How to plan an R U OK?Day morning tea at work
A practical checklist for creating a relaxed workplace gathering, sharing the right resources and making time for a meaningful conversation.
Practical planning tool
Your workplace morning-tea checklist
Keep the gathering simple and thoughtful. The aim is to make time for people to connect.
One to two weeks before
- Choose a suitable time, location and simple format.
- Nominate an organiser and brief the relevant team leaders.
- Choose the format: morning tea, afternoon tea, team catch-up or toolbox-style session.
- Make attendance welcoming and voluntary.
- Register the activity and download the official R U OK? workplace resources.
- Check allergies and dietary requirements privately.
- Identify a quieter space for anyone who would prefer a private conversation.
- Confirm your workplace EAP, HR contact and relevant support-service information.
- Order tea, coffee, cups, snacks, napkins and serving essentials.
- Check which reusable cups, teaspoons and serving items are already available.
Three to five days before
- Send a short reminder explaining the purpose of the gathering.
- Print or display the official conversation guide and workplace resources.
- Confirm final attendance and catering quantities.
- Allow approximately one hot drink per attendee, plus a reasonable buffer.
- Plan one or two snack portions per person.
- Confirm how used cups, packaging and food waste will be disposed of.
- Keep allergen information and original food packaging available.
On the day
- Set up tea, coffee, water, milk, alternatives and sweeteners.
- Put cups, napkins and stirrers or reusable teaspoons within easy reach.
- Separate dietary alternatives and provide their own serving utensils.
- Place the official support information somewhere visible but discreet.
- Open with a short explanation of why the team has gathered.
- Avoid asking anyone to discuss personal experiences in front of the group.
- Keep the atmosphere calm, welcoming and unhurried.
- Make time to listen if someone wants to talk privately.
Afterwards
- Pack away and correctly sort waste and recycling.
- Replenish shared breakroom supplies.
- Follow up privately with anyone who may need another check-in.
- Add a reminder to keep checking in throughout the year.
- Review what worked and what could be improved for future workplace activities.
The most important item is not on the morning-tea table. It is making the time to genuinely ask how someone is going—and being ready to listen.
Help make the conversation meaningful
A morning tea can open the door—but the conversation matters most
A shared morning tea can make it easier for colleagues to pause and connect, but it should not place anyone under pressure to speak publicly.
Choose a time when people are unlikely to be rushed. If you are worried about a particular colleague, speak with them privately rather than raising the subject in a group setting. Be prepared to give the conversation your attention and accept that they may not be ready to talk.
Ask
Use a relaxed and caring approach. If appropriate, mention a specific change you have noticed and ask an open question about how they are going.
Listen
Take what the person says seriously. Avoid interrupting, judging or trying to immediately solve the problem. Give them time to explain.
Encourage action
Ask what support would help. That might include speaking with someone they trust, contacting an EAP, seeing their GP or accessing professional support.
Check in
Follow up after the first conversation. Checking in again shows that you listened and that your concern was genuine.
Authoritative guidance
Use the official R U OK? resources
Mega Office Supplies can help with the practical workplace setup. R U OK? remains the authority on conversation guidance, campaign resources and support information.
Simple, inclusive refreshments
Plan the catering around your team
A useful starting point is one hot drink per attendee, plus a small buffer, and one or two snack portions per person. Adjust for the time of day, the length of the gathering and the size of your workplace.
- Check allergies and dietary requirements.
- Keep original packaging and ingredient information available.
- Include water and caffeine-free drink choices.
- Use reusable mugs and teaspoons where practical.
- Use disposable items where they simplify service for visitors, larger teams or multi-site events.
- Confirm whether your local council accepts compostable serviceware in its FOGO or green-waste stream.
- Avoid over-ordering products that will not be used again.
For individually wrapped products, retain the carton or outer packaging so attendees can check current ingredients and allergen information themselves.
Curated workplace essentials
Six products, each with a clear job
These products each solve a different setup need. The selection is deliberately limited to one representative product per use case, with no duplicated sizes or interchangeable alternatives.
Creative Cafe Co 8oz Single Wall Home Compostable Coffee Cups – Creative Cafe Collection – Carton 1000
The 8oz size suits workplace tea and coffee service. The cups use an aqueous lining without plastic or PLA and are certified home compostable to Australian Standard AS5810.
Practical note: Best suited to larger workplaces, multiple locations or ongoing events. Designs vary, lids are sold separately and local disposal rules should be checked.
View product
Twinings Tea Chest 12 Compartment Starter Pack
The pre-stocked wooden chest brings black, green and herbal tea choices together in one organised, reusable presentation box.
Practical note: Refill the compartments after the event and continue using the chest in the workplace kitchen or meeting room.
View product
Moccona Classic Medium Roast Coffee Can 500g
A straightforward freeze-dried instant coffee with a medium-roast profile, selected in a practical 500g can rather than a bulk carton of variants.
Practical note: Put the coffee beside clear preparation instructions and provide milk choices based on the team’s requirements.
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Arnotts Biscuits Portions Tim Tam Chocolate Carton of 150
The carton contains 150 individually wrapped portions, helping with freshness, simple serving and pack-away after the gathering.
Allergen note: Contains wheat, milk and soy. Egg, peanuts, sesame and other tree nuts may be present. Retain the packaging for current product information.
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Mentos Mint Lollies 540g Pack of 200
The bulk bag contains 200 individually wrapped mint pieces, making them easy to place in a reception bowl or on the morning-tea table.
Practical note: Use a clean serving bowl and keep the outer packaging available for ingredient information.
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Tork White Emboss Quarterfold Lunch Napkin 2 Ply Carton of 10
These 32 × 32cm, two-ply lunch napkins are sized for drinks and light refreshments, with a neutral presentation that suits existing workplace tableware.
Practical note: The carton format works best where the remaining packs can become part of the regular breakroom supply.
View productHelpful guidance
Frequently asked questions
Is R U OK?Day only about one day?
No. R U OK?Day is the national day of action, but the organisation encourages people to ask R U OK? on any day when someone may need support.
Should attendance at the morning tea be compulsory?
The gathering should feel welcoming rather than forced. Let people know why it is being held, but avoid placing pressure on anyone to attend or discuss personal experiences.
Do I need to be a mental-health expert to ask someone how they are going?
You do not need to be an expert to show genuine care and listen. You should, however, be prepared for the answer and know where your workplace and professional support information can be found.
What should I do if someone says they are not OK?
Listen without judgement, ask how they would like to be supported and encourage an appropriate next step. Follow up after the conversation. If professional help is needed, refer to your EAP, a GP or the services on the official R U OK? Find Help page. If there is immediate danger, call 000.
Can our business use the official R U OK? logo?
Commercial organisations should review the official conditions and obtain the required approval before using R U OK? logos or brand elements. Logos must not be altered or used in a way that implies a commercial partnership or endorsement. Review the official logo conditions ↗.
Make time for the conversation
Take care of the setup—then focus on staying connected
A well-organised morning tea makes it easier for people to step away from their usual tasks and spend a little time together. Keep the catering simple, use the official resources and remember that the most valuable part of the day may be a quiet conversation that continues after the cups have been cleared away.
Mega Office Supplies is here to help Australian workplaces organise the practical details with less fuss—so teams can focus on staying connected.
