August 2025
Making every conversation count
"R U OK? Day falls on 11 September this year, but as the campaign itself reminds us: life happens every day. For SMEC’s Troy Miles, meaningful conversations about mental health start with chocolate."
Troy, a roads and highways engineer with SMEC’s Canberra team, has a simple but powerful approach. A bucket of Maltesers sits permanently on his desk with an open invitation to anyone passing by.
While his colleagues enjoy their sweet treat, Troy asks three questions: “How are you going? How are you coping with life at work? And do you need to talk about this more?”
It’s a gentle but deliberate way to encourage conversations that matter.
“Some people stop by my desk just for a break,” Troy says. “Others pretend they’re just after free chocolate, but after those three questions, they realise they could do with a chat.”
For those who need it, Troy – a trained Mental Health First Aider since 2017 – offers more than a casual conversation. He’ll suggest a coffee outside the office or help connect them with SMEC’s wellbeing resources.
“SMEC and our parent company SJ take mental health and staff wellbeing very seriously. Our leaders are always looking for more ways to support our teams,” Troy says.
Research undertaken by Consult Australia in 2022 found that 40% of member firms identified mental health and wellbeing as a key workplace challenge.
Initiatives like Consult Australia’s annual Pause for Wellbeing campaign, which urges government clients to pause live procurement tenders over the Christmas holiday period, and the Mental Health Knowledge Hub are practical responses that help embed a culture of care.
A personal story drives purpose
Troy’s personal story brings extra authenticity to his professional approach to mental health.
During his short time in the Australian Army, Troy sustained an injury that left him without the top of his right tibia and navigating the reality of chronic pain. It was during his rehabilitation that Troy learned first-hand the value of listening.
“During my recovery, I was exposed to many people with PTSD and realised I didn’t need to offer solutions. I just needed to be present and friendly.”
That experience shaped his approach today – simple, human and proactive – that aligns with the principles of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA).
“The Mental Health Maltesers helps with the first area of mental health support: prevention,” Troy notes.
Where can Mental Health First Aid help?
A ripple effect across workplaces
The ripple effect of Troy’s personal mission has been remarkable. Troy’s endless bucket of Mental Health Maltesers has helped shift SMEC’s Canberra office culture: colleagues stop and say hello more often, conversations run deeper and openness around mental wellbeing is normalised.
Troy isn’t alone. Since its inception in Canberra office, other Mental Health First Aiders in SMEC have their own buckets of Maltesers.
And Troy is thinking even bigger: “We have a lot of support in Australia, but I’d love to see us extend Mental Health Maltesers to other countries and engineers everywhere. Imagine buckets of Maltesers, sponsored by Mars (The producers of Maltesers), on desks around the world as a prompt for honest conversations.”
Learn more about this year’s R U OK? Day theme, Ask R U OK? Any Day. Mental Health First Aid Australia has regular courses and useful resources. Or visit Consult Australia's Mental Health Knowledge Hub for business guides, member experiences and external resources.