Sunday, 12 October 2025
Government House
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC

Bujari Gamarruwa

Diyn Babana, Gamarada Gadigal Ngura

In greeting you in the language of the Gadigal, Traditional Owners of these lands and waterways, I pay my respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging. I extend that respect to the Elders of all parts of our country from which you travel.

What a glorious Spring morning!

And what a perfect opportunity for a stroll with friends and family across the Harbour Bridge or through the Botanic Gardens in support of raising mental health awareness and reducing stigma.

For more than a decade now, the Wellness Walk has raised over half-a-million dollars for essential mental health supports for Australians facing mental health challenges^.[1]

And the need is great…

Almost half our population has experienced mental illness over their lifetime and, in the last 12 months, 1-in-5 of us has experienced a mental disorder.^[2]

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Month’s theme is ‘Taking Steps on Your Wellbeing Journey’, a perfect metaphor for today’s event.

Living with mental health challenges is a step-by-step, one-step-at-a-time process.

Whether today is your first step, or one of many, you are part of something meaningful.

We walk today to celebrate the small wins, the hard days, and the resilience it takes to keep going, because no step is too small to matter.

In walking together, we show our support, we help break down stigma, we spark important conversations, and, importantly, we show others that it’s okay when things aren’t perfect and that it’s okay to reach out for support.

I thank everyone who has helped make today happen—our hosts One Door Mental Health and Mind Australia, as well as all the volunteers, sponsors and community partners.

I also offer warm thanks to you, Carla,^[3] for sharing shortly your own lived experience journey.

Most importantly, I thank all of you for participating today; for showing up for yourselves, for others, and for a cause that touches so many lives.

Please enjoy the 2025 Wellness Walk!