Panel Discussions

Why prioritising self-care is a must: some expert advice  

In a Helping Hands panel discussion about the importance of self-care, our panelists agree that self-care is vital for both you, and for those around you.  

RUOK?  founding board member Graeme Cowan, psychologist Collett Smart, and disability-and-parenting advocate Hannah Gair, liken self-care to “putting on our own oxygen mask first” so that we can support others too. Self-care involves many components including physical, mental, relational, spiritual, and career health. 

Uncovering the secrets to living your best life

“In terms of community and finding your people, it’s really important. When you can identify with other people, you feel seen, you feel heard, you feel validated … They want to lean into your world and then you just journey life together.”” explains Hannah Gair, founder of the StrongHERside podcast.

For this Helping Hands panel discussion, Hannah is joined by psychologist, Collett Smart, and Team Resilience speaker and author, Graeme Cowan, to talk about different ways to show we care.

How finding the right community helps us thrive

“You can unite over negative things,” says youth worker and mentor, Nathan Brewer, “but if you unite over a healthy thing like sport, or a really positive thing like helping others … it’s so good, and you see people come to life.”

In this Helping Hands panel discussion, Nathan is joined by Felicia Limmer, Vision Radio breakfast host; and Michaela Chanmugam, Marketing and Communications Manager at Samaritan’s Purse, to discuss communities that make a difference.

Ending the epidemic of isolation through intentional community connection

“We are made for relationships, we are made for connection,” says psychologist, Collett Smart. “Being social is so much a part of what feeds our wellbeing. And when we don’t have connection, we end up lonely.”

In this Helping Hands panel discussion, Collett is joined by mental health author and speaker, Graeme Cowan, and Hannah Gair, founder of StrongerHERside podcast, to explore the importance of intentional community connection.

Is it better to give than to receive?

“I remember loving getting presents as a kid,” says Fel Limmer, breakfast radio host at Vision Christian Radio, “and that expectation of it was all part of that joy. As a parent though … when I’m giving, it’s not because I’m giving a material piece … it’s an expression of my love for them.”

In this Helping Hands panel discussion, Fel is joined by Michaela Chanmugam, from Samaritan’s Purse Australia and New Zealand, and Nathan Brewer, a youth worker and mentor, to discuss the joy of giving.

Understanding Connection to Country for Indigenous Australians

“Generally, the people who ask you to do a Welcome (to Country), the desire in their heart is to genuinely connect to Country,” shares Gundungurra man and Indigenous Education Facilitator, Uncle David King.

Unravelling the meaning of time well spent

“We need to see time as like gold,” says Amanda Rose, founder of Entrepreneurial and Small Business Women Australia.

Time is a precious commodity. Each day, humans all around the planet are gifted the same amount of time. How do we get to the end of a day and, eventually, to the end of our lifetime, and know that we’ve spent our gift of time well?

The even playing field of healthy friendships

“Healthy friendships are all about mutuality,” says psychologist, Collett Smart. “It’s about being on that even field where one isn’t more important than the other.”

In this episode of Helping Hands, Collett is joined by Nathan Brewer, a youth worker; and Ian Barnett, the founder of the National Grandparent Movement, to discuss healthy friendships.

Purpose - The key to a thriving community.

“Your entire life depends on the quality of the community or communities you associate yourself with and create,” says Adam McCurdie, founder and CEO of Humanitix.

Community connection is important to humanity. It is at the centre of every thriving society and civilisation around the world, and provides a framework for understanding, belonging, culture and identity.

In this Helping Hands panel discussion, Adam McCurdie is joined by Mike Gore, founder and CEO of Charitabl.; and Prof. Kristy Muir, CEO of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, to discuss community connection and purpose.

The joy of being selfish for good

“There is a deep, deep value in being good for nothing,” quips Jon Owen, CEO of Wayside Chapel, when talking about volunteers.

Speaking on Helping Hands, Jon says volunteers gift an estimated $1.5 million worth of waged time to Wayside Chapel, and without them, the Chapel would not able to break even. The volunteer workforce at Wayside Chapel cover 250 shifts each week, and ensure their doors stay open.

Enabling young people to thrive

Children and young people today have greater access to information and resources than any other generation in history. However, in young hands and minds, rather than being helpful, sometimes this ease of access is a barrage of ideas, opinions and perspectives that ultimately have a negative affect on wellbeing. It leads those of us who care for and support young people to continue to ask the question: How can we enable young people to thrive? 

Have we lost the ability to be selfless?

In the modern world of ‘you do you’ have we lost the ability to be selfless? Like any art form or ability, selflessness is a skill that can be learned and practiced. So, how and when should we practice the art of selflessness and why should we bother?

A helping hand starts with a listening ear

It's not only the ‘needy’ in our community who benefit from a helping hand. We all need help from time to time, and it can also do us good to be the help that someone else needs, but what is the best way to extend a hand of friendship?

The Dreaming and Songlines of Indigenous Australia

“You don’t get to be the world’s oldest living continuing cultures without a great foundation of a system of law and living,” shares Education and Cultural Consultant, Brooke Prentis. 

How To Address Indigenous Australians

“Because people don’t have the experience walking alongside us, on Country, or in our daily lives ... there are misconceptions and misunderstandings out there” says Rhanee Lester, Adnyamathanha woman and researcher at the University of Adelaide.

In this Helping Hands panel discussion, Rhanee is joined by Brooke Prentis, Wakka Wakka woman and Education and Cultural Consultant, and Uncle David King, Gundungurra man and Indigenous Education Facilitator, and share their personal stories of family and culture, and bring clarity to understanding Aboriginal identity.