R U OK? Day 2024

On Thursday 12 September, UNSW will celebrate R U OK? Day with a range of events and initiatives.

R U OK? Day is not just about asking 'Are you ok?' It's also about creating a culture of openness, caring, and mutual support. It's about connecting with our colleagues, looking out for each other, and reminding ourselves that it's ok not to be ok sometimes. It's also a great time for us all to remind ourselves, as this year's theme does, that any day can be a day to ask 'Are you ok?'

All Staff R U OK? Day Special Event - 9:30am - 11am

A special all-staff event will be held in the Roundhouse on Thursday 12 September from 9:30am.

It will be an opportunity to take a break and connect with colleagues over a delicious morning tea.

We will welcome special guests including Paula Duncan AM, Jorge Alvarez Vega from Converge, and Professor Sam Harvey from The Black Dog Institute. 

There will also be time for Q&A. 

All staff are invited to attend the event either in person or via the livestream. Lucky door prizes will be given away on the day - all staff who attend in person will go into the draw! 

Schedule

  • 9:30am: Morning tea (finger food) will be served in the Roundhouse (BYO hot beverage)
  • 10am: Event commences - Introduction by Professor Sam Harvey
  • 10:05am: Keynote speech - Paula Duncan AM
  • 10:30am: Converge Services Presentation by Jorge Alvarez Vega
  • 10:45am: Q&A moderated by Professor Sam Harvey
  • 11am: Lucky door prize draw

About Paula Duncan AM

Paula Margaret Duncan is an Australian actress. Her numerous television roles include playing Nurse Lisa Brooks in The Young Doctors, Detective Danni Francis in Cop Shop, for which she twice won the Logie Award for Most Popular Actress, Lorelei Wilkinson in Prisoner, Janet Bryant in Richmond Hill and Bridget Jackson in Home and Away. Paula Duncan Promotions was established in 1975 after constant requests for Paula to support charity and fundraising within the Australian community.

In 1989 Paula Duncan Promotions started to produce very large events to create awareness of a variety of community issues, raising funds for affiliated charities and developing partnerships with government and corporate organisations.

Questions

There will be time for questions from the audience on the day. If you have a question you would like to submit in advance, please complete this form by Monday 2 September. If you wish your question to be answered by a specific speaker, please indicate their name along with your question in the form. 

Registration

Staff are welcome to attend either in-person or virtually via the livestream.

Places are limited and registration is essential. 

Please click here to register for the special event.

 

Mathews Pavilions activation - 10am- 2pm

Visit the Mathews Pavilions between 10am-2pm for free massages, light refreshments and a variety of activities. These events are open to both students and staff.

Free Massages

Free massages will be available from professional massage therapists in the following locations:

  • Mathews Pavilions, Kensington Campus
  • Elwyn Lyn Conference Centre (ELCC), Paddington Campus

To enjoy a free massage, visit one of the above locations.  

Virtual Gratitude Tree

Sometimes it's easy to forget the good things we have in our lives and how lucky we are to have them. Place a note on our Virtual Gratitude Tree and share what you're grateful for this R U OK? Day. 

Virtual Backgrounds

Show your support in the lead-up to R U OK? Day by using a banner in your emails and a background in your Teams and Zoom meetings. Click here for R U OK? resources to help you share the message.

Suicide Prevention Training

UNSW provides suicide prevention training to staff and students. The Recognise and Respond: Suicide Prevention for Everyday Life course from the Black Dog Institute will help you to feel confident in responding and providing support to a friend, family member or colleague who might be at risk of suicide. Recognise and Respond is a self-paced online course which takes approximately one hour to complete.

To access the course, click here. 

Register