The Department of Education was honoured to welcome Emma McKeon AM to talk with staff, in her role as 2024 Young Australian of the Year and Australia’s most successful Olympian.
The department’s Office for Youth, set up to connect young people and government to help shape policies and programs, sponsors the Young Australian of the Year Awards.
We caught up with Emma and discussed her techniques for goal setting and managing her mental health to help her achieve her dreams.
Q: What does it mean to you to be Young Australian of the Year?
Emma: It’s a huge privilege. I hope that I can use what I’ve done to inspire other young people, not just in sport, but in going after your goals and dreams. It’s a huge honour.
Q: Do you have any advice to others around mental health?
Emma: It’s probably checking in with yourself regularly. Sometimes things can get away from you without you realising and I think it’s important to check in and see where you’re at.
One thing with social media that I have learnt is it’s like leaving the front door of your house open for anyone to come in at any moment. And it could be positive, it could be negative. It could just be something that affects me in a certain way, so I don’t want to I risk that at certain times. And that’s not just in race week either. Sometimes I’ll just switch it off.
Q: What are your techniques for managing mental health?
Emma: I guess with the lows and the disappointments, it’s allowing yourself to feel disappointed. It’s because you care about what you’re doing. I try and set a time of I’m going to be disappointed for this amount of time, but then look at what I can improve on and how I can change that for next time. And I think having that kind of mindset of I’m going to try again, it’s not the end – I guess that helps with the positive mindset of moving on and moving forward.
Q: Why is goal setting so important?
Emma: I think it’s important to set goals. And the goals change over time. I had this big goal, this big dream that I wanted to do, but it seemed so far away, especially when you’re young. So, it becomes overwhelming, or you just go I won’t do it, or I can’t do it.
But you have to bring it back to what you are doing today or what are you doing this month, this week that’s going to help you get there eventually. And from day to day and session to session I’ll have three different things. I’ll have a point that I’m going to focus on in that session, then I will write down what I did well, and what I can improve on for next time.
Q: What advice do you have for people about pursuing dreams and goals?
Emma: I’d probably say that the setbacks and the failures and when you get knocked down, that’s all part of it. You need to have those to then progress to a new level and learn from it so that you can keep moving forward. Also, that doubts are part of it too. I have never stood behind the blocks and been clear of doubt, so they’re all completely normal.
I think those uncomfortable feelings of doubt or failing that can deter people from their goals and dreams, I think it’s just realising that you’re going to face those things, and they will help build your character for the next level.
Photo courtesy of the National Australia Day Council