Drive Against Depression wraps 2025 with Brisbane cruise

Drive Against Depression (DAD) Australia closes out 2025 with its 10th event of the year on Sunday, December 7, 2025, in a relaxed Queensland cruise. DAD’s team has collaborated with some folks at Ford Australia to plan a curated drive route through Brisbane’s roads.

The event is called “2025 Brisbane Summer Drive Day,” and it is DAD’s second Queensland event of 2025. Learn about the December 7 event’s itinerary and steps to participate in the event.

Drive Against Depression (DAD) December 7 event details

Participants gather at Sunshine Ford from 8:00 am, where the dealership team hosts a barbecue breakfast. The participant briefing begins at 9:00 am, covering the drive route, safety protocols, and the day’s broader purpose. Departure follows at 9:30 am.

The specific route details are also distributed to registered participants before the event. Participants will use the Tourboss event management app that handles navigation and participant coordination.

Wynnum Ambulance Service, which is the endpoint, provides unique insight into mental health crisis response and a tour of their automotive collection. A Queensland Ambulance Service representative will address how mental health calls are handled when someone reaches out to them, and then the lunch follows.

Uniden returns as a supporter for the third DAD event, donating a dashcam as the raffle prize. Finally, an expert from Talked, an online therapy platform and DAD’s therapy partner for this event, will address the participants.

How to participate in this event?

Interested participants should register through DAD’s website, where a registration form captures necessary details for event planning and safety management. Registered participants receive the full drive route pack and event details via email well before the event. 

Those interested in supporting DAD beyond participation can support their mission through donations via the organisation’s website. All donations are tax-deductible.

Who can attend? 

The simple answer is anyone who loves cars and wants to participate in an automotive community event that prioritises warm, mental health conversations. These could be people struggling with mental health, people supporting others, automotive enthusiasts, folks interested in mental health awareness events, and anyone else.

Apart from that, participants must obviously hold valid driver’s licenses for the vehicles they’re operating. For detailed terms and conditions, you can read this document.

Mission of DAD (Drive Against Depression) Australia

Drive Against Depression operates on a simple but profound premise, which is, shared automotive enthusiasm creates non-confrontational environments where people feel comfortable discussing mental health struggles that formal clinical settings or direct confrontation might prevent them from addressing.

The Drive Against Depression website says, “There’s a 60% increase in people seeking professional help after starting a conversation about their mental health. That’s why Drive Against Depression exists.”

DAD is a community rather than a club, and there are no membership requirements, no minimum car standards, no hierarchy or exclusivity. If you love your car, you belong.

Looking at the bigger picture

DAD’s (Drive Against Depression) approach does not substitute for professional mental health services. Instead, it serves as a bridge, helping individuals identify their struggles, providing community support during this recognition, and presenting clear routes to professional help when needed.

DAD’s messaging around this event explicitly acknowledges mixed emotions: “This time of year brings a mix of feelings and experiences—from excitement and anticipation to worry and sadness, and plenty more in between.”

If you or someone you know needs support, contact:

Lifeline (24/7 crisis support): 13 11 14

Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

Emergency: 000