Kapitol Strategy Summit 2026
Kapitol’s Strategy Summit 2026 brought our people together to strengthen leadership, safety, quality, customer focus and health and wellbeing.
Construction runs on people paying attention. We closely check drawings, permits, plant, access and the work in front of us. Looking out for each other deserves the same attention.
That is the practical message behind R U OK?Day and this year’s reminder to ask R U OK? any day. For our team, health and safety in construction includes the way we notice, listen and respond when a teammate may be struggling. Supporting mental health is not about having the perfect speech or approach It starts with knowing the people around you well enough to recognise when something has changed.
We interviewed team members from across Kapitol to find out how they ask R U OK?, here’s what they had to say.
On a construction project, people work closely for long stretches. Someone might become quieter, stop joining the group at lunch, react more sharply than usual or simply seem unlike themselves.
Ben Power, Senior Project Manager at the M3 data centre project, described how the hard work can feel different when people stay connected:
“Work can just generally be stressful, but when everyone’s having a good time enjoying everyone’s company and you can actually enjoy it, have a bit of a laugh while you’re trying to do the hard yards.”
That connection matters because excessive stress does not always arrive with a clear warning. Kapitol Safety Advisor Leo Lambrakakis spoke about how pressure can blend into the pace of work. His advice comes back to a simple responsibility:
“Checking in on people, constantly looking out for each other, is the single most important thing.”
Several team members that we interviewed returned to the same practical setting: one person, a quieter place and enough time to listen. A check-in does not need to feel formal or overly prepared.
That might mean asking someone to grab a coffee, sitting somewhere away from the workface or stepping outside for a few minutes. Ask how things are going. If the first response is that they are fine, staying present and asking again with genuine care can give them room to answer honestly.
Courtney Campbell, Health and Wellbeing Specialist, joined Environment and Sustainability Advisor Cassidy Maine to talk about making these conversations part of normal working life. Courtney put it plainly:
“I think it’s just normalising conversations. The more we’re talking about mental health, particularly around anxiety and depression… I think it’s a step in the right direction.”
Cassidy also addressed a concern that can stop people from asking a direct question. Some worry that raising a difficult topic could make things worse. Her view was the opposite:
“It actually opens up people to these conversations and can help break down those barriers.”
The R U OK? conversation steps are clear: ask, listen, encourage action and check in.
Listening means giving the person your attention without rushing to solve the problem. It can also mean checking what they need right now, whether that is some space or a call to someone they trust.
Encouraging action depends on the person and situation. Our team mentioned speaking with a colleague, family member, manager, GP or health and wellbeing support. They also referred to Sonder, our employee assistance program, as one pathway to further help. Urgent situations need an urgent response and appropriate professional or emergency support.
Checking in again is just as important as starting the conversation. One team member suggested a quiet question, a phone call later that day and a coffee the next day. The follow-up became a regular check-in. Care is shown through what happens next, not only through the first question.
The strongest message from these interviews is not complicated: know your people, notice the change, ask the question, listen properly and come back again.
R U OK?Day gives us a reason to pause together. The standard we should aim for is bigger than one day. If someone is on your mind, make the time. A conversation over coffee, at lunch, during a walk or in a quiet corner could be the moment that helps them take the next step.
For more information and resources on this topic, visit the RUOK? website.
