Hungry Jacks: The year that was...

Robyn Ward • 17 September 2015
Hungry Jacks and the year that was

Where has 2015 gone? We say it every year but it really seems to have flown by. Before the R U OK? team breaks for the festive season, I wanted to pause and reflect on the year that was.

R U OK? has had an incredible year – with support and participation in the campaign continuing to grow. The simplicity and effectiveness of asking, “Are you okay?” is resonating with millions of Australians, keen to do more to look out for one another and support each other through life’s ups and downs.

Here are just a few of our good news stories and achievements in 2015:

A new relationship with the AFL Players Association to run workshops with emerging leaders to strengthen peer-to-peer support in professional clubs.

A new partnership with Sensis Australia, with R U OK?’s ambassadors featured on the front page of 5 million Yellow Pages booklets distributed across Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

The launch of 60 'Conversation Corners' in schools across Australia (a park-bench and supporting activation materials); with thanks to funding from Sensis.

The extension of R U OK?’s partnership with Bristow Helicopters, including a number of site visits around R U OK?Day and the development of a booklet to help managers check in with staff working away from home.

A collaboration with the TrackSAFE Foundation and the Australian Rail Industry for Rail R U OK?Day on 16 April, now to be an annual event.

The engagement of hundreds of supporters running to raise funds and awareness for R U OK? in events such as City2Surf, Run Melbourne,

Bridge to Brisbane, and Canberra Marathon.

A new community partnership with Bondi Icebergs club.

Collaboration with the Australian Legal Profession to develop R U OK? at Law, encouraging members of the legal profession to look deeper to support a colleague.

Involvement as a Youth Forum Partner at the 2015 Garma Festival, thanks to support from the MLC Community Foundation.

A media conference with Sir Richard Branson, promoting the Virgin Mobile partnership and free calls on R U OK?Day, and the global relevance of the R U OK? message.

We travelled across Australia on the R U OK? Thanks for Asking bus tour. We visited and ran community events in Perth, Baldivis, Rockingham, Mandurah, Bunbury, Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Ceduna, Port Augusta, Adelaide, Hobart, Launceston, Ulverstone, Melbourne Yarrawong, Wagga Wagga, Gundagai, Canberra and Sydney. Thanks to our Principal Partner Hungry Jack’s, we heard and captured many inspiring stories, like Mark’s:

People often express surprise that R U OK? is comprised of only three full-time and three part-time staff. While this keeps us all incredibly busy, much of the team’s ability to succeed can be attributed to the amazing pro-bono support we get, and the crucial financial support of the Australian Government, Hungry Jack’s, Virgin Mobile, Bristow Helicopters and the community.

Everything we are able to achieve is underpinned by significant generosity and goodwill.

Importantly, R U OK?’s capacity to develop campaigns and resources that are effective, safe and empowering owes much to the incredible expertise we receive from our Scientific Advisory Group, Conversation Think Tank and our Creative Hub. Thank you to these individuals who provide their time freely and add real substance, depth and credibility to R U OK?’s initiatives.

I would also like to thank R U OK?’s Board for their support and guidance.

Finally, thank you to the incredible R U OK? team, who punch well above their weight – Rebecca Lewis (Campaign Director), Anastasia Symons (Campaign Manager), Fiona Nearn (Media and PR Manager), Lindy Hodgson (Community Engagement Manager), Louise Mullane (Office and Project Manager) and Dimitri Tricolas (Campaign Support). I also want to acknowledge the support of Maryanne Larkin and Anne-Marie Lewis who volunteered many hours during the busy months in the lead-up to R U OK?Day.

We recently bade farewell to Louise, who has twins on the way, and Fiona Nearn, who will be exploring new horizons. Both have made an outstanding contribution to R U OK? and will be sorely missed.

As we move into 2016, we look forward to a year where we will continue to inspire more Australians to have regular meaningful conversations and move closer to our vision of a world where everyone is connected and protected from suicide.

In the meantime, enjoy the festive season and have a wonderful break filled with genuine conversations with friends and family.

See you in the New Year!

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.
Michelle Heyman on the field.

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Five R U OK? Community Ambassadors pose in park wearing black and yellow R U OK? t shirts

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