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Burnout is not about you, it’s about us

To pretend that mental health issues are solely due to an employee’s inability to cope, is like pretending that our bushfire crisis has nothing to do with global warming. If we pretend that global warming is not happening and don’t address the root causes, our bushfire issues are likely to intensify. Likewise, with employee […]

Bushfires, mental health, and selfcare – some useful resources

I had a heartbreaking phone call on Monday. A really caring and community-minded woman from the NSW South Coast explained why things were so desperate. In her town, there were still 420 people living in an evacuation centre. Many were dairy farmers who had lost their houses, were without electricity, and many of their cows […]

How to have fierce mental health conversations at work

What do you think of when you hear the word fierce? Fierce can sound savage and aggressive, but in Roget’s Thesaurus, it reveals the following synonyms: robust, intense, powerful, passionate, eager, unbridled, and untamed. I’m really fortunate to have a mentor who is a very successful CEO of an 8000-employee organisation. When we recently met, […]

Seven savvy Sunday suggestions to build resilience

I have always been a constant learner, and try to stay across the latest research and thinking regarding how we can build individual and team resilience. 1.TED talk: This could be why you are depressed or anxious by Johann Hari I’ve been a big fan of Johann Hari, ever since my friend Glenn Capelli recommended […]

Graeme Cowan’s new speaker sizzle reel and speakers kit

Well today feels like a new day – and as Buddha says “What we do today matters most”. Today, I’m really excited to launch a whole range of new resources and videos. Jenny Thomson (my Business Manager) and I, have been working really hard over the last 3 months to produce a range of resources […]

How to eTrain thousands of employees to be better at asking R U OK? in 20 minutes

In eLearning pilots we recently completed with the University of Sydney and Ernst & Young, and 53 other people from 21 organisations: 94% said they were more confident they could help a mentally distressed colleague, and; 96% rated it 7/10 or above– in how likely they would recommend it to a colleague or friend (Net Promoter Score) We have […]

5 great leadership lessons from our Governor General + 4 others

( Photo: Sara Ross) (His Excellency, David Hurley, me, Naomi Frauenfelder (Tracksafe), Katherine Newton (R U OK?) How do leaders inspire commitment and action? I talked with 5 remarkable leaders in Canberra on Wednesday who are doing this every day. I had the privilege of meeting our new Governor-General, General David Hurley, and his wife […]

29 Great R U OK? Day @ Work Ideas for 2019

(Image: Lisa Nichols, Woolgoolga) As September 12 approaches, many people have been asking me for some ideas to celebrate R U OK? at work. Below are some ideas that have come from a number of sources, including entries in the 2019 Barbara Hocking R U OK? at Work awards, ideas I have put together, and […]

Knowing 40% of doctors are burnt out, should worry us all

In findings just released this week, more than 40% of doctors—and 50% of female doctors—are burned out, according to Medscape’s 2019 research. Every Australian should be horrified by this. Having a son about to graduate from medical school, I am very angry. Although this is USA research, as I reveal below – Australian research and anecdotes, suggest […]

Is self-care selfish?

When we are busy it can be easy to forget our own wellbeing. I’ve made that mistake before and it led to a severe episode of depression. What I learnt is that if you don’t take care of yourself – you can’t take care of others. Self-care isn’t selfish. We have to nurture ourselves to […]