R U OK?'s Conversation Convoy rolls in to Nation's Capital (Treasury and Government House) to promote 4 steps to starting a conversation

Under a crisp but beautiful sunny Canberra sky, R U OK? CEO Brendan Maher welcomed approximately 200 people to the event and explained why the Conversation Convoy had decided to travel 15000 km in six weeks.

“We started our journey in Uluru and have travelled through the NT, WA, SA, VIC and now the ACT,” he said.

“R U OK? is promoting the 4 steps to having a meaningful conversation with anyone who might be going through a tough time,

“We can all be there for someone in our world that is going through a rough patch.”

Maher also introduced guest speaker Department of Treasury Secretary John Fraser and Minister for Mental Health and R U OK? Ambassador Shane Rattenbury MLA.

The Minister reiterated the need for friends and loved ones to be there for each other, particularly if support services were sometimes harder to access.

“You don’t need to be an expert- just being a listening ear and a support to someone who’s needing it is so important,” he said.

The event also saw other mental health providers highlighting their services like ACT Emergency Services Agency, ACT StandBy Response Service, headspace, Rural and Remote Mental Health and OzHelp.

Government House

In the afternoon, the Convoy was hosted by His Excellency Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove on the grounds of Government House.

An audience of approximately 100 R U OK? supporters and sponsors as well as R U OK? Ambassador Tanya Hennessy, shared an afternoon tea with the Governor General and Lady Cosgrove.

The Governor General spoke about the need for all Australians to check in regularly with each other.

“ There you go—I’ve said it. It’s easy. Three short words—perhaps it’s four letters? But this simple question, this reaching out to someone you know—a friend, a work colleague, a family member—can make such a difference, it can change lives, it can even save lives,” his Excellency said.

Because when we say R U OK? we are really saying, we care, that support is never far away, that we are all part of a community, that you are never alone. And we all have what it takes to ask the question.

“Unfortunately, it is so often the Australian way to bottle up our feelings, to say ‘ everything is fine ’. We shouldn’t—but we do,

“Sometimes we see asking for help or accepting help as a weakness, something to be ashamed of, it’s not of course.

“I’m sure each of us we can all think of a time in our lives when we wished someone had asked us how we were going. R U OK? asks that question. And we all have a role to play by not being afraid to ask it,

“It is this idea of being there for each other that lies at the very heart of R U OK? , and of who we are as a people and as a community.”

The Conversation Convoy will arrive in Sydney Friday, September 4, for their next event at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Mare and Foal Lawn. 7am to 9am

For more information on the Conversation Convoy’s route and event locations Please contact:

Media manager Lisa Minner

Ph: 0421623387 or 0456475033

Nicole Warwick: [email protected] or 0412 934 643

Lizzy Thomas: [email protected] or 0400 922 919