Mental Health Matters:
A Screen Leaders Summit
A Gathering of Industry Leaders to Shape a Safer Future
On January 2025, Screen Well and the ABC invited leaders from across Australia’s screen sector for an extraordinary afternoon of insight, collaboration, and action.
The Mental Health Matters Leaders Summit wasn’t just another industry event - it was a call to acknowledge the mental health challenges our sector faces, and to commit to working together to improve outcomes.
We heard from some of Australia’s foremost voices in mental health, including Georgie Harman AO (CEO, Beyond Blue), Brad Parker (CEO, Mates in Construction NSW), Margo Lydon (Workplace Mental Health Advisory), Lucinda Brogden AM (Corporate Mental Health Alliance), as well as Marcus Ryder (CEO, UK Film and TV Charity). As part of the Summit, Griffith University also revealed new screen industry mental health research data.
What We Explored
Lived experience and research: We revealed personal stories of those working in the screen industry, as well as new mental health research data from Griffith University.
Inspiration from other industries: We drew on leadership from other industries to inform how we can better support people in our industry.
Leadership Workshop: The final part of the day was a workshop, where leaders could contribute their ideas for how we can improve outcomes - together.
Outcomes & Insights
Griffith University presented key findings from the Australian Screen Industry Health & Wellbeing Survey. Find the report here →
Local and international organisations reminded us not to reinvent the wheel, but to learn from what’s already working. We’re stronger when we align efforts, share resources, and build on what others have already trialled.
The Summit concluded with every leader in the room standing to show their commitment to improve the mental health outcomes of the industry.
Screen Well committed to leading a co-design process to develop solutions FOR the industry BY the industry.
What’s Next?
This summit was just the beginning. We are currently conducting a series of roundtables with the leaders in attendance to co-design an industry-led mental health action plan.
Want to Get Involved?
If you want to contribute or stay up to date, you can join our mailing list below or get In touch to be part of the change.
Summit 2025 Guests
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Jeremy Fernandez
Live News Anchor, Journalist, Producer, Podcaster
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Georgie Harman
CEO, Beyond Blue
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Brad Parker
CEO, Mates In Construction New South Wales
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Margo Lydon
Director Workplace Mental Health Advisory
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Lucinda Brogden AM
Board Member Of The Corporate Mental Health Alliance Australia
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Peter Hegedus
Assoc Professor, Griffith University
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Bobbi-Lea Dionysius
Producer, Researcher, Griffith University
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Ben Steel
Managing Partner & Founder, Screen Well
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Jonathon Dutton
Managing Partner, Screen Well