LifeForce

1. Project Profile

Project Name(s)	LifeForce
Funded Organisation	Wesley Mission
Geographical Area	National
State/Territory	National
Approach(es)	Universal and Selected
Individual/Group	Group
LIFE Action Areas	Building individual resilience and the capacity for self-help Improving community strength, resilience and capacity in suicide prevention Taking a coordinated approach to suicide prevention Implementing standards and quality in suicide prevention
Target Groups	People bereaved by suicide Men Indigenous populations Rural and remote communities LGBTI populations CALD communities Refugee communities Older people Whole of community

2. Project Description

The aim of the Wesley LifeForce suicide prevention project is to build community capacity to engage in suicide prevention activity, improve access to appropriate services and support those at risk of suicide and bereaved by suicide. The project can broadly be split into two components, networks and training, as described below.

3. Activities

Networks

The objective of the Networks is to establish community coalitions via a localised framework or model within targeted communities that identifies and brings together community participants with an interest in/service provision in suicide prevention and mental health issues.

The network facilitates the exchange of information, coordinating suicide awareness and prevention activities to raise the community’s awareness of the risk of suicide and the contributing factors in that community. There are currently 21 Networks operating around Australia.

Training

The training component includes:

• Delivery of suicide prevention workshops, forums and events that raise awareness of issues surrounding suicide and measures communities can take to address them
• Continuous development of learning programs which focus on awareness raising, challenging attitudes and teaching basic engagement and intervention skills
• The delivery of memorial days in selected areas across Australia
• Ongoing liaison and collaboration with the Department in all areas of community identification to ensure the needs of identified high-risk geographic target areas and groups are met

A further major project of the current funding period (2011-13) is to review the Wesley LifeForce website and investigate the incorporation of online capabilities to efficiently and comprehensively deliver suicide prevention resources to all Australians. Top of page

4. Funding

• Round 1
  • NSPP funding
    • 2006/07 - $442,099
    • 2007/08 - $772,380
    • 2008/09 - $684,486
  • % project funding - 95%
• Round 2
  • NSPP funding
    • 2009/10 - $811,051
    • 2010/11 - $663,945
  • % project funding - 95%
• Round 3
  • NSPP funding
    • 2011/12 - $780,915
    • 2012/13 - $769,191
  • % project funding - 98%

5. Staffing

• Round 1 (2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 7
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 7
• Round 2 (2009/10, 2010/11)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 7.2
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 7.2
• Round 3 (2011/12, 2012/13)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 7.8
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 7.8