Mindarma Event Registration

Beyond tough

Event

During Men’s Health Week, we invite everyone to join us for a special panel discussion. We’ll examine the difference between toughness and resilience, discuss why common coping strategies fail and explore a range of practical strategies that enhance male mental health.

Wednesday 11 June 2025
111:30am – 12:30pm ACST

Expert Speakers

Professor Tony Walker ASM
Adjunct Professor of Paramedicine, Monash University, Registered Paramedic and Fellow of the Australasian College of Paramedicine (VIC)

Acting Inspector Todd Best
Senior Operational Support Officer, Financial and Cyber Crime Group, Queensland Police Service, Peer Support Officer (PSO) and R U OK Day Ambassador (QLD)

Dr Andrew Arena
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Black Dog Institute (NSW)

Moderator

Dr Sadhbh Joyce
Senior Psychologist (MAPS, AAPi), Co-Founder of Mindarma, Meditation Teacher, External Fellow, Black Dog Institute/UNSW Medicine (NSW)

Sadhbh has over 19 years’ experience working in Mental Health. She has supported those struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement and workplace injury. Sadhbh is passionate about supporting those who work in service-to-others occupations. Sadhbh has specialist expertise in holistic interventions, mindfulness-based therapies and mindful self-compassion.

In 2021 Sadhbh was awarded the Australian Psychological Society Significant Contribution Award in recognition of her successful translational research. You can read more about Sadhbh’s work here.

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The Mental Health and Wellbeing Program is an initiative of the Government of South Australia’s Office for Small and Family Business and the South Australian Small Business Strategy 2023 - 2030.

Professor Tony Walker ASM
Adjunct Professor of Paramedicine, Monash University, Registered Paramedic and Fellow of the Australasian College of Paramedicine (VIC)

Professor Tony Walker ASM brings nearly four decades of experience in ambulance and emergency services, including as CEO of Ambulance Victoria, where he led significant transformation to improve workforce mental health and community response.

A Registered Paramedic and Fellow of the Australasian College of Paramedicine, Tony holds adjunct professorships at Monash University and Victoria University and is a non-executive director of several non-for-profit organisations, including the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Life Saving Victoria and TLC for Kids. Tony has been recognised for his work in improving paramedic mental health and wellbeing as a past finalist for the Australian Mental Health Prize.

Since retiring from Ambulance Victoria, Tony continues his work as an academic, management consultant, and non-executive director, focusing on improving health and emergency medical services and first responder mental health.

Acting Inspector Todd Best
Senior Operational Support Officer, Financial and Cyber Crime Group, Queensland Police Service, Peer Support Officer (PSO) and R U OK Day Ambassador (QLD)

Todd is a current police veteran with first responder experience spanning 26 years in the Queensland Police Service (QPS). From his role as a Senior Project Officer in the QPS Wellbeing Strategy Team to his secondment as the Training Coordinator for the Psychological and Support Services within the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Todd has been at the forefront of enhancing operational psychological first aid practices, suicide management and mental health awareness and cultural change across first responder agencies.

As a manager with deep mental health understanding, his skills have seen him lead teams of psychologists and social workers in providing psychological services to frontline members within QPS. In these roles, Todd as has been directly involved the coordination and delivery of support services at tragic policing major events such as the Wieambilla police shootings and the Burpengary highway death wellbeing responses.

Committed to supporting his colleagues, Todd serves as a dedicated Peer Support Officer (PSO), offering a helping hand to those facing personal and work related challenges. With a personal journey marked by experiences with anxiety, depression, and suicide ideation and behaviour, Todd’s passion for mental health shines through advocacy for the psychological wellbeing of first responders.

As an active R U OK Ambassador, Todd exemplifies his dedication to bring about awareness and compassion to the importance of checking in on one another. Todd’s inspiring journey and unwavering dedication make him a beacon of hope and support amongst frontline workers.

Dr Andrew Arena
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Black Dog Institute (NSW)

Dr Andrew Arena received his PhD in psychology at the University of Sydney in 2020, focusing on how people can cope more or less positively with stressful life circumstances.

Andrew is now a postdoctoral researcher in the Workplace Mental Health team at the Black Dog Institute. He is investigating how to promote greater wellbeing and prevent poor mental health for vulnerable workplace populations, focusing on male-dominated industries like construction and emergency services. This includes work to inform and tailor digital mental health interventions to the specific needs of these groups.