Poster Presentation National Suicide Prevention Conference 2025

Empowering the alcohol and other drugs workforce: A collaborative approach to suicide prevention. (#145)

Jo Riley 1 , Daniel Mobbs 2 , Mel Clark 2 , Clare Leslie 1
  1. COORDINARE - South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network , Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative , Fairy Meadow, NSW, Australia
  2. SafeSide Prevention, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

The Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) sector in Australia faces unique challenges in suicide prevention, with clients frequently experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Despite this, AOD-specific suicide prevention training has been lacking, leaving many workers feeling ill-equipped. This presentation showcases an innovative, collaborative approach to addressing this critical gap in our community.  

In 2020, the Collaborative, in partnership with COORDINARE - South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network (PHN), initiated a community-driven approach. The concerns raised by members with lived experience were pivotal in shaping this program. By leveraging partnerships with SafeSide Prevention, the program customised SafeSide’s evidence-based suicide prevention framework for the Australian AOD context, ensuring that it resonated with the diverse needs of our communities. 

 Key elements of the program include: 

  1. Integration of Lived Experience: Lived experience is interwoven at every stage of program design and delivery, ensuring authenticity and relevance.  
  2. Partnerships for Systemic Change: A collaborative effort among local and state-wide stakeholders, including service providers and NADA (Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies), facilitated the program’s customization, highlighting the power of collective action and shared purpose in tackling systemic barriers. 
  3. Ongoing Implementation and Evaluation: The customised program has been implemented in four organisations. Preliminary data shows increased self-efficacy across seven key suicide prevention skills, with person-centred safety planning rising from 67% to 90% and extending care from 52% to 90%. Most participants found the workshop transferable to their roles, indicating promising outcomes for Australian AOD services. 

The presentation will explore the program's development, initial findings, and influence of lived experience on its content and delivery. In keeping with the theme, Together Towards Tomorrow, this initiative illustrates how collective efforts can advance innovative solutions in suicide prevention.  

 This presentation will highlight: 

  • The collaborative process undertaken, showcasing the unique integration of Lived Experience perspectives  
  • Key lessons learned in the context of our national healthcare system 
  • Implementation and evaluation data relevant to AOD services 
  • Nuances of lived experience of suicidal distress with concurrent AOD use  
  • Systemic barriers and facilitators to improving AOD service responses  
  • Next steps for education and systemic change within the Australian healthcare landscape 

By sharing our experiences and fostering discussion, we aim to contribute to the broader conversation on innovative, collaborative approaches to suicide prevention in specialised healthcare settings across Australia. Our goal is to support the development of a more responsive and effective AOD workforce, ultimately improving outcomes for Australians at risk of suicide.