Call for Comment on SPA's New Position Statement on Rural Suicide
27th June 2008
Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) occasionally publishes position statements on priority areas of suicide and self-harm prevention and postvention in Australia. These position statements are devised as foundation documents to provide a basis for understanding, discussion, teaching, delivery and research. Position statements support SPA’s ongoing advocacy work and activities, and broader social agenda.
To date, SPA has produced position statements on the following critical issues of importance:
- Suicide Prevention and Capacity Building in Australian Indigenous Communities; and
- Men and Suicide—Future Directions.
The next position statement due for publication is Responding to suicide in rural Australia.
A Reference Group consisting of key stakeholder representation has collectively and collaboratively identified and contributed specialist knowledge on emerging issues, challenges and opportunities related to rural suicide prevention strategies.
The results of these discussions have been reflected in an initial draft position statement, which has received preliminary SPA Board approval.
SPA is now inviting public comment on this document, through a process of community consultation, prior to final consideration, amendment and approval by the SPA Board and the subsequent release of the position statement to the public and the media.
It is important to note that while all feedback received in the course of consultation will importantly inform the development of the draft, SPA cannot guarantee that all contributions will be incorporated into the final position statement. Determination of approved SPA policy positions ultimately remains the authority of the SPA Board.
However, we hope that the community consultation process will adequately reflect the diversity of interests and challenges faced in reducing the rates of suicide and self-harm in rural Australia, while balancing these issues appropriately against SPA's own policy positions and recommendations for action and change.
The deadline for comments on SPA’s draft position statement is Wednesday 16 July 2008.
If you would like to review a copy of the draft position statement for comment, please contact the SPA office on (02) 9568 3111 or via email: ryan@suicidepreventionaust.org
Queensland Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Conference 2008
27th June 2008
The 2008 Queensland Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Conference will be held in Cairns from July 23th-25th 2008.
Below is a call for registration and abstracts for the conference.
Please click on the link below for a downloadable version.
Registration and Call for Abstracts
2008 LIFE Awards Nominations Open!!!
10th June 2008
The LIFE Awards are open for nomination today, September 10th.
Please click here to be taken to the online nomination form.
Please click here for a downloadable version of this form.
BOWLING FUNDRAISER A HUGE SUCESS!!!
15th April 2008
On the 7th March the Sharlene Vanden Bergh Barefoot Bowling Challenge took place at the Terrigal Country Club.
People from all walks of life came along to support the day including many sporting celebrities from “young guns” to some of the elite legends of the game including Parramatta NRL great, Peter Sterling, Balmain NRL legend Paul Sironen and Steve Roach and Manly NRL captain, Matt Orford. WBF World title holer Jamie Pittman also made a late entrance to present an auction item.
With the aim of the day to raise funds to help promote public awareness of the issue of suicide in the hope to prevent this tragic problem, an amazing figure of over $36,000 was reached over the day.
The day consisted of lawn bowls, raffles and the much anticipated auction of some high quality items from sporting memorabilia to computers and even holidays away.
Overall the day was a fantastic success and Suicide Prevention Australia would like to thank Damien Vanden Bergh, Anthony Vanden Bergh, Steve Dawson and their team and all those who attended and gave their time to the day and donated generously to the cause.
Anthony Vanden Bergh courageously spoke to the crowd of over 200 people about his own loss, grief and the need for greater community awareness. Anthony Smith, NSW State Delegate and member of the Suicide Safety Network (Central Coast) spoke on behalf of the SPA board.
The funds raised aid substantially in Suicide Prevention Australia’s mission to make publically aware the issue of suicide and help reduce rates in Australia.
This was an amazing example of a community mobilised by a tragic circumstance.
The boys are talking about holding another one next year, so keep your eyes and ears peeled!!!
Please click here to see some photos from the day
THANKYOU
SPA launches new POSITION STATEMENTS!!!
14th April 2008
Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) occasionally publishes position statements on priority areas of suicide and self-harm prevention and postvention in Australia.
