About GraemeJump Down To
Thrive Specialist
One of Australia’s foremost experts on thriving individuals and organisations, Graeme Cowan believes that the most admired people and organisations are great not despite adversity, but because of it. The common factor is being determined, and having the right mindset and skills, to consistently Bounce Back.
Having spent most of his life as a senior executive for organisations like Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, Morgan and Banks, and AT Kearney, Graeme Cowans life hit a seemingly insurmountable roadblock in 2000, when he was diagnosed with severe depression. Five years and numerous hard set backs and decisions later, Graeme emerged not only with the bestselling book BACK FROM THE BRINK to his name, but also with a new attitude towards the traditional ways that companies and individuals approach adversity.
BACK FROM THE BRINK is used as a resource by every Lifeline counsellor, and his second book BACK FROM THE BRINK TOO was recently awarded SANE’s 2009 Book of the Year. He is also authored “Best Practice in Managing Mental Health in the Workplace – click here for a free copy, and was lead judge for the Black Dog Institutes “Tackling Mood Disorders in the Workplace” writing competition – soon to become a book.
He has interviewed over 3000 people to find out what helps them most to bounce up the moodometer, after experiencing a setback.
RUOK? Day
In the first initiative of its kind in the world, Australians were invited to connect with their friends and loved ones on R U OK?Day by reaching out to anyone doing it tough and simply asking: "Are you okay?"
Graeme was on the organising committee for the inaugural RUOK?Day, and spent hundreds of voluntary hours to help get it off the ground.
R U OK?Day’s supporting partners included the Black Dog Institute, Inspire Foundation, headspace, Lifeline, LifeForce, Mindframe, National Prescribing Service, SANE Australia and Suicide Prevention Australia.
Graeme spoke at the official launch of RUOK?Day by the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon. Nicola Roxon MP, in Parliament House Canberra, on September 12, 2010.
30second RUOK?Day Television commercial
RUOK? Arvo
Just after the launch by the Hon. Nicola Roxon MP in mid September 2009, Graeme discussed with the founder of RUOK?Day, Gavin Larkin, the merit in having a workplace component. Despite being only 8 weeks before November 29, they decided to go for it – and the event became known as RUOK? Arvo - Friday November 27, 2009.
In those 56 days, Graeme enlisted the help of 12 business leaders to be the organising committee, launched a website – www.ruokarvo.com.au - , produced brochures – HOW TO ASK RUOK?, I’M NOT OK, and RUOK? TEAM LEADER’S GUIDE, and promoted it to organisations.
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RUOK? Arvo Founding Supporters
Despite this extraordinarily short countdown, over 280 organisations registered to participate. Included were:
1300 Flowers, Allens Arthur Robinson, Anglicare, AT Kearney, Australian Employers Network for Disability, Australian Human Resources Institute, Australian News Channel, Australian Sports Commission, Bain & Company, Barrier Reef TAFE, Black Dog Institute, Blue Cross Community Care Group, Bunderberg Regional Council, BT Financial Services, Capricornia Division of General Practice, CareerOne, Carnival Australia, Commonwealth Bank, Cbus Super, Clayton Utz, Cochlear, Crisis Support Services, CSIRO, Davidson Trahaire Corpsych, Depression Services, DLA Phillips Fox, Freehills, Gold Coast TAFE, GROW, Headspace, Hills Shire Council, Hunter Institute of Mental Health, ING, Inspire Foundation, Investment and Financial Services Association, Landers and Rogers Lawyers, Lifeline, Lion Nathan, Lundbeck, Marrickville Council, Mental Health Association of NSW, National Prescribing Service, Neilsen, News Limited, NSW Department of Health, NSW Fire Brigades, Optus Ltd, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, Queensland Newpapers, Queensland Police Service, Queensland Primary Industry and Fisheries, Queensland Transport and Main Roads, Ramsay Healthcare, Reach Out, Richmond Fellowship, Rockhampton Child Safety, Rotary, Safety Works, SANE Australia, Southbank Institute of Technology, RSPCA, SEMA Group, Sex Discrimination Commission, Simon & Schuster, South Australian Government, STW Group, Sydney Water, TADAust, Talent2, The Next Step, Toll Holdings, Townsville General Practice Network, Treasury Department, TruckLine, University of Western Sydney, WA Health Department, Western Power, Zurich Financial Services
RUOK? Results
Despite being its first year, and an extraordinarily short lead up, the following was revealed from independent follow up research:
- 650,000 Australians – one-in-six- asked someone they were concerned about “Are you OK?” – 1.3 million people were connected.
- Video Hits – RUOK? YouTube segment scored 320,000 hits and 25,800 comments were made in a few days.
- Prime Minister’s Support – Kevin Rudd wrote: “I support the important message at the heart of RUOK?Day.
- 53% of Australians said that if R U OK?Day was staged again in 2010 they believed it was a good idea and would definitely participate
Media Profile
In the two weeks following the launch of his book “BACK FROM THE BRINK: Australians telling their story of overcoming depression” in June 2007, Graeme was interviewed over 100 times on TV, radio and in the press.
After his second book “BACK FROM THE BRINK TOO: Helping your loved one overcome depression” was awarded SANE’s 2009 Book of the Year, he was in frequent demand on how people can be coached through adversity.
He has also been part of a number of broadcasted forums on the ABC, on how to create more resilient and supportive work cultures.
Below is a selection of his media appearances.
TV
SBS 6.30pm World News
Sunrise Channel 7
Mornings with Kerri Anne
Radio
(Podcasts for download) – These recordings can be access via http://www.iambackfromthebrink.com/podcasts.html
- ABC 702 The Conversation Hour with Richard Fidler
- ABC Radio National “Depression in the Workplace”
- ABC Radio National “Supporting someone through adversity”
- 6PR with Howard Saddler
Press
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Courier Mail |
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Financial Planning Magazine |
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City Weekly |
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North Shore Times |
Graeme in action
