Established in 1999 through the generous legacy of Frank Woodcock, the lecture honours his enduring vision to challenge stigma and inspire meaningful action. Join us as we continue this important tradition of insightful dialogue.

Who was Frank Woodcock?

Deeply moved by his experiences navigating his son Bruce’s mental health challenges and his tragic passing, Frank approached Wellways with a vision to dispel stigma, promote understanding, and create learning opportunities.

Frank’s personal journey, marked by his love for Bruce and the difficulties his family faced, fuelled his determination to bring meaning to his son’s life through this impactful initiative.

Following Frank’s passing in 2017, Wellways remains committed to carrying on the Woodcock legacy, ensuring his wish to raise awareness, foster support, and improve the lives of those affected by mental health challenges continues through this important annual lecture.

Each year, Wellways hosts the Woodcock Lecture to facilitate vital discussions on how we can better support individuals, their families, and carers, keeping them connected and included within their communities.

A Journey Through Key Lecture Themes

Spanning over two decades, the Annual Woodcock Public lecture has taken many names, shapes and forms. Covering a range of themes which have evolved with the most pressing topics of the times.

Early Focus (1999-2005): The importance of work

The Woodcock Lecture’s early years laid a crucial foundation (2002-2005), focusing on the significance of work for wellbeing and addressing the intertwined challenges of mental illness and stigma. The lecture also proactively emphasised understanding young people’s potential and further explored the critical role of employment, aligning with policy discussions.

Building momentum (2006-2010): Pioneering Innovation

Building on this, the lecture then pioneered innovative approaches (2006-2010), exploring models like the Crisis Intervention Team, continuing the fight against stigma, championing the revolutionary Housing First approach, and investigating leading-edge social inclusion strategies. Recognising the importance of the broader support network, the whole-of-family approach in mental health care was also a key theme.

Expanding Scope & Engagement (2011-2017): Addressing Key Challenges

The subsequent period (2011-2017) broadened the scope to encompass a wider range of critical challenges. Discussions highlighted the crucial link between physical and mental health, revisited the Housing First model, and delved into aspirational themes of living well with mental illness. The lecture also tackled pressing social issues like loneliness and explored the complexities of mental illness recovery, alongside the vital role of community inclusion.

Empowering Change & Recent Leadership (2018-Present): Driving Progress

More recently (2018-Present), the lecture has empowered change by focusing on advocacy and the impact of lived experience in shaping policy (2018), addressed contemporary challenges like lived experience in governance (2022) and humane responses to distress (2023), highlighted the crucial connection between trauma and mental health (2024), and now in 2025, centers on the fundamental principles of dignity, humanity, and human rights within mental health systems.

The Woodcock Lecture’s enduring commitment to vital conversations, challenging assumptions, and inspiring change towards a more humane mental health system has resonated with thousands over the decades, many of whom continue to shape the sector today.