NEXUS

1. Project Profile

Project Name(s)	NEXUS
Funded Organisation	Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma
Geographical Area	Local
State/Territory	Queensland
Approach(es)	Selected and Indicated
Individual/Group	Individual and Group
LIFE Action Areas	Building individual resilience and the capacity for self-help Improving community strength, resilience and capacity in suicide prevention Implementing standards and quality in suicide prevention
Target Groups	Youth People living with a mental illness People who have previously attempted suicide People who have self harmed Refugee communities Whole of community Other

2. Project Description

The NEXUS program aims to reduce risk factors for suicide and self-harm and to promote protective factors among young people from refugee backgrounds. The program promotes wellbeing and builds resilience by focusing on increasing three of the major preventative factors against suicide: social connectedness; locus of control; perceived academic and/or work performance.

The objectives of the project are to:

• Increase the number and quality of connections of young people from refugee backgrounds to people, place and culture, thereby promoting wellbeing and social connectedness
• Increase the proportion of young people from refugee backgrounds with internal locus of control, thereby building resilience
• Decrease the impact of high academic and employment expectations on the suicide risk of young people from refugee backgrounds, thereby building resilience
• Decrease suicide risk in those young people who have attempted suicide or are at high risk of attempting suicide
• Improve community attitudes, understanding and awareness to better identify and help young refugees at risk of suicide

3. Activities

Activities undertaken by the NEXUS program to achieve the objectives are:

• Providing education/training regarding issues in relation to suicide risk, prevention and identification for dissemination including for: young people, schools/TAFEs/employment services/ service providers, community groups and members
• Counselling
• Psycho-education with young people
• Youth Workers in Milpera, Woodridge and Kedron State High Schools
• Supporting the "Ucan2" program in TAFE
• Consulting with service providers and setting up groups for unaccompanied minors and their carers in Logan
• Running activities for young people during the school holidays
• Running Community Computer Workshops
• Supporting the running of Homework Club 3 days a week
• Support provided to Soccer and Volleyball group on the Northside of Brisbane
• Supporting the Youth Voice project
• Attendance at relevant network meetings
• Linking with Youth Support Coordinators
• Ongoing liaison with potential referral bodies
• Service agreement with Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMHS), Children's Health Services Top of page

4. Funding

• Round 1
  • NSPP funding
    • 2006/07 - $270,000
    • 2007/08 - $140,000
    • 2008/09 - $140,000
  • % project funding - 100%
• Round 2
  • NSPP funding
    • 2009/10 - $218,670
    • 2010/11 - $236,688
  • % project funding - 100%
• Round 3
  • NSPP funding
    • 2011/12 - $231,777
    • 2012/13 - $265,014
  • % project funding - 100%

5. Staffing

• Round 1 (2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 3.3
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 3.3
• Round 2 (2009/10, 2010/11)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 2.3
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 2.3
• Round 3 (2011/12, 2012/13)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 2.3
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 2.3