With Our People- A Multi-agency Approach to Suicide Prevention (2025-2029)

Share your views on the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) Suicide Prevention Plan; ‘With Our People – A multi-agency approach to suicide prevention’

*The Emergency Services Sector (ESS) includes four separate agencies; The South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM), The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS), The South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) and the South Australian State Emergency Service (SES).

What's being decided?

We recognise our emergency service personnel and others who work in the sector have known risk factors which can increase thoughts of suicide.

With Our People sets a high standard for suicide prevention in our agencies. This plan has been developed with and for all agencies. The plan includes those who are paid staff, volunteers, family members and the wider South Australian community we interact with.

The name ‘With Our People’ was chosen by the suicide prevention committee to reflect the Emergency Services Sector’s (ESS) commitment to walking with and alongside our people. Regardless of role, title, region, or associated agency, it highlights the collective effort required to prevent suicide and alleviate suicide-related distress.

Background

On 9 December 2021, a key milestone was achieved in South Australia, the passing of the first Suicide Prevention Act 2021 in Australia. This legislation ensured a sustainable, statewide focus on reducing suicide, guided by best practice prevention strategies, education, training, and the identification of priority populations at risk of suicide.

Under the Act, a State Suicide Prevention Plan 2023-2026 was developed setting out across- government policies and priorities for suicide prevention. The Suicide Prevention Act 2021 outlined certain State authorities to develop a suicide prevention plan, SAFECOM (with the ESS agencies) are one.

The State’s plan outlines the pathway for With Our People and highlights five key priority areas for suicide prevention, developed from input by the South Australian community, individuals with lived experience, current research, evidence, data, and best practices in suicide prevention.

With Our People adheres to these key priority areas and further customises them to address the diverse and unique needs of the ESS staff and volunteers. An additional ‘Expand’ priority area has been included in response to needs identified through the internal consultation process. This ‘Expand’ priority area commits to ensuring the ESS provides a safe and inclusive community for staff, volunteers, and their families.

We have undertaken broad consultation to develop this draft plan (as presented on page 12), we are now seeking wider feedback to ascertain any gaps or improvements.

Please note: the internal implementation plan will be finalised following final feedback through YourSay.

Your feedback is valuable and can support our emergency services personnel, and South Australians more widely in suicide prevention initiatives.

Get involved

Find out more:

Have your say by:

What are the next steps?

We will consider your feedback to finalise With Our People’s plan.

The final plan will be released internally in early 2025 and associated plan actions commence.

Share your views on the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) Suicide Prevention Plan; ‘With Our People – A multi-agency approach to suicide prevention’

*The Emergency Services Sector (ESS) includes four separate agencies; The South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM), The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS), The South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) and the South Australian State Emergency Service (SES).

What's being decided?

We recognise our emergency service personnel and others who work in the sector have known risk factors which can increase thoughts of suicide.

With Our People sets a high standard for suicide prevention in our agencies. This plan has been developed with and for all agencies. The plan includes those who are paid staff, volunteers, family members and the wider South Australian community we interact with.

The name ‘With Our People’ was chosen by the suicide prevention committee to reflect the Emergency Services Sector’s (ESS) commitment to walking with and alongside our people. Regardless of role, title, region, or associated agency, it highlights the collective effort required to prevent suicide and alleviate suicide-related distress.

Background

On 9 December 2021, a key milestone was achieved in South Australia, the passing of the first Suicide Prevention Act 2021 in Australia. This legislation ensured a sustainable, statewide focus on reducing suicide, guided by best practice prevention strategies, education, training, and the identification of priority populations at risk of suicide.

Under the Act, a State Suicide Prevention Plan 2023-2026 was developed setting out across- government policies and priorities for suicide prevention. The Suicide Prevention Act 2021 outlined certain State authorities to develop a suicide prevention plan, SAFECOM (with the ESS agencies) are one.

The State’s plan outlines the pathway for With Our People and highlights five key priority areas for suicide prevention, developed from input by the South Australian community, individuals with lived experience, current research, evidence, data, and best practices in suicide prevention.

With Our People adheres to these key priority areas and further customises them to address the diverse and unique needs of the ESS staff and volunteers. An additional ‘Expand’ priority area has been included in response to needs identified through the internal consultation process. This ‘Expand’ priority area commits to ensuring the ESS provides a safe and inclusive community for staff, volunteers, and their families.

We have undertaken broad consultation to develop this draft plan (as presented on page 12), we are now seeking wider feedback to ascertain any gaps or improvements.

Please note: the internal implementation plan will be finalised following final feedback through YourSay.

Your feedback is valuable and can support our emergency services personnel, and South Australians more widely in suicide prevention initiatives.

Get involved

Find out more:

Have your say by:

What are the next steps?

We will consider your feedback to finalise With Our People’s plan.

The final plan will be released internally in early 2025 and associated plan actions commence.

  • Survey Response to draft With Our People

    18 responses

    Thank you for taking the time to provide valuable feedback on the Emergency Services Sector's 'With Our People' Suicide Prevention Plan.

    Your engagement with the draft plan is crucial to our consultation process, ensuring that a diverse range of thoughts, views, and voices are considered in developing this important plan.

    Your feedback helps us shape and refine the plan, ensuring we address key priority areas and fill any gaps in our services for staff, volunteers, their families, and the wider South Australian community.

    You can provide your feedback using this survey. Please take the time to read the plan prior to the survey.

    It will take around 10 minutes depending on the feedback you wish to provide. 

    All personal data will be kept confidential in line with the South Australian Government’s Information Privacy Principles and handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1991, and other applicable legislation.

    Consultation has concluded