Symposia, Panel, Roundtable Discussion (max 60mins) The National Suicide Prevention Conference 2024

LIFEWAYS – Translating suicide prevention research into policy and practice (101345)

Lennart Reifels 1 , Jane Pirkis 1 , Karl Andriessen 1 , Karolina Krysinska 1 , Jaelea Skehan 2 , Melinda Benson 2 , Max Tran 2 , Edward Broadbent 2 , Bronwen EDWARDS 3 , Claudia Pagliaro 4 , Sandra Diminic 4 , Manuel Wailan 4 , Eryn Wright 4 , Andrea Phelps 5 , Dianne Currier 1 , Jillian Francis 6 , Sandra Eades 7 , Jo Robinson 8 , Fiona Shand 9 , Michelle Tye 9 , Mark Larsen 9 , Mohammed Owais Qureshi 9 , Gregory Carter 10 , Kairi Kõlves 11 , Amanda Neil 12
  1. Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
  2. Everymind, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  3. Roses in the Ocean, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  4. Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  5. Phoenix Australia, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
  6. School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
  7. Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
  8. Orygen, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  9. Black Dog Institute, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  10. Calvary Mater, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  11. Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  12. Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Utilising the best available evidence to enable evidence-informed decision making in policy and practice is key to strengthening the collective impact of our suicide prevention efforts in Australia. LIFEWAYS is a national consortium led by The University of Melbourne conducted with key partners from seven other universities and non-government organisations with the aim to strengthen Australian suicide prevention research and facilitate its effective translation into policy and practice. LIFEWAYS is delivered via five interrelated workstreams that focus on consulting with stakeholders, strengthening the evidence base, creating translational tools, implementing change, and building capacity. To enhance broader utility and impact, all LIFEWAYS initiatives are directly informed by identified sector needs, lived experience perspectives, and conducted with relevant stakeholders, experts, and end users in mind.

This symposium features four presentations that outline the LIFEWAYS approach, showcase current key initiatives, share important recent insights and findings, as well as useful tools and resources to advance research translation in the Australian suicide prevention sector.

 1. LIFEWAYS – Channelling collective strengths to drive research translation in Australia (University of Melbourne)

 2. A knowledge translation needs assessment of the Australian suicide prevention sector (Everymind)

 3. Exploring the role of lived experience in research translation (Roses in the Ocean)

 4. Development of a national needs-based planning model for suicide prevention in Australia (University of Queensland)

This symposium will be of relevance to a wide range of sector stakeholders (including, researchers, policy makers, people with lived experience, practitioners, and service providers) with an interest or role in advancing the collective impact of suicide prevention in Australia.