The R U OK? Community Ambassador Program

Enabling us to take the message further

THE R U OK? COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

Our Community Ambassadors are a network of volunteers, from across Australia, who have a lived experience of mental ill health or suicide. They are motivated to represent R U OK? and share their passion for starting regular, meaningful conversations to create a world where we are all connected and are protected from suicide. 


Community Ambassadors represent R U OK? in their local area. They inspire people to ask the question and support anyone who may be struggling with life. 

To raise awareness of R U OK? they host events, speak at community and corporate events, organise fundraisers, host R U OK? activities etc. in a way that is comfortable for them and that aligns with the R U OK? Community Ambassador Guidelines and overarching goals:

  • Knowledge: Boost confidence to meaningfully connect and ask about life's ups and downs 
  • Intent: Nurture our sense of responsibility to regularly connect and support others 
  • Impact: Strengthen our sense of belonging because we know people are there for us 
  • Viability: Be relevant, strong, and dynamic

Community Ambassadors undergo a rigorous induction guided by best practice and standards of volunteering and the mental health and suicide prevention sector including harm prevention. There are two categories of R U OK? Ambassadors.

Community Champions

These R U OK? community members share our message through attending events and participating in targeted activities. For ages 16 and older.

Conversation Champions

Our Conversation Champions are trained to deliver presentations safely and confidently to community and corporate groups. Community Ambassadors will engage audiences and share the R U OK? message in a variety of settings including media interviews. For ages 18 and older.

WHY BE A COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR?

Everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention. Community Ambassadors help to represent R U OK? in their local area.

They inspire people to ask the question and support anyone they know who might be struggling with life’s ups and downs. 

  • Participate in a community of practice with other Community Ambassadors
  • Access webinars featuring experts in the mental health and suicide prevention sector
  • Social and networking opportunities (virtual and in person)
  • Structured program that supports wellbeing and provides training
  • Involvement with R U OK? events and activities through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process

R U OK? is a proud signatory of the Life in Mind National Communication Charter: A Unified Approach to Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.

The development of this program has been informed by the Charter Implementations Guide.

BECOME AN R U OK? COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR

R U OK? regularly hosts online sessions to provide those interested in the Community Ambassador Program with more information about what’s involved.


You can register for a scheduled session below. If no sessions are currently scheduled or the dates are not convenient, please provide your details here and we’ll be in touch when new sessions are scheduled. Only people who have attended an information session will be eligible for the program.


We also recommend that you read the Roses in the Ocean resource readiness to be involved in suicide prevention. This will help you to decide if this role is appropriate for you.


Please note: All Community Ambassadors are required to submit a copy of a current Working with Children/Vulnerable Persons and a current National Criminal History check as per the Child Protection Act in force in each state and territory.

REQUEST A SPEAKER

What you can expect from a Community Ambassador Presentation

Community Ambassadors undergo a rigorous induction guided by best practice and standards of Volunteering and the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Sector. A presentation by an R U OK? Community Ambassador includes:

  • How R U OK? began
  • R U OK? vision and mission
  •  Knowing when and how to ask, ‘are you OK?’
  • The 4 steps of an R U OK? conversation
  • Tips on how to stay connected
  • They will also weave in their personal story throughout the presentation

 

R U OK? Community Ambassadors ARE NOT experts in Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and will not speak to those topics from a professional perspective. They are volunteers with lived experience and a genuine connection to R U OK? who generously want to share the message with others.

Is there a charge for a Community Ambassador presentation?

R U OK? Community Ambassadors are volunteers who are passionate about sharing the R U OK? message and freely donate their time to support our mission. If you require a more tailored presentation or a keynote speaker, please make that clear when you lodge your request. Please note this may incur a fee.

Can I meet with a Community Ambassador prior to the presentation date?

Yes, but please be considerate of the fact that our Community Ambassadors are volunteers who are donating their time. We appreciate it is helpful to brief presenters regarding technology, venue, and audience information prior to the presentation. Ambassadors allow time for a 15-minute pre-meeting to cover these aspects (if necessary). If you require a longer session, please let us know.

Our Community Ambassadors are a network of volunteers, from across Australia, who have a lived experience of mental ill health or suicide. They are motivated to represent R U OK? and share their passion for starting regular, meaningful conversations to create a world where we are all connected and are protected from suicide. 


You can lodge a request for an Ambassador using our online event registration form.  The form asks  a range of questions to help us manage your request.  If you have any questions, please use our online contact form and choose Speaker Request as your enquiry type. Please note that whilst we endeavour to fulfill all requests, we cannot guarantee ambassador availability for every event or location.  Please allow four weeks for us to process your request for an ambassador.

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