Community comes together for Gold Coast Wellbeing Week 2025

More than 1,500 Gold Coasters came together across seven days and seven events for Gold Coast Wellbeing Week 2025, an initiative of the Gold Coast Suicide Prevention Collaborative.

Launched in 2024, Gold Coast Wellbeing Week was created to promote wellbeing through connection, recognising that social connection is a protective factor against mental ill-health and suicide.

Now in its second year, the initiative ran from 8–14 September 2025, supported by Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN), City of Gold Coast, and a host of local partners, encompassing both R U OK? Day and World Suicide Prevention Day.

This year’s theme – Connection Starts Here – was brought to life through events designed to meet people where they are; from morning teas and garden days, to free breakfasts and line dancing in the park.

Highlights included:

• Seniors Morning Tea, with entertainment from Justin Geange and meaningful conversations over shared food.
• Connecting Through Culture at Tallebudgera Creek, where more than 140 people joined yarning circles, weaving workshops and free haircuts. One attendee shared, “It removed the stigma to have a yarn without four white walls and a chair.”
• The Out of the Shadows Walk on World Suicide Prevention Day, which saw more than 100 people walk and around 140 in total attend to remember loved ones and hear lived experience speakers.
• R U OK? Day Positive Postcards, where hundreds stopped by Robina Town Centre to create messages of hope and kindness with artist Claudio Kirac, and receive free coffee vouchers and roses.
• Be Kind Friday at Broadbeach, offering free breakfast in the park, music, and line dancing to celebrate everyday acts of kindness.
• Press Play Youth Event, a free youth-led gathering with big screen gaming, bracelet-making, and creative activities, which brought teens from across the city.
• Spring Garden Wellbeing Day, where the Labrador Community Garden buzzed with live music, workshops, and connection.

One attendee shared:

“I met two walkers yesterday who were close to crisis, and I was able to spend time with them drawing on their hope and purpose. If you had not arranged this event those people may not have been seen, heard or valued.”

Another said:

“I was in a bit of pain today and wasn’t going to come. When I arrived, I was feeling low, but I left feeling much happier. Next year, I’ll bring a friend.”

The impact of the week was clear:

• 1,503 community members attended events – a 69% increase on 2024.
• 32 volunteers contributed – an 88% increase on 2024.
• 37% more local organisations and businesses came on board to support the initiative.
• Eleven elected representatives across all levels of government showed their support across the events.

Media coverage also helped break stigma and normalise conversations about suicide, with multiple stories and live crosses on 9 News Gold Coast and stories shared through ABC Gold Coast, Rebel FM and others.

“Gold Coast Wellbeing Week is about creating opportunities for connection,” said Gold Coast Suicide Prevention Collaborative Project Lead Jenna Schroeder.

“Speaking with our volunteers across the week, there were so many stories of ‘just that one moment made this week worth it’, whether it was someone being connected with a new social group, receiving direct support for themselves or a friend, or simply having a conversation that left them feeling seen and valued.”

The Collaborative credits the success of the week to its community-led and co-designed approach, working in partnership with Gold Coast Primary Health Network, City of Gold Coast, and local organisations including Lifeline, Standby Support After Suicide, Wesley Mission Queensland, Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast (MCCGC), Paperbark Cultural Consultancy, Be Kind Friday and Labrador Community Garden.

The initiative was also supported by Councillor Shelley Curtis, ADA Australia, Relationships Australia, I Love Robina, Robina Town Centre and headspace, and collaborated with Everybody Now, The FUSE Cup, Hey Mate, Melissa Spratt and Reading Cinemas.

And of course, none of it would have been possible without the amazing volunteers who brought the week to life.