Skål Sydney October 2026: Networking Lunch with Guest Speaker Naomi Cao from Beyond Blue

October is Mental Health Month, and we are excited to welcome Naomi Cao from the Beyond Blue Speaker program as our guest speaker.

Naomi joined the Beyond Blue Speaker program in 2026 because she knows what it's like to carry things quietly and would like to change how we talk about and address mental health. She arrived in Australia as a Vietnamese refugee at 4 years old and spent years figuring out, often on her own, how to manage anxiety, seek help, and still show up.

As a pharmacist, she saw the same pattern in her patients: people willing to manage and treat their diabetes but embarrassed to treat their depression. She doesn't accept that distinction. Mental health is part of human health. Recognising the symptoms matters. Seeking appropriate treatment is paramount. We need to work harder at removing the stigma and start treating mental health the same way we treat everything else.

During the lunch, Skål Sydney President Walter Nand will also explain a project he has been working on for the past few years. Titled The Happy Depressive, Walter explains his personal struggles with depression and how, despite multiple setbacks, one can still live a happy, dynamic and fulfilling life.

A two-course lunch and welcome beverage are included with your ticket.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, 14 October 2026!

The Vibe Hotel Sydney is a short 3-minute walk from Museum Train Station. Public parking at Secure Parking is available across the road. The entrance is at the first driveway at the lights on Goulburn St, cnr of Elizabeth,