Suicide Aware

We design evidence-informed toolkits to increase staff safety, organisational sustainability and positive client outcomes.

Suicide Aware addresses the legislative requirements for psychosocial safety relevant to a range of workplaces, including:

• First responders
• Banking and financial services
• Community mental health
• Primary and tertiary health care
• Funeral and mortuary services
• Food and emergency relief services
• Homelessness services
• Drug and alcohol services.

Address workplace hazards and risks

Staff and volunteers in frontline roles and those working with suicide and sudden loss are at risk of emotional burnout, vicarious trauma and suicidal thoughts.

These risks may result in extended staff leave, reduced performance, high staff turnover, compensation or legal claims and poorer client outcomes.

Suicide Aware addresses these challenges and improves organisational preparedness, practice and supports.

Staff working with high-risk populations may have an increased exposure to the impacts of suicide. These include stigma, shame, isolation and guilt, together with an increased risk of suicide. Australian Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) legislation requires that workplaces mitigatethese ‘psychosocial hazards’.

Suicide Aware is the first evidenced-based Australian workplace postvention programto address WHS requirements by assisting workplaces and staff to work safely with the impact of suicide. The program integrates academic evaluation, the principles of collaborative design and the lived experience of staff in commercial, government and not for profit sectors.

Suicide Aware uses a three-phase approach to best fit your organisational context and needs:

Suicide Aware Program

Suicide Aware offers support with postvention governance, training, resources and integration.

Select one or multiple components of the Suicide Aware Toolkit:

• Staff induction
• Governance and practice frameworks
• Staff supports – peer and supervisory models
• Evidenced-based training and professional development
• Communication and cultural development
• Workflow adjustments
• Bespoke staff and client resources
• Localised referral networks and supports
• Implementation and evaluation tools

Best Practice Postvention

Suicide Aware is informed by university research on our bespoke training packages and established Australian frameworks, including:

• Postvention Australia
• Suicide Prevention Australia: A Competency Framework
• The National Mental Health Commission: Blueprint for Mentally Healthy Workplaces
• WA Government Code of Practice – (Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace)
• Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2023-2033