Energy is building and registrations are open for the inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Conference in Alice Springs on 5 – 6 May 2016
Every year at least 5% of all deaths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is due to suicide. This ongoing crisis is increasingly significant amongst those aged 15 to 34, where suicide is the leading cause of death, accounting for a third of all loss of life.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Evaluation Project (ATSISPEP) has been funded by the Australian government to investigate suicide prevention programs to determine what works, why, and how it can be replicated.
Incorporating a strong commitment to Indigenous governance, ATSISPEP is not just an exercise in desk top research. Listening to communities through personal consultation and Community Roundtables is essential to understanding the complexity of the problem, and the appropriateness of systematic, yet locally specific, solutions.
The culmination of this process is the Inaugural National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Conference.
Long overdue, this event will bring together experts and members of the Australian community from across the country to Alice Springs. For two days those gathered will exchange learnings, share lived experience and build knowledge about how we can best empower communities to tackle this entrenched tragedy.
Call for Papers
Thank you for your interest in presenting at a concurrent session at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Conference. Abstract submissions are now open. Sessions will be between 15 and 25 minutes and are available on both 5 and 6 May. Abstract submission deadline is 5.00pm (WST) Wednesday 23 March 2016.
Abstracts are assessed based on the following criteria:
- Experience working in the field
- Lived experience of people who are delivering programs or services in the community
- Preference will be given to presentations from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people or teams of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people
Please email Chrissie Easton, the ATSISPEP Project Coordinator an abstract on a topic you would like to present
Registration and accommodation bookings are available at http://www.atsispep.sis.uwa.edu.au/natsispc-2016
There are a limited number of bursaries available – please contact Chrissie Easton at chrissie.easton@uwa.edu.au if you need assistance to complete the application.
Please also contact Chrissie Easton if you are interested in making a presentation at the conference of up to 30 minutes.