This conference – United Voices, Brighter Futures – is an opportunity to come together, to share your experience and expertise, and further strengthen our suicide prevention efforts.
The Australian Government is proud to once again be supporting this important event for the suicide prevention sector.
Our government understands the devastating impact suicide has on individuals, families and communities.
That every day, 9 people die by suicide and more than 150 people attempt to take their own life – that more than 3,000 lives are lost each year.
That for First Nations people this number is growing.
And, we remain committed to turning this around.
To making sure that Australians have access to compassionate and effective suicide prevention services.
From 2022-23, our government has invested:
- over $610 million dollars in suicide prevention initiatives, including through the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement (such as for Universal Aftercare to support people discharged from hospital after a suicide attempt or crisis)
- over $330 million dollars in culturally appropriate supports developed and delivered by and for First Nations peoples, such as Culture Care Connect
- and approximately $200 million dollars for crisis support lines, such as Lifeline and 13YARN.
Our government also recognises that preventing suicide is not just about services.
That suicide is complex.
And preventing suicidal distress and saving lives takes a joined‑up, whole‑of‑government and whole-of-community approach — across health, housing, education and social services — to address the drivers of distress.
Which is why our approach is guided by Australia’s first National Suicide Prevention Strategy – launched just over a year ago.
Which recognises the need to address drivers of distress.
The Strategy was developed by the National Suicide Prevention Office.
And in consultation with many of you here today.
I acknowledge your contributions to the Strategy - made by people with lived experience of suicide, sector leaders and experts.
This Strategy, along with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy co-designed with Gayaa Dhuwi, will guide us to work in genuine partnership.
We are working closely with our state and territory counterparts, service providers, community advocates, civil society, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and across the whole-of-government to build national consistency, while also meeting the unique needs of those who are disproportionately impacted.
In the last year, I have seen the positive impact that the National Strategy is having on policy and practice.
You will shortly hear from Dr Alex Hains – Head of the National Suicide Prevention Office – on the development of the National Suicide Prevention Outcomes Framework.
And the soon to be released Outcomes Map, which will specify the quantitative and qualitative data measures in the Framework.
The Outcomes Framework will allow us to measure the impact of efforts being made in suicide prevention.
By providing an evidence base of what is working well and what needs to be improved.
This is an important step to make sure that we gather robust data and evidence to inform our collective approach to suicide prevention.
Our government is backing up the strategy with actions to address the drivers of distress including:
- reducing cost-of-living pressures, halving fuel excise on petrol and diesel for three months (from 1 April) and new tax cuts from 1 July, extending the Energy Bill Relief Fund, and restoring bulk billing making it easier to see a doctor for free, and making everyday medicines on the PBS cheaper.
- increasing access to safe and affordable housing, through initiatives like the Housing Australia Future Fund and Social Housing Accelerator and committing $1.5 billion dollars through the Housing Support Program to state, territory and local governments.
- preventing and addressing domestic, family and sexual violence, through the investment of more than $4 billion dollars since 2022-23.
We are supporting people most at risk of suicide.
Men and young people – who we know are particularly at risk.
And LGBT+ people, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people subject to abuse, violence or neglect.
I am particularly concerned about suicide among First Nations people.
In 2024, the rate of suicide for First Nations’ people went up.
It’s now almost 3 times the overall national rate.
Our Government recognises that we need to take a joined-up approach across governments and communities alongside First Nations people to bring these rates down.
This is why we have increased our investment to improve Closing the Gap outcomes.
- Like providing $13.9 million dollars to extend hours and establish a text message service for 13YARN so more First Nations people can access culturally safe, crisis counselling.
- Supporting Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services through a $144.1 million dollar investment to further improve health infrastructure.
- And, a $299 million dollar investment which doubles the reach of the Government’s successful Remote Jobs program
- Among other initiatives for cost-of-living, crisis accommodation, housing, and traineeships support.
We are also increasing our investment in specific suicide prevention initiatives – including $41.7 million dollars for Culture Care Connect.
Culture Care Connect is a suicide prevention program designed and delivered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – to deliver suicide prevention, aftercare and local service coordination.
Our government has also supported the establishment of the Indigenous Australian Lived Experience Centre (IALEC) – to amplify the voices of First Nations people.
Our government is also investing more than $150 million dollars in targeted suicide prevention activities through the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program.
This program is currently delivering 36 separate suicide prevention projects that aim to reduce suicide deaths and suicidal behaviour across Australia.
This includes established initiatives, such as Mindframe, which continues to assist individuals, communities and organisations to talk about suicide in a safe and impactful way.
As well as new initiatives, such as the first ever Australian Suicide Prevention Planning Model, recently developed by the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research and the LIFEWAYS consortium, which will support service commissioners to target investments where they are most needed.
And we are also funding a range of services for at-risk populations and communities.
I know that many of those services are represented at this conference.
I would like to acknowledge and express my appreciation for the critical work you do to support at risk and distressed people across Australia.
As highlighted in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, research is a critical enabler supporting effective suicide prevention efforts.
Which is why our government is investing an additional $4 million dollars to continue the Suicide Prevention Research Fund, managed by Suicide Prevention Australia.
I understand that the Suicide Prevention Research Fund Grants opened for applications today (28 April).
I wish all applicants well in the process, and thank you for your contribution to growing the evidence base that will inform our policy directions.
Our government is also making sure that we continue to use the best evidence available to shape our world-class mental health and suicide prevention systems.
As part of our government’s commitment, this financial year we are investing $8 billion dollars in mental health and suicide prevention services.
Alongside a $1.1 billion dollar election commitment to expand free mental health services across the country.
In January this year we launched Medicare Mental Health Check In – a new, free, digital service for people experiencing mental health challenges like stress, anxiety and low moods – no referral or diagnosis is needed.
This complements the roll out of 92 Medicare Mental Health Centres across Australia - offering free walk-in support and care for Australians, within their communities.
We are also expanding our services for young Australians, growing the network of headspace centres to 203 across the country, with more outreach to remote and more regional communities in Australia.
We are also introducing headspace Plus - 30 of them across Australia – boosting the capacity of headspace centres to support the evolving needs of young people.
We are also introducing 20 new Youth Specialist Care Services to be able to respond to the emerging needs of young Australians in primary care outside of hospitals.
And we’re expanding out network of Perinatal Mental Health Centres and growing our network of Medicare Mental Health Kids Hubs for children aged 0-12 years.
Importantly, we are also working with states and territories to agree the next National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
And making sure that this is informed by lived experience.
At the Joint Health and Mental Health Ministers’ meeting in February this year – Ministers thanked sector leaders, people with lived experience, family, carers and kin representatives, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners for their early advice on preparing for future national arrangements.
The Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, the Hon Mark Butler MP, and I, are continuing to work with our state and territory colleagues, the sector and lived experience groups on priorities for the next National Agreement.
What we have achieved so far has only been made possible by the hard work of countless people with lived experience sharing their experiences and expertise, and policy makers, practitioners, researchers and service providers.
I take this opportunity to thank you for your commitment and dedication.
By bringing your diverse voices together you are helping us, as a nation, find better ways to support Australians impacted by, or at risk of, suicide.
I note that tomorrow, you will also be joined by Dan Repacholi MP, the Special Envoy for Men’s Health – who has been instrumental in shining a light on the importance of suicide prevention initiatives for Australian men and boys.