful conversations within their communities. Those sharing the message include Federation Square, HOYTS, JCDecaux, Madame Tussauds, The Merivale Group, SEA LIFE, Twitch, Twitter and Virgin Australia Group.

Research commissioned by R U OK? earlier this year 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%) believe they’d be more confident starting a conversation if they knew the signs.


To build Australia’s confidence, R U OK? have taken the ‘Trust the Signs’ message more than 17,000km to every state and territory on a nine-week educational Tour from coastlines to canola fields, cities to country towns, to help people know when it’s the right time to start an R U OK? conversation.

R U OK? is encouraging all Australians to learn the signs, talk to the ‘RUOK Mate’ Action on Google, download a practical toolkit and start regular meaningful conversations throughout their communities. More information on how to get involved can be found at: ruok.org.au

For support at any time of day or night, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

R U OK? are grateful to the following organisations for their valuable support:

·R U OK? Trust the Signs Tour partners: Liptember, Flight Centre Foundation, Twinings, Audi Foundation, Top Parks and Virgin Australia.

·RUOK? Major Partners: Connor, Anytime Fitness, QBE Foundation, Avis Budget Group, MTAA Super, Pinnacle Charitable Foundation, Yellow and WPP AUNZ

·The Works provided services in a pro-bono capacity to develop the ‘RUOK Mate’ Action on Google which was recorded with support from the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia.


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Announcement from the CEO, Katherine Newton

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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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