This presentation provides an overview of the key cultural principles and learnings from Yarning Consultations across Australia that have informed the development of a Caregiver Session for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families (particularly adults), supporting young people following suicide loss in community, as part for the Seasons of Life project.
Delivered nationally, Seasons for Life is a current initiative of the national suicide prevention project offered throughout Australian schools. Seasons for Life is funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care (2022-2025) and is offered at no cost to high schools. Professor Myf Maple and Associate Professor Sarah Wayland (UNE) are leading an independent evaluation of the Seasons for Life initiative.
Seasons for Life delivers evidence based loss and grief education following suicide and/or other loss events. Aiming to strengthen the capacity and resilience of young people and supporting adults in keeping Spirit strong, and to understand and respond well to change, loss and grief.
Key learnings from the Yarning Consultations and program delivery will be shared, including the importance of connecting and yarning with community, flexible approaches of meeting the diverse needs of the many communities across Australia, trauma informed approaches ensuring cultural safety, and embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing across the session development and project delivery.