An update on our work in Far North Queensland
In this blog, we bring you something that we have been relatively quiet about - our migration to Far North Queensland and the inspiring work that our Cairns-based team apply themselves to every day.
The work that our Cairns-based Beacon Strategies team members deliver is a little different to the consulting-style work that our team in Brisbane routinely undertakes so we thought it was work worth sharing with our friends and colleagues working in PHNs.
Beacon Strategies FNQ spotlight:
Implementation of the Cairns and Hinterland Suicide Prevention Community Action Plan
The Cairns and Hinterland SPCAP work is our first foray into the world of implementation. Based on the Black Dog Institute’s Lifespan model and delivered within a collective impact framework we are slowly but surely progressing the actions outlined in the SPCAP that we developed in 2020-21.
We’ve had a big 6 months in establishing our team and mobilising sector stakeholders to achieve the vision of the SPCAP which is that “ultimately fewer people are experiencing significant emotional distress and attempting and dying by suicide in the Cairns and Hinterland region”. For those who are interested, check out some of the great work that we have achieved so far:
Developed to the Cairns and Hinterland SPCAP Strategy and Actions Register.
Developed a Cairns and Hinterland specific brand identity.
Launched the Cairns and Hinterland Suicide Prevention Collaborative here.
Established local implementation teams in Mossman, Cassowary Coast and Kuranda.
Stay up-to-date with the Cairns and Hinterland SPCAP via the website, Facebook or LinkedIn
Development of the Torres and Cape Suicide Prevention Community Action Plan
The Torres and Cape SPCAP is in the planning phase but is no ordinary consulting project. Due to the tyranny of distance and unique nature of working in this beautiful part of the world we are taking a community development approach to scoping the needs of the region - rather than the favoured Fly In Fly Out consulting approaches favoured by other consulting organisations. The Torres and Cape Suicide Prevention Community Action Plan is currently being developed to create a community and sector endorsed path forward for coordinated suicide prevention activities across the region. Check out some of the work we have done so far and follow along the journey:
Findings from engaging sector stakeholders in Cookshire
Findings from engaging stakeholders in Weipa
Findings from engaging stakeholders in the Torres Strait
Findings from engaging people with a lived experience in Cookshire
Stay up-to-date with the Cairns and Hinterland SPCAP via the website, Facebook or LinkedIn.
As always, we would be very happy to chat with our PHN colleagues and share our learnings from a little over 6 months in establishing our presence in Cairns and starting to deliver on two incredibly meaningful projects.