The LiFE Awards (Living is for Everyone) are designed to acknowledge the extraordinary work being done throughout the country in suicide prevention and showcase dedication, innovation and leadership.
The ambition of Suicide Prevention Australia is to celebrate and amplify initiatives that are breaking new ground so that others can learn and embed best-practice suicide prevention solutions across their communities. The LiFE Awards are a vehicle for highlighting best practice across the sector so that everyone can learn from them and be able to introduce new suicide prevention solutions into their own communities.
On Monday, 4 March 2024 Suicide Prevention Australia hosted the NSW State LiFE Award at KPMG. The evening showcased the important work being done in NSW by individuals and organisations to prevent suicide and support those in need.
The evening was led by NSW State Committee Chair, Toby Dawson who alongside Board Member, Graham McLean announced the following recipients:
Communities in Action Award: Murrumbidgee Local Response Group
The Murrumbidgee Local Response Group ensures timely, coordinated and effective responses to suicide events. This is a whole-of-region approach with representation from Department of Education, community managed organisations, youth services, and others. Responses are tailored to the needs of the impacted community. Activities include social media posts, liaising with Mindframe regarding media, bereavement information sessions for community, workplaces and first responders.
Outstanding Contribution Award: Gidget Foundation Australia Founders
Gidget Foundation Australia supports the wellbeing of expectant and new parents. Following the loss of ‘Gidget’, a young mother who died by suicide as a result of perinatal depression and anxiety 22 years ago, seven of Gidget’s friends and family (the Founders) committed to supporting new parents. Although initially raising funds for existing organisations like Tresillian and Karitane, the Founders’ drive to do more resulted in the establishment of Gidget Foundation Australia. It is the largest national provider of perinatal psychological support, delivering more than 70,000 appointments and directly supporting over 6,000 families to-date.
Priority Populations Award: 13YARN, Lifeline Australia
13YARN began in March 2022. It is entirely staffed by First Nations peoples, designed and created in consultation with community (including with Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia – the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing) and self-determination that trains only First Nations staff to carry out the supports and encourages engagement in a culturally safe and appropriate manner. 13YARN is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and provides cultural connection, education and understanding back into Lifeline Australia. To 15 Dec 2023, 13YARN has responded to 41,132 calls. Direct review and feedback from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and help seekers ensures that the program remains connected and close to the help seekers engaging with the service.
Innovative Practice and Research Award: Sandersan Onie, The Hope Exchange
Sandersan Onie leads The Hope Exchange, a suicide prevention intervention that employs online search algorithms to identify people at risk of suicide and provide support. When searching suicide-specific keywords, an ad for the Hope Exchange is triggered, providing links to emergency help, video-based community stories, calming resources. 250,000 searches have led to over 3000 people seeking help. Hope Exchange can be tailored to support people across demographics worldwide, indicating an engaging, far-reaching and cost-efficient way to reach enormous numbers of people at risk of suicide. This is a new and innovative idea, harnessing artificial intelligence, knowhow of big business and commercial entities for suicide prevention.
Best Practice in Workplace Award: Healthier Illawarra Men
Healthier Illawarra Men has representation from Illawarra’s leading business identities across a range of industries. They are working together to foster better men of value and therefore a better community for the Illawarra. Healthier Illawarra Men has collaborated with Gotcha4Life and the Raising the Bar Foundation to deliver suicide prevention campaigns in the Illawarra. They empower men to make positive choices for their physical and mental health to lead healthier lives.
Suicide Prevention Australia would like to thank all those who submitted a nomination for the awards. We recognise that through our collective efforts, we are stronger together in preventing suicide.
We would also like to extend a special thank you to our probono partner, KPGM who hosted the event at their Sydney offices, we greatly value their support.
Recipients of the NSW State LiFE Award automatically progress into the running of the National LiFE Award which will be held during the 25th National Suicide Prevention Conference, 30 April to 2 May 2024 in Adelaide, South Australia.
For more information about the LiFE Awards, click here.
