Barristers at every level of practice are encouraged by the Hearsay editorial team to read the article below.  Not only does it inform, and remind, barristers as to the vicissitudes of practice at the Bar – some days you win and some days you lose, and sometimes the losses can be more prevalent – but also of the need to seek help from within and outside the Bar when you can no longer cope and the future seems dark;  notwithstanding a successful practice. Members – including judicial members –  are reminded that your Bar Association of Queensland, under the BarCare scheme, provides free and confidential counselling services with psychologists and psychiatrists of your choice.  To avail of same click here: https://qldbar.asn.au/baq-cms/bar-care

In addition the Association’s panel of Ethics Counsellors – of which the Editor is the chair – is available to provide not just ethical assistance, but also general practice assistance and counselling – all confidential – to Association members who require it:  To avail of same click here: https://qldbar.asn.au/baq-cms/ethics-professional-conduct

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The Honourable Justice O’Meara delivered this powerful and inspiring speech at the Victorian Bar Readers’ Dinner in Melbourne on 18 May 2023, highlighting the importance of mental health.

Hearsay has permission from his Honour to reproduce his paper.