Last Thursday we celebrated R U OK? Day, the national day of action to inspire Australians to ask family, friends and colleagues, “ Are you OK?” .

The Wellbeing Department and Kingston Youth Services put on a range of activities for students and staff, encouraging each other to come together and have a conversation.

R U OK? is a simple question but has significant meaning through the gesture of compassion, reminding us that someone cares about us and that we’re not alone.

We ran a range of lunchtime activities for students where we asked them to let us know ‘how they could support a friend’ through a sticky note activity and measured how many people asked the question ‘R U Ok?’ through building a circle of pegs.  Students also enjoyed deciphering the message ‘A conversation can change a life’ through a scavenger hunt activity and having the opportunity of winning a life size furry friend.

Lana Paten

Chaplain