Building Bridges

1. Project Profile

Project Name(s)	Building Bridges
Funded Organisation	Australasian Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health (previously Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health Queensland)
Geographical Area	Local
State/Territory	Queensland
Approach(es)	Universal
Individual/Group	Group
LIFE Action Areas	Improving the evidence base and understanding of suicide prevention 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 Providing targeted suicide prevention activities
Target Groups	Whole of community

2. Project Description

Launched in the Dalby community, south west of Brisbane and the Yarrabah, Hope Vale and Kowanyama Aboriginal communities in Cape York, Building Bridges focused on supporting local suicide prevention and intervention activities with Indigenous individuals and organisations.

The project was designed to provide greater protection for at-risk individuals living in these communities by strengthening and empowering both the individual and the community in which they live. The Building Bridges Project implemented and disseminated successful Indigenous suicide prevention activities that built on and extended effective local responses to self-harming behaviours previously developed in Yarrabah. These existing solutions and expertise included Yaba Bimbie Men’s Group, Family Well Being Empowerment and the Life Promotion Officer Project.

In the second round of funding (2009-11), Building Bridges was funded to develop a framework to strengthen/develop the capacity of existing organisations in the Dalby/St George area to bridge the identified gaps in the provision o f services to support suicide prevention.

3. Activities

Activities undertaken by the project have varied over the three funding rounds, as described below.

The first stage of the project "Building Bridges 1" launched in the Dalby, Yarrabah, Hope Vale and Kowanyama communities. It focussed on supporting local suicide prevention and intervention activities with Indigenous individuals and organisations. This component ran in partnership with various community groups and supported such initiatives as the Family Wellbeing Program and a knowledge sharing event for Indigenous men.

The second phase "Building Bridges 2" undertook the following activities:

• An analysis of data to identify trends/high risk groups in relation to suicide and self-harm in the identified communities
• An audit of current suicide prevention related services/ activities in the identified areas of Dalby and St George
• Identification of the gaps in service delivery revealed by the above two activities
• Development of a Strategic Framework in each community (Dalby and St George) to build the capacity of current organisations, develop linkages and referral pathways to maximise effective service delivery.

The third phase "Building Bridges 3" undertook or will undertake the following activities:

• Mini Roadshow conducted in Kingaroy, Tara, Dalby and Clifton. It had John Schumann (ex Redgum), Hugh McDonald (ex Redgum) and the Vagabond Crew touring talking about the importance of mental health. At the same time local service providers attended and provided resources, referral pathways, contact details and any other relevant information to the community. Local Service agencies provided BBQ, drinks and activities for children
• Gathering information from existing literature, data and relevant unpublished materials across the range of fields relevant to mental health and wellbeing (including suicide prevention) in rural communities
• Development and production of an updated Background paper (from the one developed in BB2) that provides information to the community surrounding mental health and wellbeing, including suicide prevention
• Conduct an audit of the current suicide prevention related services and activities in Tara
• Develop a Community Plan and Strategic Framework for the Community of Tara
• Support and encourage the embedding of the Strategic Frameworks for Dalby and St George into the culture and everyday practice of the individuals, groups and the community of both Dalby and St George respectively
• Update and improve the Strategic Frameworks for Dalby and St George that were developed through BB2. Top of page

4. Funding

• Round 1
  • NSPP funding
    • 2006/07 - $515,727
    • 2007/08 - $486,000
    • 2008/09 - $498.273
  • % project funding - 100%
• Round 2
  • NSPP funding
    • 2009/10 - $231,818
    • 2010/11 - $200,220
  • % project funding - 100%
• Round 3
  • NSPP funding
    • 2011/12 - $259,945
    • 2012/13 - $254,645
  • % project funding - 100%

5. Staffing

• Round 1 (2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 1
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 1
• Round 2 (2009/10, 2010/11)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 1
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 1
• Round 3 (2011/12, 2012/13)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 2.5
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 1.75
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