Our middle school students recently had the privilege of hearing from Wayne Holdsworth, founder of SmackTalk, in a heartfelt and unforgettable presentation about respectful communication, mental fitness, and looking out for one another.
Wayne created SmackTalk after the heartbreaking loss of his 17-year-old son, Mac, to suicide. His mission is to save lives by encouraging real conversations, helping young people recognise the signs that someone might be struggling, and empowering communities to act before it’s too late.
Wayne spoke with honesty and courage, sharing his story with warmth and compassion. His message to students was simple but powerful: your words matter, your mates matter, and asking for help is a sign of strength – not weakness.
The impact of his talk was immediate.
Thank you for bringing this into the school. I had forgot to tell my son it was happening and the morning after the talk, we were driving in the car and he raised it. He said how powerful the talk was and it opened up a conversation between him and myself … it was a conversation on a different level following the presentation.
Other parents echoed how the session sparked meaningful conversations at home:
My son also spoke about this and it got everyone in the home talking about mental health and looking out for friends and family.
This had a really meaningful impact on my daughter. She talked about it for ages. Thank you.
The presentation clearly resonated with students:
My son is still talking about this. It had a profound impact on him.
Parents were unanimous in their appreciation:
Please ensure to keep this speaker for future years. It definitely was powerful and both my sons spoke at lengths of its impact and benefits.
We are deeply grateful to Wayne for sharing his story with such generosity and for inspiring conversations that will continue to make a difference in our students’ lives and our wider community.
Drawing on his lived experience and work in sport, education and advocacy, Wayne spoke with honesty, courage and compassion. His message to students was clear: your words matter, your mates matter, and seeking help is a sign of strength - not weakness.
We thank Wayne for his bravery and generosity in sharing his story.