2021 sucide prevention | Conference Services

2020 INTERNATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION CONFERENCE

Mercure Brisbane qld

21-22 October 2021

now calling for papers closes

30 August 2020

Please note this website is continually being updated.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO COUNTRY

In Australia, the protocol is to recognise the Traditional Owners of the land to which we are gathering. Therefore, all presentations must begin with an acknowledgement to country and to local Traditional Elders: “We wish to acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians whose ancestral lands we are to meet upon. We acknowledge the deep feelings of attachment and relationship of Aboriginal peoples to Country. We also pay respects to the cultural authority of Aboriginal peoples visiting/attending from other areas of Australia who are present here”.

Indigenous Conference Services acknowledges and pay our respect to the Traditional people of the Country. "Welcome to Country" ceremony and "acknowledging the traditional custodians" of the land shows respect for Aboriginal people as Australia's First Peoples. Ceremonies and protocols are a fundamental part of Aboriginal culture.

THE CONFERENCE

The 5th International Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference will be held on the 21-22 October 2021. It is the only conference that has been continuously running since the establishment of the Suicide Prevention concept and is the largest gathering of delegates from all sectors outside of Indigenous national associations. The conference is held biannually and over the past ten years has attracted thousands of attendees bringing together representatives from all states and territories governments, First Nations medical services and mainstream health sectors, community-controlled organisations, First Nations communities, allied health professionals and non-government organisations, researchers and interested individuals. The conference is hosted by Indigenous Conference Services (Australia) with great line up of First Nations speakers not only from all around Australia, but also from New Zealand and United States of America. This year's conference is a prelude to the 2022 First Nations Health Conference to be held in Hawaii USA.

The event is based upon the principal belief that Indigenous health must be approached from a holistic view, which encompasses body, mind and spirit; thus, leading to the fundamental rights of self-determination. The conference recognises that treating our health must be done by treating the whole person, through mind, body, soul and culture. No matter what your culture is. If you are a First Nations person, statistics show that health, education and the justice system is monstrously weighted against First Nations People. In today’s society Indigenous people have a varied lifestyle, ranging from inner-city living to isolated communities. Therefore, there is no set approach to dealing with health issues, as you have to look at the environment that you live in and, more importantly, the agencies that are available to assist. The conference is designed to bring together both government and non-government agencies who are working in the Indigenous health sector, therefore focusing on Suicide Prevention and strengthening the life expectancy of First Nations people to equal that of non-Indigenous people. In Australia, the most successful initiatives in First Nations Health are the Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) and now the partnerships between government and communities. The first Aboriginal community-controlled health service was established in New South Wales and has been operational for the past forty (40) years. Today, there are over 120 AMS and countless numbers of Primary Health Care Posts in First Nations communities in Australia.

CONFERENCE THEME AND FOCUS

The 2021 conference as the themes

Primary health and whole of body wellness
First Nations women’s health
First Nations men’s health
Successful community partnerships between First Nations peoples, governments and GEO`s
Innovative projects which promotes leadership
Community/ grassroots-based initiatives towards health
Culture and its importance to creating better Suicide Prevention for First Nations people

THE VISION

The conference is not politically based. Rather, it should be seen as an opportunity to access information that is not readily available. Today the world has become smaller with the invention of the internet and jet travel. As such, we are of the belief that there is nothing more empowering and more effective than people having an opportunity to network and collaborate. The conference vision for this event is to embrace the philosophy of First Nations community controlled and mainstream service providers through promoting an informative forum of research, health education and training of staff for the betterment of Indigenous health.

To engage in partnerships with mutual respect;

In 8 years, there’s been mixed results

We still have an Indigenous life expectancy around 10 years less than mainstream Australians

The past decade has seen a 70 percent increase in Indigenous students undertaking Higher Education

Employment targets not met

Many Indigenous Health Targets were falling short off the mark

The Federal Government has made a commitment to create more opportunities for Indigenous Australians to;

Celebrate those successes

Recognise “Healing Takes Time”

Acknowledge, embrace, celebrate the humanity of Indigenous people

Bring to the table policies and approaches that nurtures optimism rather than entrench despair

Do things WITH Indigenous people, not TO Indigenous People

Even though Indigenous Australians only make up 3 percent of the population, First Nations People still make up over 20 percent of the prison population and that number is still increasing

EMPOWERING DELEGATE

This event guarantees the opportunity to enlarge your network and information base, thus empowering all delegates to make greater informed decisions within their professional and extended communities. Furthermore, it has been proven time and time again that events such as this empower and reinvigorate workers with new ideas and enthusiasm, with a greater feeling of support and new contacts that may be utilised for the betterment of their own local community. Whether you are an allied health professional, Indigenous health worker, medical professional or in an administrative clerical role within the organisation, this conference will provide excellent opportunities to gain and share information that will be of use to you and your organisation back in your community. The opportunities that this Conference provides to people involved in First Nations Health is the sharing of knowledge and development of long-term friendships/partnerships. This conference is designed from an Indigenous perspective, in which we all lend support to each other regardless of our employers. With all this in mind, we invite you to actively participate in the upcoming event.

CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES

The 2021 Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference aims to

Provide an open and frank forum for discussions
Lend support to individuals and groups working in the field of First Nations Health
Help grow a network for the sharing of information and resources in the field of First Nations Health
Bring together both government and non-government agencies working in First Nations Health
Show that poor health is no longer tolerated or acceptable in today’s society
To bring together organisations as a united voice in closing the gap
Bring together both government and non-government agencies who are working in the field of First Nations health
Exchange information regarding the successes of community projects
Reduce incidences of poor health at all levels within the community
Strategies for linking holistic policy with health interventions
Explore methods for improving accountability at all levels to ensure sustainable progress
Provides opportunity to network and meet face to face to exchange ideas, valuable information and successful programs in place in their communities.
Develop new partnerships

CALLING FOR PAPERS

Guidelines for Submitting Paper
Papers should not contain offensive language and take in to account cultural sensitivities.
Papers may treat the themes in a manner that contributes to a further discussion of the conference aims.
Conference papers must be presented in the finish format not less 60 days prior to the event.
First round of papers is now being sort for the 2021 event with the closing date being 30th August 2020. Second round of call for papers will be sort if required.
Papers should be submitted in a Microsoft Word format (word). Conference presentations should be supplied in PowerPoint format 30 days before the conference.
A brief outline of paper (maximum 350 words online) Is all that is required in the in the first instant.
Presentation time at the conference for your papers will be allowed a maximum of 45 minutes, this will include Q & A time.
Call for papers registration fee of $650 will apply to all persons submitting papers, payable upon acceptance of papers.
Papers must explore ways in which the themes show up in the philosophy of the conference.
A maximum of two presenters for each paper are eligible for the discounted call for papers registration fee. If 2 presenters, then 2 biographies are required.
If 2 presenters are to present at least one person must be of first nations decent.
Two paragraphs outlining the proposed speaker’s biography is mantuary.
All papers must be presented in a positive and informative light, maximum of 2 paragraph, 8 lines TOTAL.
(MUST HAVE) A Head and Shoulders photo with a plain background no trees or paintings.
Authors agree to have their paper published as part of the conference proceedings
Authors to agree to allow biography of themselves and their photo published as part of the conference promotion.
Authors agree to consent to media interviews, if required.
Authors and presenters must show due respect and acknowledgement to Traditional Owners and must include “Acknowledgement to Country” at the beginning of their presentation.
The correct wording will be provided as part of your confirmation letter if chosen and successful in being accepted with due respects and acknowledgement to traditional owners of land where we will be convening.
Author/s of papers presented at the conference will be formally notified of acceptance.

TO SUBMIT A PAPER, COMPLETE THE ONLINE FORM AT THIS LINK: SUBMIT-A-PAPER

the CONFERENCE AGENDA

(This agenda MAY change without prior notice to ensure the smooth flow of conference proceedings on the day)

DAY 1

8:30am Registration Registration of Delegates

8:45am Combined Session Master of Ceremony - Welcome & Safety Announcement

9:00am Welcome Address Welcome to Country & Traditional Performance

9:45am Combined Session Formal Opening of Conference

10:30am Morning Tea Network with Service Providers/Exhibitors

11:00am Concurrent Sessions ~ Inter-generational Effects of Stolen Generation

Room A: Educating the wider public about issues affecting Stolen Generations families (Calling for Papers from Community)

Room B: Highlighting community-based programs assisting members of Stolen Generations (Calling for Papers from Community)

Room C: Sharing of stories from members of stolen generations across the nation (Calling for Papers from Community)

11:45am Concurrent Sessions ~ Testimonials and personal journeys of healing (Calling for Papers from Community)

Room A: Successful family and community re-integration strategies (Calling for Papers from Community)

Room B: Showcasing positive outcomes for members and families of Stolen Generations (Calling for Papers from Community)

Room C: Empowering Self, Empowering Mob: The Pathway to Self Determination (Calling for Papers from Community)

12:30pm Lunch Break Network with Service Providers/Exhibitors

1:30pm Keynote Session Challenges in dealing with separation, grief & loss

2:15pm Keynote Session Unlocking Inter-generational Trauma: A Barrier in Service Delivery

3:00pm Afternoon Tea Network with Service Providers/Exhibitors

3:30pm Keynote Session Strong Mob, Strong Future

4:15pm Keynote Session Pyschosocial disab ility in NDIS framework

6.30pm Conference Networking Dinner

DAY 2

8:30am Registration Registration of Delegates

8:45am Combined Session Master of Ceremony - Welcome & Safety Announcement

9:00am Welcome Address Welcome to Country & Traditional Performance

9:45am Opening Keynote Introduction to Colonisation and Historical Trauma to First Nations Peoples