Blog
❤️🩹 How to Choose the Right EAP Provider for Your Organisation
Surviving to Thriving: Supporting Mental Health in the Regional Arts & Gallery Sector
At Hey Mate, we believe that thriving creative communities start with mentally healthy workplaces. That’s why we were thrilled to present at the 2025 RPG Conference: Creative Wellbeing, sharing tools and insights around mental health, psychosocial safety, and boundaries in the arts, galleries, and museums sector — with a strong focus on the regional arts workforce.
🎭 What Is an EAP and Why Does It Matter for the Creative Industries?
If you’ve ever heard the term “EAP” and thought, “That sounds... corporate,” you’re not alone.
But Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) aren’t just for shiny high-rise offices or people who say “circle back” in meetings. When done well, EAPs are powerful tools for mental health, wellbeing, and sustainability in the creative industries — and they might be exactly what your team, collective, or organisation needs.
Hey Mate vs Other EAP Providers
Australia has no shortage of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Many are big, clinical, and built for the corporate world. Which is fine — if you’re a bank or a government agency.
But if you’re a music festival, theatre company, social enterprise, or creative freelancer? That’s where Hey Mate comes in.
Supporting Theatre Wellbeing: Hey Mate x Shake & Stir 🎭
Hey Mate x Museum of Brisbane: Leading the Way in Wellbeing for Cultural Workers
We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Museum of Brisbane, a collaboration that puts mental health and wellbeing at the heart of the cultural sector. 🎨🏛️
This partnership, which began earlier this year, is a powerful step in ensuring that museum and gallery professionals have access to the support they need to navigate the unique challenges of their industry. It’s no secret that the arts sector is full of passionate, dedicated individuals—but passion alone isn’t enough to sustain a healthy career. Workplace wellbeing is essential.
You’re Burnt Out. Now What?
Burnout in the creative industries is real—long hours, tight deadlines, and the pressure to always be “on” can leave you feeling exhausted, uninspired, and emotionally drained. But what happens when rest isn’t enough, and the passion you once had feels out of reach?
In this post, we’ll explore how to recognise burnout, break the cycle of overwork, and rebuild with restorative practices. You’ll also find practical strategies for recovery, plus resources from Hey Mate, Support Act, Arts Wellbeing Collective, and Mind Australia to help you navigate burnout and protect your long-term wellbeing.
Burnout isn’t failure—it’s a signal that something needs to change. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, now is the time to step back, reset, and find a way forward that sustains both your creativity and your mental health.
