This month’s Employee Wellbeing Forum will be hosted on R U OK? Day (14 September) with special guests, Dr Dan Pronk and Ben Pronk DSC from The Resilience Shield.
R U OK? Day is a national day of action, reminding Australians that every day is the day to ask, ‘are you OK?’ (R U OK?). This year, we reflect on the theme “I’m here to hear” and let our loved ones and colleagues know you’re here, to really hear them.
Join us for a special Employee Wellbeing Forum about building resilience and supporting the mental wellbeing of yourself and others. We will be joined by guest speakers and brothers from The Resilience Shield, Dr Dan Pronk and Ben Pronk DSC.
R U OK? – Employee Wellbeing Forum
2:00 PM, Thursday 14 September. View event details
Topics include:
- Social connection
- Breathing
- Mindfulness
- Locus of Control
- Journaling
Guest Speakers: Dr Dan Pronk and Ben Pronk DSC, The Resilience Shield
Joining us for the Question and Answer (Q&A) panel at the forum is Anna Kvyatkovska, Senior Counselling Psychologist, Community Health and Be Well.
About Dr Dan Pronk
Dan studied medicine on an army scholarship after giving up his dream of competing in professional triathlon. Upon qualifying as an army doctor, Dan completed Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) selection and moved into Special Operations and was eventually awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service. Upon discharge from the army, Dan completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and moved into medical leadership roles including as a Deputy Director of a regional hospital, and Medical Director for a state prison health service. Dan authored his memoir “The Combat Doctor” in 2022 and has appeared on the hit TV show, SAS Australia, as “Dr Dan” the lead medic.
About Ben Pronk
Ben often says that he began his resilience journey at the age of 16 months when his annoyingly talented brother Dan was born. Ben is a highly regarded thought leader and sought-after public speaker, particularly on the reduction of risk and about leadership in high-pressure situations. Previously Ben served in the Australian Army for 24 years mainly in the SAS Regiment. Ben received the Distinguished Service Cross before concluding his service as Commanding Officer of the SAS. Since then, Ben co-founded Mettle Global, a premium consultancy that delivers resilience solutions to clients globally. Ben is also the Director of VGI Partners, the co-host of the Unforgiving60 podcast. He is also adjunct faculty at the Australian Graduate School of Management, where he delivers a range of leadership programs, and a Patron of the Military Art Program Australia.
About The Resilience Shield
The Resilience Shield is a highly applied model of resilience that identifies the key characteristics of this mercurial quality and provides a framework for defence against the chronic and acute stressors that impact all of us on a daily basis. While this concept originated on the battlefield, developers of the concept and SAS veterans Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk DSC and Tim Curtis are firmly of the belief that the resilience secrets of elite soldiers are universally applicable, a belief reinforced by the successful implementation of Resilience Shield programs within organisations of any industry.
About Employee Wellbeing Forums
Employee Wellbeing Forums are held monthly and cover a range of topics to support employees to prioritise their health and wellbeing, and those of their colleagues and loved ones. The Forums provide practical discussions, resources, and information to empower employees to access support services and learn wellbeing strategies to implement into their daily routines.
For details about upcoming Employee Wellbeing Forums, access the Health & Wellbeing category in Upcoming events. To watch past Employee Wellbeing Forums, visit the Past events page and search ‘health and wellbeing’.
Additional wellbeing support
If you are seeking more information about improving your mental health, check out the resources from our Employee Wellbeing Programs, including our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP aims to assist you in meeting any challenges or demands you may be facing in your work or personal life. For short-term counselling and coaching, book a consultation or call 1300 687 327 for immediate support.
Employees can also access webinars and resources for free on the Converge International portal as part of our EAP, including their monthly online magazine, Flourish. In this month’s edition of Flourish, you can learn about R U OK? Day and tips on starting meaningful conversations about mental health in the workplace.
Approved by Chris McLoughlin, Executive Director, People and Culture