NSPO Partnerships
The National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO) is a specialist unit established to lead the adoption of a national whole-of-governments approach to suicide prevention in Australia.
To achieve lasting suicide prevention system reform, the NSPO will provide strategic advice to all parts and levels of government on the actions required to enhance protective factors, address the social determinants of suicide, intervene early in distress, provide coordinated and compassionate care, and improve continuous long-term support.
The National Suicide Prevention Office is committed to ensuring our work is guided and informed by partnerships with people with lived experience of suicide and draws on the diverse insights and rich combined knowledge and expertise of individuals, communities, service providers, advocates, researchers and government agencies.
Lived Experience Partnership Group
In order to achieve lasting reform, the NSPO is committed to ensuring that people with a lived experience of suicide are partners in the work of the organisation. The LEPG will provide value to the NSPO through the contribution of diverse views and expertise.
The overall purpose of the Lived Experience Partnership Group is to:
- Ensure lived experience insights and knowledge are incorporated into the operations and work of the National Suicide Prevention Office, including the development of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy and National Suicide Prevention Outcomes Framework
- Provide subject matter expertise to the NSPO on current and emerging issues
- Advise on current and emerging policy based on the expertise of members
- Advise the NSPO on effective and inclusive ways of meaningfully partnering with people with lived experience of suicide in the performance of its duties
- Provide advice on engagement activities, such as targeted advisory groups, to ensure inclusive and equitable opportunities for influence
- Identify any potential barriers to the success of the work of the NSPO and opportunities to address these.
| State | Member |
| ACT | Ben Farinazzao |
| NSW | Amy Bertakis |
| NSW | Benjamin Brien |
| NSW | Jo Riley |
| NSW | Ken Barnard |
| NT | Charles Nasir |
| QLD | Chris Trupp |
| QLD | Jordan Frith |
| QLD | Luke Woods |
| SA | Adila Alef |
| VIC | Imbi Pyman |
| VIC | Isha Garg |
| TAS | Chaya Rainbird |
| WA | Susan Edgar |
To the right, please find a summary of the diversity of lived experience, leadership and cultural representation within this group.
National Suicide Prevention Office Advisory Board Members
The NSPO Advisory Board (NSPOAB) will provide expert advice to the Head of the National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO) to support the work and strategic direction of the NSPO.
REPRESENTING EXPERTISE | NSPO ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER | ORGANISATION |
NSPOAB Chair | Dr Alan Woodward | |
National Mental Health Commission | Paul McCormack | Interim Chief Executive Officer, National Mental Health Commission |
Economics | Prof Henry Cutler | Director, Centre for Health Economy, Macquarie Business School |
Governance | Dr Wendy Southern PSM | Recently retired. Previously held Deputy Secretary positions in Dept of Health, the then Dept of Immigration and Citizenship and as a division head in Prime Minister and Cabinet. |
Governance | Kym Peake | Partner, EY Port Jackson |
Health and social care systems | Prof. Kathy Eagar | Professor, Health Services Research and Director AHSRI |
Lived Experience Advisor | Graeme Holdsworth | Retired & Director, Suicide Prevention Australia Board |
Lived Experience Advisor | Bronwen Edwards | Chief Executive Officer, Roses In The Ocean |
Social Policy | Prof. Karen Fisher | Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales |
Social Policy | Prof. Steve Allsop | National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University |
Social Determinants: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities | Prof. Pat Dudgeon | Director, Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention, University of Western Australia |
Social Determinants: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities | Pino Migliorino | Managing Director & Chairperson, Cultural Perspectives Group |
Social determinants: Health equity | Prof. Sharon Friel | Director, Menzies centre for Health Governance, Australian National University |
Social Determinants: LGBTQIA+ | Nicolas Parkhill | Chief Executive Officer, ACON |
Social Determinants: Veterans | Gwen Cherne | Commissioner, Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner |
Peak Body: Suicide Prevention Australia | Nieves Murray | Chief Executive Officer, Suicide Prevention Australia |
Peak Body: Gayaa Dhuwi Proud Spirit Australia | Rachel Fishlock | Chief Executive Officer, Gayaa Dhuwi Proud Spirit Australia |
The National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO) is a specialist unit established to lead the adoption of a national whole-of-governments approach to suicide prevention in Australia.
