Culture provides context for Federal MP briefing

A centuries-old stone fish trap near Sandstone Point was the perfect location for a yarn with Federal Member for Longman Susan Lamb MP in February about the National Suicide Prevention Trial.

The ‘walk on country’ was the idea of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service providers involved in Brisbane North PHN’s local implementation of the trial. Anthropological research indicates the fish trap could date back to the 11th Century AD. Brisbane North PHN Chief Executive Officer Abbe Anderson, who joined Ms Lamb and the service providers on the walk, said the Brisbane North trial had been designed to be culturally responsive. “The importance of cultural governance was a key learning from the collaborative co-design process we undertook to guide our implementation of the trial,” Ms Anderson said.

“So engaging in a culturally responsive activity to brief one of our local Federal MPs about the trial just made sense in this case, and it is consistent with PHN protocol,” she said.

Aunty Leisha Krause, an Elder of the Joondoburrie people from Bribie Island, and members of her family, escorted the visitors on site and told stories about its early Aboriginal inhabitants.

Present at the meeting were members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Implementation team who are delivering the National Suicide Prevention trial. The Implementation team is made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agencies and community groups who steer the delivery of the programs for the Trial.

Rich conversations took place covering aspects of the trial from the co-design stage where cultural safety was embedded into the process through to the implementation strategies that are taking place. Susan Lamb was able to hear first hand experiences from those present who have been directly impacted by suicide amongst family and community.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are identified as a priority population under the trial, along with LGBTIQ+ communities and young adult to middle aged men aged 25 to 55 years.

For more information about the National Suicide Prevention Trial phone Brisbane North PHN on 07 3630 7300 or email info@brisbanenorthphn.org.au.