These position statements are devised as foundation documents to provide a basis for understanding, discussion, teaching, delivery and research. Position statements support SPA’s ongoing advocacy work and activities.
SPA position statements are developed in close consultation with community and specialist reference groups and are ratified by the SPA Board. They are reviewed annually with the intention of being reaffirmed, revised or retired (in which case, they are subsequently removed from the SPA website).
In clearly articulating SPA’s position on priority areas of suicide prevention and postvention, the position statements propose specific recommendations for both action and change and ‘best practice’ strategy development and implementation (the adoption of which SPA continually monitors through its own advocacy activities and networks).
Reproduction of content from any of SPA’s position statements, in part or whole, is not permitted without first seeking authorisation from SPA.
Requests to reprint or reference content may be submitted to SPA’s Executive Officer via: Suicide Prevention Australia
PO Box 729 Leichhardt NSW 2040
Ph: + 61 2 9568 3111
Email: info@suicidepreventionaust.org
Mens Position Statement
Indigenous Position Statement
Media Release
Living Is For Everyone (LIFE) Framework
31st March 2008
Resources will be coming soon!!!
12th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour
10th March 2008
The European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour - Working Together to Prevent Suicide: Research, Policy and Practice will be held in Glasgow, Scotland from the 27th-30th August 2008.
For more information please click here.
SPA Members and Stakeholders Survey
10th March 2008
ConNetica Consulting Pty Ltd has been engaged by Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA), with the support of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, to undertake an independent evaluation of SPA’s achievements against the objectives from the SPA Strategic Business Plan 2005 - 2008. (ending 30 June 2008)
The evaluation includes a review of the governance and management structures and processes of the organisation. An important dimension of the review, in terms of SPA’s future role, will involve determining how SPA’s objectives will need to change to complement the revised Living is for Everyone - A Framework for Prevention of Suicide in Australia.
A full outline of the Evaluation Project Scope is available from the SPA website (www.suicidepreventionaust.org.au). An overview of SPA – SPA at a Glance - is included at the end of this questionnaire.
As part of the evaluation, interviews and/or questionnaires are being conducted with stakeholders to ascertain their views and perspectives. You have been identified as a stakeholder and you are invited to complete the questionnaire below. Participation is voluntary. It should take approximately 15 minutes.
All responses are strictly confidential and only the investigator named here and staff at ConNetica Consulting will have access to the data. A report from the evaluation will be prepared but individual participants or organisations will not be identified.
The questionnaire will need to be completed by Wednesday 26 March 2008.
Please click here to be taken straight to the survey.
World Suicide Prevention Day 2007 - Report Posted
23rd January 2007
World Suicide Prevention Day 2007 was a great success this year with SPA hosting two events in Melbourne, The LiFe Awards and an inaugrial Community Forum.
Please click here to view more information including the report of these activities.
The 3rd Asia Pacific Regional Conference of Suicide Prevention - Hong Kong 2008
30th November 2007
The 3rd Asia Pacific Regional Conference of Suicide Prevention "Suicide research and prevention in time of rapid change in Asia - Opportunities and challenges" has been announced.
The dates are 31 October – 3 November 2008.
More information will be available closer to the date.
IASP XXV World Congress on Suicide Prevention - Montevideo - Uruguay 2009
15th October 2008
In 2009, The IASP will be holding the XXV World Congress on Suicide Prevention in Montevideo - Uruguay.
Please click here for more information
Salvation Army National Post-vention Conference - Final report
11th October 2007
In May of 2007, The Salvation Army held the National Pos-vention Conference in Sydney.
Download the final report, conference program and a copy of Dr Sheila Clarke's opening speech "Remembering our past, revisioning our future" from the download links below.
Dr Sheila Clarke's Opening Speech
Final Report
Conference Program
SPA and AISRAP win bid for 2010 IASP International Conference
3rd October 2007
Some exciting news as SPA and AISRAP (Australian Institute of Suicide Research and Prevention) have won a joint bid to host the Asia-Pacific International Conference in 2010.
The conference is to be held in Brisbane.
Details to be confirmed closer to the date.