Learn More About Make Your Mark

In 2007 Lifeline Australia conducted research to determine the use of Lifeline’s 13 11 14 telephone counseling service by Indigenous Australians. This research suggested that access to services was a major issue in many Indigenous Communities, particularly those in remote and regional areas, and that greater awareness of Lifeline and its services was needed.

In response to this research Lifeline launched the “Indigenous Lifeline Caller Statistics” calls profile in 2008 and announced that Lifeline Australia would pursue funding to improve Lifeline’s services for Indigenous Australians.

Lifeline’s Make Your Mark Campaign has been established in response to this research and gives Lifeline Australia the opportunity to highlight the importance of Indigenous emotional wellbeing, with a particular focus on suicide prevention.

The funds raised from this campaign will be used to support suicide awareness and prevention activities within “at risk” communities, as part of Lifeline’s Indigenous Outreach Program. The program will support specifically identified remote and regional Indigenous communities through service delivery and the dissemination of information and self help resources. The need for such programs will be determined on a community needs basis – identified by a community assessment and engagement process.

Proposed programs may involve the delivery of suicide awareness training (such as a modified Indigenous specific LivingWork’s safeTALK program), as well as suicide-related support services (such as a suicide bereavement support service tailored to an Indigenous context). The Lifeline Indigenous Outreach Program will work in partnership with Lifeline Centers and local services to ensure that programs delivered are driven by local needs.

Further driving the need for Lifeline to launch this campaign is the rate of death by suicide which is up to 40% higher for Indigenous Australians according to Living is for Everyone, (2008). More significantly this figure cannot easily be determined due to a number of limitations on reporting, and general incorrect or under-reporting of suicides in Australia.

There is also debate about the factors contributing to Indigenous suicide, however Indigenous Australian’s are often exposed to a number of heightened mental health stressors which may be contributing factors. These include;

  • exposure to poverty or economic disadvantages
  • transgenerational trauma & grief
  • reduced access to services - especially culturally appropriate services
  • remoteness or isolation
  • lack of education
  • overcrowding in homes
  • alcohol and substance misuse
  • abuse and violence
  • loss of cultural identity
  • bullying and discrimination
  • incarceration
  • and bereavement over the loss of - often many -loved ones to suicide.

Lifeline’s Make Your Mark hopes to raise awareness about the issue of Indigenous suicide and with your support raise funds so that the necessary steps can be made to make a real difference in the area of Indigenous wellbeing and suicide prevention.

Indigenous Outreach Program

Funds raised through Lifeline’s Make Your Mark and other community donations, and corporate support from Rugby League’s One Community will be put towards Lifeline’s Indigenous Outreach Program. Details about how Lifeline will be working with Indigenous communities are detailed below...

Purpose of Lifeline's Indigenous Outreach Program

To raise awareness of Indigenous suicide and prevention strategies, and to support specifically identified remote and regional Indigenous communities through service delivery and the dissemination of awareness and prevention resources.

Who will benefit from the Program

  • High risk Indigenous communities in regional and remote areas of Australia.
  • Local service providers who require support around obtaining practical suicide awareness and prevention information and resources.
  • Peak bodies and decision makers for Indigenous-related issues within Australia.

Program Objectives

  • To raise awareness about Indigenous suicide.
  • To assess the needs of identified high risk remote and regional Indigenous communities.
  • To link local services and Lifeline Centres to vulnerable Indigenous communities to enable long term, sustainable support.
  • To enhance the resiliency of vulnerable communities through the delivery of culturally appropriate resources and tools around suicide safety.
  • To train and up-skill local community professionals who can provide suicide awareness and prevention support to Indigenous communities.

Proposed Programs

  • Adaption of LivingWorks training to an Indigenous context (suicideTALK, safeTALK, ASIST, WorkingTogether, suicideCare, ASIST Training for Trainers, safeTALK Training for Trainers).
  • Extend the use of Lifeline’s DiVeRT Training to more rural and remote zones.
  • Adaption of the use of Prison ASIST Training to an Indigenous context.
  • Adaption of suicide bereavement support groups to an Indigenous context.
  • Implementation of suicide ‘post-vention’ response teams.
  • Adaption of the Readthesigns program, oriented towards a more general male Indigenous youth population.
  • Centre-based development and delivery of Indigenous focused recreation/mentoring programs.

How Lifeline will deliver these programs

  • Initiate a needs assessment/engagement process for all communities involved in the program.
  • Provide the training, resources and support required to deliver identified beneficial programs.
  • Coordinate and contribute to the development of content for programs in conjunction with key Indigenous stakeholders.
  • Harness the skills and trusted relationships already established by service providers within communities to deliver programs.