For councils
Bring MATESHIP MATTERS! to your community.
You convene. We bring the show. Councils know their communities: who’s doing it tough, who’s isolated, and which hall still has working air-con. We bring four nationally recognised speakers for one Friday afternoon of wellbeing for your staff and your community.
A smarter, community-focused wellbeing partnership
One afternoon. One community. A whole lot of wellbeing.
We envisage a simple, cost-effective formula that brings workplace wellbeing and community connection together in one memorable event.
Council acts as the community convenor, hosting a dedicated Friday afternoon session, ideally from 1 pm to 5 pm, giving as many council employees as possible the opportunity to experience an engaging, entertaining and practical half-day of wellbeing.
Better still, council can then extend the invitation to the wider community, including volunteers, veterans, First Nations communities, community groups and local residents, creating a genuinely inclusive, free community wellbeing event.
How the partnership works
- Council provides the venue and acts as the local host and community convenor.
- Council manages registrations, with free tickets allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Corporate sponsors provide the primary financial backing, covering much of the show’s delivery costs.
- Council makes a modest contribution, ideally from its existing employee wellbeing budget, helping secure a high-value wellbeing experience for its workforce while extending the benefits to the wider community.
The convenor model
From first chat to full house in five steps.
Enquire
Tell us about your community, the audiences you want to reach and rough timing.
Lock it in
We agree a Friday afternoon date and a venue, and plan registrations with your team.
Co-promote
We supply posters, social posts, video clips and a media release. You share them locally.
Show day
Four speakers, one stage, a live Q&A, and local services in the foyer, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.
Follow-up
A short impact summary for council, plus podcast and video content to keep the conversation going.
What we bring
- All four speakers: Dr Jemma King, Aidan Grimes, Dr Tony Valenti (really Homer Papantonio) and Dr Ross Walker
- A specially recorded celebrity introduction to each speaker
- A tested Friday afternoon format, tailored to your community
- A promotional kit: posters, social assets, video clips and a media release
- Promotional copy and artwork for your registration page
- A post-show impact summary
What we need from you
- A venue, ideally 200 to 800 seats, with basic AV
- Registrations, with free tickets allocated first-come, first-served
- Local promotion through council channels and local media
- Invitations to volunteers, veterans, First Nations communities, community groups and local residents
- Connections with local health and support services for the foyer
- A council contact for the day
Cost
What does it cost council?
Our aim is to keep council’s financial contribution to a minimum, ideally within its existing employee wellbeing budget, with corporate sponsors covering as much of the show’s delivery costs as possible.
The final contribution will depend on the venue, event requirements and sponsorship secured. We’ll work with council to develop a clear, transparent proposal tailored to the region.
One afternoon. A modest investment. A big return for staff and community wellbeing.
Why it works for council
Staff wellbeing and community connection, in one afternoon
It’s a practical way to support staff morale, encourage healthier lifestyles, strengthen community connections and demonstrate council’s commitment to wellbeing, all through one engaging afternoon.
Start a conversationCouncil FAQs
The questions CEOs ask first.
Who is the show for?
Council staff first, then the wider community: volunteers, veterans, First Nations communities, community groups, retirees and local residents.
Who handles ticketing?
Council manages registrations, with free tickets allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We supply promotional copy and artwork for your registration page and local media.
How far ahead do we need to book?
We recommend three to six months to secure a venue and promote properly. The 2027 tour calendar is filling now.
Can we tailor the content?
Yes. Each speaker tailors examples to the audience, and the Q&A naturally follows what your community wants to talk about.
Is MATES involved?
MATES has shown strong support for the concept. Any formal involvement in a specific show will be confirmed with you directly.
What are the AV requirements?
A stage, a projector or screen, three to four wireless microphones and basic lighting. We’ll send a full tech rider once your show is confirmed.