UQ's Wellbeing Festival 2022

Wellbeing is essential to a productive study and work life. Join us for the first ever UQ's Wellbeing Festival.

Bringing together staff, students, and community- UQ’s Wellbeing Festival is the largest mental health and wellbeing focused event at UQ in 2022.

UQ’s first Wellbeing Festival reflects and expands on the important factors that help people maintain positive mental health and wellbeing. Inspired by the Wheel of Wellbeing, UQ’s Wellbeing Festival repositions wellbeing in the context of the many facets of our lives, including our physical, emotional, social, spiritual, environmental, and financial wellbeing.

The Wellbeing Festival is coming to a campus near you, with a variety of wellbeing-focused activities, performances, stalls, and freebies to encourage reflection, connection and highlight the importance of taking a break.

All activities, performances, workshops, and stalls are free to all staff, students, and community. Find out what’s happening on your campus and when the Wellbeing Festival is coming to you below. You can drop-in anytime and for as long as you like, even if it's just for a few minutes! We encourage you to come with your classmates, colleagues, and friends, and to connect with others while enjoying UQ’s first Wellbeing Festival.

Let us know what you thought of UQ's Wellbeing Festival and go in the draw to win a Garmin Watch. There is one watch on offer for UQ Staff and one on offer for UQ Students, so fill out the survey for your chance to win!
Image is for illustration purposes only.
Gatton
Tuesday 11 October | Central Walkway
Grab a gelato at our pop-up Gelato Stand, make your own juice with BUPA’s Bike N’ Blend, and have a chat to UQ Wellness, UniSuper, and the Employee Assistance Program.
St Lucia
Wednesday 12 October | Great Court & Student Central
Explore our exciting line-up of events and activities including the UQ Connect Stage, Community Connect Stalls, Wellbeing Workshop, and a UQ Sport pop-up. And just a short distance from the Great Court you will be able to find massages, a cooking demonstration, and a free pop-up BUPA Mediterranean Dip Stand at Student Central.
Herston
Thursday 13 October
Come and check out helpful stallholders including UQ Wellness, BUPA, EAP, and more! Come by the courtyard between the School of Public Health and Mayne Medical Building for a free sausage sizzle, hosted by the Faculty of Medicine.
 

Gatton Chill and Herston Hangouts

Our weekly events at Gatton and Herston are joining in on the UQ's Wellbeing Festival fun on Wednesday 12 October from 11am to 1pm.

 

Event highlights

The ‘Connect Stage’ brings to centre stage UQ’s many staff and student talents for a full-day program of classes, performances and talks to spotlight the importance of culture and connection for our wellbeing. This is an ASL interpreted event. Full performance program released soon.
Community Connect Stalls
We’re bringing community to UQ with stall holders from all around UQ and Meanjin to make it easier for you to connect with services, organisations, and opportunities to support your wellbeing. Explore the offerings of partners such as Allianz, BreastScreen, BUPA, Lifeline and more alongside internal support services including Ally Network, Workplace Diversity and Inclusion, and UQ Healthy Living.
Wellbeing workshops
Taking time out for recreational and relaxation activities have been shown to be beneficial for people’s health and wellbeing. What recreation and relaxation means is also different for everyone, so Wellbeing Workshops will be available for everyone (staff and students) throughout the day to give you the chance to try different things and, most importantly, give you a moments rest during a busy time of semester.

Full program

Gatton campus

11 & 12 October

UQ’s Wellbeing Festival is kicking off at our Gatton campus on Tuesday 11 October, with events extending to the weekly Gatton Chill on Wednesday 12 October.

UQ’s Wellbeing Festival reflects and expands on the important factors that help people maintain positive mental health and wellbeing. All events are open to students, staff, and community for this initiative running during Queensland Mental Health Week this year.

On Tuesday 11 October, drop by the Central Walkway and grab a gelato at our pop-up Gelato Stand, make your own juice with BUPA’s Bike N’ Blend, and have a chat to UQ Wellness, UniSuper, and the Employee Assistance Program.

On the Wednesday 12 October at the Central Walkway drop in to make your own terrarium at our Terrarium-making Workshop, take a photo at the Wellbeing Festival photobooth, and more!

BUPA Bike 'n' Blend
Make your own pedal-powered smoothie with Bike N' Blend, brought to your by BUPA
Pop-up Gelato Stand
Gelato and sorbet will be rolling into Gatton for the Wellbeing Festival. Drop by the free pop-up for one of three flavours of gelato/sorbet.

