RISE2025. The weight of an industry

A few weeks ago I headed down to the RISE Conference in Sydney to do something we don’t often get time for in this industry:

Slow down and talk about what’s really going on.

Not just the numbers.

Not just the market.

The human stuff.

The stuff behind the performance.

The weight that so many of us carry quietly.

The RISE Initiative was founded in 2019 by Chris Hanley, with the support of a group of passionate industry leaders. Since then, people like John Cunningham, Nick West of Nelson Alexander, and many others behind the scenes have carried the vision forward, with one shared goal: to create a healthier, more sustainable real estate industry.

One that prioritises the mental health and wellbeing of its people.

This year, the event welcomed a new CEO, Steve Carroll; someone I’ve been lucky to know personally, and someone who brings a real care for people to everything he does.

RISE isn’t about hype.

It’s not a motivational session dressed up in sales talk.
It’s real stories, real stats, and real conversations about what this job can take from you when no one’s watching.

Because here’s the truth that so many of us are afraid to admit:

A lot of people in this industry are struggling.

And most are doing it in silence.

The pressure to perform.
The constant client demands.
The way success is measured in volume, not in sustainability.
The unrealistic standards held up by people selling the dream on social media.

It adds up.

Sales agents are under pressure.

And not just market shifts or performance targets.

Because behind every campaign is a person, often several, going through something big.

Sometimes it’s a death.
A vendor who can no longer afford to keep the family home.

Other times it’s a divorce.
Where emotions run high and every decision is laced with tension.

It might be an adult child trying to sell a parent’s home after they’ve passed.

Or just a growing family trying to take their next step.
One that felt more possible thirty years ago.

Before the gap between where you are and where you want to be got so wide.

We’re expected to carry all of that.

To keep it professional.

To deliver the result.

To be available and composed, even when things feel like they’re falling apart.

It’s not just about listings and commissions.

It’s about people.

And that comes with its own kind of weight.

Support staff feel it too.

Marketing.
Admin.
Accounts.
Trades.

All the people who keep the machine running.

They’re often under-resourced, under-appreciated, and expected to deliver with precision in an industry that rarely slows down.

And then there are property managers.
Often the most affected of all.

They’re caught in the middle.

Tenants on one side.

Landlords on the other.

Both can be emotional, frustrated, or outright aggressive.
Many times, understandably.

But the property manager is expected to stay calm.
Fix everything.
Absorb the energy.

All while receiving little psychological training, minimal support, and almost no time to breathe.

This industry is stressful.

And it’s one that’s often demonised by the public.

Sometimes for good reason, but more often, in my opinion, because of the challenging conditions we’re operating in.

We’re working in a system that’s bursting at the seams.

We don’t have enough housing in the country for the number of people who live here.

We need more builds.

We need better zoning laws.

We need meaningful reform.

And yet, none of those things are within our control.

We’re the ones on the frontline, but we didn’t build the battlefield.

So we bear the brunt of it.

That’s the reality.

And that’s why events like RISE matter.

We heard stories at the event that were hard to hear. But important.

Because this is what burnout really looks like.

It’s not a vibe.

It’s not a badge of honour.

It’s not something we should ever glorify.

And if we keep telling people that being stretched to breaking point is just part of the job, we’re going to keep losing good people.

One of the most impactful moments was hearing from behavioural scientist Milo Wilkinson.

She spoke about how the brain processes loss.
About our need for certainty; and how, when we don’t have it, we default to fight or flight.

It really landed.

Because in real estate, uncertainty is part of the daily rhythm.

Where’s the next listing coming from?

Will this deal fall over?
How can I find these tenants another property?

Can I support my team when I’m barely holding it together myself?

Without tools, that pressure becomes chronic.

And chronic pressure becomes illness.

There are tools out there.

The RealCare app is one of them.

Domain’s offer of multiple fully funded therapy sessions for anyone in the industry is another.

But they only work if people know they exist.

And if we feel safe enough to use them.

Because what this really comes down to is culture.

We can’t keep building careers on the back of people who are barely holding it together.

We need leaders who lead with empathy. Not ego.

We need workplaces that value people. Not just performance.

And we need to normalise looking after ourselves so we can show up better for the people we’re here to help.

Ultimately, this job is about helping people through life’s biggest transitions.

Buying a home.
Selling one.

Navigating loss.
Starting again after divorce.

Downsizing.
Dealing with a deceased estate.

These are emotional moments.

People need support.
Not pressure.

And the only way we can support them well?

Is if we support ourselves first.

RISE reminded me of that.

Not with hype.
Not with noise.

But with real conversations from people who care.

The kind of conversations that change things.

One small step at a time.

I want to give a heartfelt thank you to the entire team behind the RISE Initiative.
Your commitment to creating space for these conversations is making a real difference.

To the event organisers, support staff, hosts, and every speaker who stood up and shared something honest: thank you.

To Clint Ranse, your work behind the lens let the rest of us stay present, and we’re grateful for it.

And to everyone who attended:

Most of you I’ve never met.
Many of you I probably never will.

But seeing a room that full, for a cause like this, gives me real hope.

There are so many strong, thoughtful leaders in this industry who genuinely care about how we can do better.

For ourselves.

For our teams.

And for the people we serve.

Because this stuff matters.

And I’m grateful to have been part of it.

If you work in the industry in any capacity, I’d highly recommend downloading the RealCare app.

And if you’d like to learn more about Domain’s offer of three fully funded counselling sessions, you can find the details below.

Download the RealCare App.

Domain’s fully funded Employee Assistance Program.