14 staff members from three communities and head office attended the forum, which was held at the Desert Park by Mental Health Association of Central Australia (MHACA).
“We witnessed the delivering of knowledge and information from expert presenters,” said Vaughn Hampton, Team Leader, Youth and Community Safety. “Staff were able to listen and see what supports and tools are available to help deal with suicide in our communities.”
The forum included presentations from Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), Tangentyere Men’s Family Safety Group (TMFSG), Life Line, 13 YARN, R U OK, and Laramba CSP.
“During the forum we discussed challenges, what works well when dealing with suicide, and brainstormed/workshopped ideas to assist us back in our communities. Our staff has gained valuable tools and knowledge from the forum, and overall it was beneficial to staff in CDRC communities,” said Vaughn.

Photo: Minette Van Wyk, Meredith Walker, Isha Deo, Nicole Pietsch (MHACA), Leontin Pawape, John Briscoe and Vaughn Hampton.