To achieve lasting suicide prevention system reform, the NSPO will provide strategic advice to all parts and levels of government on the actions required to enhance protective factors, address the social determinants of suicide, intervene early in distress, provide coordinated and compassionate care, and improve continuous long-term support.
The National Suicide Prevention Office is committed to ensuring our work is guided and informed by partnerships with people with lived experience of suicide and draws on the diverse insights and rich combined knowledge and expertise of individuals, communities, service providers, advocates, researchers and government agencies.
Lived Experience Partnership Group
In order to achieve lasting reform, the NSPO is committed to ensuring that people with a lived experience of suicide are partners in the work of the organisation. The LEPG will provide value to the NSPO through the contribution of diverse views and expertise.
The overall purpose of the Lived Experience Partnership Group is to:
- Ensure lived experience insights and knowledge are incorporated into the operations and work of the National Suicide Prevention Office, including the development of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy and National Suicide Prevention Outcomes Framework
- Provide subject matter expertise to the NSPO on current and emerging issues
- Advise on current and emerging policy based on the expertise of members
- Advise the NSPO on effective and inclusive ways of meaningfully partnering with people with lived experience of suicide in the performance of its duties
- Provide advice on engagement activities, such as targeted advisory groups, to ensure inclusive and equitable opportunities for influence
- Identify any potential barriers to the success of the work of the NSPO and opportunities to address these.
| State | Member |
| ACT | Ben Farinazzao |
| NSW | Amy Bertakis |
| NSW | Benjamin Brien |
| NSW | Jo Riley |
| NSW | Ken Barnard |
| NT | Charles Nasir |
| QLD | Chris Trupp |
| QLD | Jordan Frith |
| QLD | Luke Woods |
| SA | Adila Alef |
| VIC | Imbi Pyman |
| VIC | Isha Garg |
| TAS | Chaya Rainbird |
| WA | Susan Edgar |
To the right, please find a summary of the diversity of lived experience, leadership and cultural representation within this group.
National Suicide Prevention Office Advisory Board Members
The NSPO Advisory Board (NSPOAB) will provide expert advice to the Head of the National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO) to support the work and strategic direction of the NSPO.
REPRESENTING EXPERTISE | NSPO ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER | ORGANISATION |
NSPOAB Chair | Dr Alan Woodward | |
National Mental Health Commission | Paul McCormack | Interim Chief Executive Officer, National Mental Health Commission |
Economics | Prof Henry Cutler | Director, Centre for Health Economy, Macquarie Business School |
Governance | Dr Wendy Southern PSM | Recently retired. Previously held Deputy Secretary positions in Dept of Health, the then Dept of Immigration and Citizenship and as a division head in Prime Minister and Cabinet. |
Governance | Kym Peake | Partner, EY Port Jackson |
Health and social care systems | Prof. Kathy Eagar | Professor, Health Services Research and Director AHSRI |
Lived Experience Advisor | Graeme Holdsworth | Retired & Director, Suicide Prevention Australia Board |
Lived Experience Advisor | Bronwen Edwards | Chief Executive Officer, Roses In The Ocean |
Social Policy | Prof. Karen Fisher | Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales |
Social Policy | Prof. Steve Allsop | National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University |
Social Determinants: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities | Prof. Pat Dudgeon | Director, Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention, University of Western Australia |
Social Determinants: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities | Pino Migliorino | Managing Director & Chairperson, Cultural Perspectives Group |
Social determinants: Health equity | Prof. Sharon Friel | Director, Menzies centre for Health Governance, Australian National University |
Social Determinants: LGBTQIA+ | Nicolas Parkhill | Chief Executive Officer, ACON |
Social Determinants: Veterans | Gwen Cherne | Commissioner, Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner |
Peak Body: Suicide Prevention Australia | Nieves Murray | Chief Executive Officer, Suicide Prevention Australia |
Peak Body: Gayaa Dhuwi Proud Spirit Australia | Rachel Fishlock | Chief Executive Officer, Gayaa Dhuwi Proud Spirit Australia |
