The Governance Committee ensures that the board fulfills its legal, ethical, and functional responsibilities through adequate governance policy development, recruitment strategies, training programs, monitoring of board activities, and evaluation of board members’ performance. It also assesses and analyses constitutional changes and amendments as they relate to the ongoing development of the organisation.

Members include Phillip Cornwell (Chair), Angela Emslie, Graeme Holdsworth (LEP) and Nicolas Brown.

The Policy Committee provides advice to the Suicide Prevention Australia Board, and the policy team through the CEO, on priorities, content, activities and processes for policy development and advocacy.

Current members include Stan Piperoglou, Graeme Holdsworth (LEP), James Bell, Tara Hunt, Stephen Scott, Tom Riley, Jenny Smith (LEP) and Vickianne Smith.

The Research Advisory Committee, chaired by Professor Don Nutbeam, guides the work of the National Suicide Prevention Research Fund with the support of expert researchers, service providers and people with lived experience of suicide.

Members include Professor Donald Nutbeam – Chair, Professor Myf Maple – Deputy Chair, Dr Zac Seidler, Professor Jane Pirkis, Professor David Crompton OAM, Associate Professor Fiona Shand, Dr Jaelea Skehan, Julie Robotham, Dr Jo Robinson, Dr Nikki Jamieson (LEP), and Rosiel Elwyn (LEP).

In 2024, Suicide Prevention Australia has established eight State and Territory Committees across the country. The State and Territory Committees are an evolution of the Joint Committees that were established in 2019. The establishment of separate State and Territory Committees reflects and incorporates feedback from our members to extend the reach of the suicide prevention sector into all communities across Australia.

These committees will provide an opportunity to share input from a local and community level, contribute to the national agenda and provide a clear and collective voice for suicide prevention through:

• Evidence-based guidance
• Systemic influence
• Capacity and capability building
• Organisational outreach.

If you would like to find out more about joining our State and Territory Committees, please contact membership@suidicepreventionaust.org

Listed below are the committee members in each State and Territory.