Creative, media and marketing industry burnout to be addressed at inaugural Lifeline Narrm summit in Melbourne, 3rd – 4th March 2026

Leading social psychologist Dr Amy Cuddy, renowned tennis star Jelena Dokic, global wellness pioneer Deepak Chopra MD and Hugh van Cuylenburg, founder of The Resilience Project and co-host of The Imperfects podcast, will bring their insights on mental health, leadership and resilience to address escalating issues of burnout and workplace anxiety at an inaugural conference presented by Lifeline Narrm in Melbourne next year.

Titled InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit, the two-day conference on 3rd-4th March 2026 will be held in Melbourne and feature Australian and international speakers who will provide strategies and practical tips for leaders to take urgent action. Proceeds from each ticket will go towards supporting Lifeline Narrm’s 24/7 crisis services, community education and suicide prevention initiatives across Victoria – a state which is seeing rising demand.

According to the Mentally Healthy Survey 2024, 70% of respondents in the creative, media and marketing industry claimed to have experienced burnout over a 12 month period – most common among younger media professionals under the age of 30. The industry is recorded to experience higher rates of anxiety – 29% more than the national average, with 18% showing signs of severe stress.

Alarmingly, 51% of leaders said that they were not aware of their obligations under the new psychosocial hazard legislation in Australia.

As part of their commitment to workplace safety, senior Australian leaders across government, Defence and industry – including Christine Holgate, Chief Executive of Team Global Express, Jacqui Curtis, Chief Operating Office, Australian Taxation Office (ATO), and David Hazlehurst, Chief Executive Officer, Services Australia will explore the intersection of individual responsibility, organisational governance, policy and culture – and what leaders must do differently to meet new psychosocial safety expectations.

Sessions will explore the actions needing to be taken by Australian employees to address the burnout epidemic, exploring what systems and individuals can do to bring about change. Along with sharing lived experiences, experts will highlight how the creative, media and marketing industry can re-shape their workplace culture and expectations.

Bestselling author and Harvard teaching award winner Dr. Amy Cuddy, whose TED Talk has been viewed over 75 million times, will address the burnout epidemic to support leaders in taking charge.

“Burnout isn’t a personal failure — it’s an epidemic. We’ve built systems that reward overextension and call it ambition. When workplace cultures normalise exhaustion, we all suffer — but healthier cultures can change that story. If we want sustainable performance, we need strategies that ease the stress and anxiety of high-pressure environments. At the InterEdge Summit, I’ll be sharing practical techniques to support leaders and the communities around them,” said Dr. Cuddy.

Carrie Leeson, Chief Executive Officer of Lifeline Narrm said that it was never more important to take urgent action.

“Every workplace has the power to save lives. Having profiles such as Dr Deepak Chopra, Dr Amy Cuddy and Jelena Dokic share their insights at the InterEdge Summit is an incredible opportunity to turn global insights into action here in Australia. If leaders prioritise psychological safety, we can prevent burnout, stop preventable tragedies and create cultures where people thrive. The ripple effects reach beyond offices into families, communities and the wider society.”

Event Information:
InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit presented by Lifeline Narrm
3-4 March 2026, Centrepiece, Melbourne Park, Victoria
Details: www.interedgesummit.com.au

Crisis Support:
If you or someone you know needs support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au

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