The Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP)

aims to reduce the causes, prevalence and impact of suicide on Indigenous individuals, families and
communities. A focus on at risk groups, by identifying, translating and promoting the adoption or
adaption of best practice in Indigenous specific suicide prevention activity, including that which is
found in emerging national and international research.

Our Vision

Best practice is viewed through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community lens.

With the highest degree of proven effectiveness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
community/cultural contexts

With transferability across urban, rural and remote settings, and Identified by high quality
research/evaluations.

Our Aims

Identifying the need for and facilitating, innovative new research (including evaluations of unevaluated
activity) to support the further identification of Indigenous best practice.

 Assessing best practice by Primary Health Networks (PHNs) in planning and commissioning
Indigenous suicide prevention activities.
 Working to translate best practice for application in Indigenous communities, community
organisations, and by PHNs. This includes developing accessible and appropriate guidance
and resource materials.
 Developing an Indigenous-specific adaptation of the systems approach (e.g: European Alliance
Against Depression model) to suicide prevention, based on identified best practice and aligned
with the current overarching approach.
 Proactively promoting and disseminating best practice research to ensure accessibility for all
stakeholders. Such dissemination includes establishing a research/evaluation directory
(clearinghouse). This would include the above being accessible through a website developed in
consultation and with technical support from the Australian Indigenous Health InfoNet. National
conferences would also enable effective promotion and dissemination of relevant research.
Further, the creation of a responsive education/guidance program tailored to stakeholder
needs.

This includes:

o A best practice in Indigenous suicide prevention education program delivered to PHNs,

with follow up over the life of the program.
o A complementary education best practice program and resources specifically for
Indigenous communities and organisations to help them work effectively with PHNs.
o A best practice email advisory service for communities, community organisations and
PHNs.