National and State-Wide Implementation of Indigenous Suicide First Aid Training in Regional and Rural Australia
Tracks
Room - Stanley C
| Friday, November 10, 2023 |
| 8:55 AM - 9:15 AM |
Overview
Tegan Schefe, LivingWorks Australia
Speaker
Tegan Schefe
National Indigenous Training Manager
LivingWorks Australia
National And State-Wide Implementation of Indigenous Suicide First Aid Training in Regional and Rural Australia
Abstract
Tegan Schefe, a proud Bidjara woman and the National Indigenous Training Manager for LivingWorks Australia, will provide an overview of the introduction and development of an Australian Indigenous-led evidence-based suicide intervention skills training program for Indigenous communities.
Developed under the leadership of Professor Maree Toombs at the University of Queensland, this presentation will provide a breakdown of the co-design and evaluation process of the half-day suicide alert SafeYARN program and the two-day suicide first aid program (I-ASIST), and the challenges faced in creating culturally appropriate training.
It will outline the development of a cultural protocol that could be used for Indigenous communities globally in suicide prevention. This presentation will also touch on how these programs meet the requirements of Closing the Gap, their implementation into state and national policy and the opportunities and challenges for ensuring culturally appropriate dissemination.
Developed under the leadership of Professor Maree Toombs at the University of Queensland, this presentation will provide a breakdown of the co-design and evaluation process of the half-day suicide alert SafeYARN program and the two-day suicide first aid program (I-ASIST), and the challenges faced in creating culturally appropriate training.
It will outline the development of a cultural protocol that could be used for Indigenous communities globally in suicide prevention. This presentation will also touch on how these programs meet the requirements of Closing the Gap, their implementation into state and national policy and the opportunities and challenges for ensuring culturally appropriate dissemination.
Biography
Tegan is a Bidjara and Kamilaroi woman from Charleville, Southwest Queensland who has a background in Community Primary Health Care and has extensive experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through project development and management. Prior to joining LivingWorks Australia, Tegan worked for the University of Sunshine Coast’s Thompson Institute and Thirrili Ltd for their Indigenous Suicide Postvention Services. Tegan’s engagement with community lead to the development of a First Nations Suicide Prevention program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the Sunshine Coast. She is passionate about best practice protocols and advocates for finding effective and sustainable suicide prevention, intervention and postvention strategies through consultation with the community they aim to benefit. As Training Manager for Indigenous Suicide Prevention at LivingWorks Australia, Tegan provides oversight for training implementation and assists with recruiting, onboarding and ongoing development of Indigenous trainers.
