The Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP) is Australia’s leading voice on Indigenous suicide and promotes evidence-based suicide prevention practice that empowers individuals, families and communities and respects their culture.
A wide range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations across the nation, including international Indigenous speakers, came together to connect and share in addressing Indigenous suicide prevention, and engaged with other service providers to discuss working collectively towards the healing and empowerment of our peoples and young people.
A Healing Hub was also a major component of the Forum where attendees could retreat for cultural healing sessions and access counsellors if required.
The wealth of knowledge shared at the Forum was of great value and provided opportunities to celebrate programs and work underway. It was also of benefit to aid further development of programs that are being established and being delivered within our communities but also enable growth within the suicide prevention space.
“The youth are our trailblazers. We have incredible programs and examples of this like Culture is Life’s programs. I think our youth will be confident, culturally grounded and community oriented. I’m feeling optimistic about the future.” – Professor Pat Dudgeon AM FAHMS (Bardi)
To highlight the importance of the Forum, the CBPATSISP filmed a series of interviews portraying individual perspectives and insights. These came from a diversity of people and organisations.
On the 5th of March 2024, a panelist of local Elders and Elders that contributed to the Suicide Prevention Forum (ISP Forum) report were invited to speak at the Indigenous Suicide Prevention Forum on in Albert Park, Naarm (Melbourne).
Culture is Life hoped this to be an opportunity for the knowledge and experience of Elders to he heard in the forum’s purpose on addressing self-harm and suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.
Elders had the opportunity to speak to potential causes of increasing rates of self-harm and youth suicide and what solutions should be implemented to address these causes. In addition to discussing the outcomes and progress made since the publication of the Elders’ Report into Preventing Indigenous Self-harm & Youth Suicide.
“Being on Country is the best for our own healing. And to be with Elders and respected people. That’s our journey to healing.” – Professor Gracelyn Smallwood AM (Biri)
Pictured: Uncle Keith Boney, Professor Pat Dudgeon (Culture is Life Co-Chair), Professor Gracelyn Smallwood (Forum Elder), Aunty Stephanie Armstrong (Culture is Life Senior Consultant) and Manny Williams (Fullaship Program 2022).
Fullaship Program alumni Manny Williams (Kalkadoon, Pitta Pitta and Bundjalung) moderated a yarn with a panel of Elders at the Indigenous Suicide Prevention Forum 2024 on BoonWurrung Country. Professor Gracelyn Smallwood (Forum Elder), Professor Pat Dudgeon (Culture is Life Co-Chair), Aunty Stephanie Armstrong (Culture is Life Senior consultant) and Uncle Keith Boney shared their perspectives and lived experience on suicide prevention.
Elders were asked questions from the Elders Report into Suicide Prevention & Self Harm (2018) including why are we experiencing high rates or suicide in our communities and what are the solutions?
The panel shared strong themes are the importance of Country for healing. Prof Pat A question from the audience was “How do we heal a broken spirit?” Aunty Steff responded with the importance of connection to Country and mob. And proposed for the delegates ‘I wonder if we’ve forgotten about how to listen to Country? I’d like to see more work on that.’
Aunty Pat Dudgeon AM FAHMS reflected as a Bardi woman living on Noongar Country the places she finds healing, a reminder we have access to the healing powers of Country everywhere.
Culture is Life recognises the strong stand that so many Elders have for our young mob. We appreciate the ongoing work of the Elders for their work in the socio-emotional wellbeing of young people.
Panel: Caring for Country as an integral aspect of improving mental health outcomes for young people.
Culture is Life presented a the “Caring for Country as an integral aspect of improving health outcomes for young people’ panel as part of the Forum, with a panel of young people addressing the impact of environmental degradation and climate change on the mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to ensure productive outcomes from the UN’s finding that Australia failed to adequately protect Indigenous Torres Islanders against climate change impacts.
The panel included Manny Williams (2022 Fullaship Program), Donny Imberlong (2022 Fullaship Program), Ky-ya Nicholson Ward (Artist), Laniyuk (Writer and Activist) and was hosted by Culture is Life, Program Officer, Madeline Wells.
“Get yourself well, coz it’s a marathon. We just opened the doors and you’s have 40 more years of work.’ – Aunty Stephanie Armstrong (Gamilaraay)