St Lucia campus

12 October

UQ’s Wellbeing Festival is coming to St Lucia this year on Wednesday 12 October with an exciting line-up of events and activities including the UQ Connect Stage, Community Connect Stalls, Wellbeing Workshop, and a UQ Sport pop-up starting from 8am until 3pm in UQ’s Great Court. And just a short distance from the Great Court you will be able to find massages, a cooking demonstration, and a free pop-up BUPA Mediterranean Dip Stand at Student Central. UQ Sport is also coming along to give you the chance to pick up and play a variety of sports and activities, including inflatable basketball, badminton, and more!

If you’re looking for a bite to eat, Holy Taco, Yum Yum East (Momo dumplings), J'Adore Crepes and Popcorn Man will also be coming along for all your cravings. If you’re looking for something healthy to bring home, or have limited time or transport to the supermarkets, we’re also inviting along a Farmers Market to bring fresh fruit and vegetables here to UQ St Lucia.

When you’re here with friends, colleagues, and family, consider taking a photo at the Wellbeing Festival photobooth! For those looking for professional headshots, drop-in headshots will be available near the fountain at the Great Court from 10am-12pm.

Photo booth
Make memories with your friends, colleagues and classmates— take a snap at the UQ's Wellbeing Festival photo booth
Words of Compassion Wall
Write some words of compassion for another person or check out the wall and take away any words of compassion that you need today.
Let's Chalk About It walkway
Share your messages of hope, support, and awareness around mental health at the Fountain between the Great Court and Student Central.

Herston campus

12 & 13 October

UQ’s Wellbeing Festival is coming to our Herston campus on Thursday 13 October, with events also happening the day before at the weekly Herston Hangouts on Wednesday 12 October!

UQ’s Wellbeing Festival reflects and expands on the important factors that help people maintain positive mental health and wellbeing. All events are open to students, staff, and community for this initiative running during Queensland Mental Health Week this year.

On Wednesday during Herston Hangouts, drop by and grab a gelato at our pop-up Gelato stand, make and take home your own terrarium, and more!

On Thursday 13 October you’ll find lots of helpful stallholders including UQ Wellness, BUPA, EAP, and more! Come by the courtyard between the School of Public Health and Mayne Medical Building for a free sausage sizzle, hosted by the Faculty of Medicine.

Pop-up Gelato Stand
Gelato and sorbet will be rolling into Herston for the Wellbeing Festival. Drop by the free pop-up for one of three flavours of gelato/sorbet
UQ's Wellbeing Festival Photo Booth
Make memories with your friends, colleagues and classmates— take a snap at the Wellbeing Festival photo booth
Terrarium Making Drop-in Workshop
Create and take home your own plant child at the Terrarium-making Drop-in session

Other locations

Are you studying or working at another UQ location? Don't worry - we haven't forgotten you!

We are currently putting the final polish on our plans on how you can celebrate UQ's Wellbeing Festival so stay tuned to this website for updates.

12 October 2022 12:00pm1:00pm
12-1pm | 12 October | Online & St Lucia
Join us online or in person at St Lucia for this Wellbeing Panel and they delve into the different facets of wellbeing, such as mental, physical and financial, and discuss how they incorporate wellbeing into their everyday lives.

Online programs

UniWellbeing
The UniWellbeing course is a free, online course designed to help UQ students build essential skills for maintaining good emotional wellbeing. This 5-week online course covering 4 lessons is designed to help UQ students maintain emotional wellbeing.
Online Mindfullness Practice
Those who learn Mindfulness often say they feel less stress and think clearer. This is a zoom group for those who have learned the basics of Mindfulness and want on-going training to steady the mind.
The Art of Zen
12pm | 10 October
'The Art of Zen' seminar provides an introduction to the notion of mindfulness, with guidance on how to live in the moment, and train your mind to have a rest occasionally. Simple meditation exercises are explained and tips for staying focused and relaxed are provided.

Resources from our partners

Bupa

These short mindfulness tracks will help you adopt simple, practical mindfulness-based strategies into everyday life, whether working at home, remotely or on-site.
Check out this collection of podcasts from Bupa designed to help you be more mindful.
The Bupa Dietitians have put together a selection of easy, nutritious and delicious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner and have even included recipes for ‘sometimes foods’ as an occasional treat.

Employee Assistance Program

Workplace managers and supervisors gain access to our clinical and organisationally-trained psychologists for support dealing with the mental health, resilience and wellbeing of their employees. Our MAP provides vital support for issues ranging from managing difficult behaviours, performance and stress management to organisational change and redundancy support.
Our registered, clinical psychologists deliver tailored Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) for organisations, enabling them to offer their employees, and eligible family members, access to free confidential and professional psychological support for personal or work-related issues. Our approach is friendly, caring and focused on providing practical solutions.

UniSuper

Get your financial wellbeing sorted with these webinars from UniSuper.