The Queensland government has launched a new initiative to provide free, specialised suicide prevention training to aged care students, aiming to tackle the disproportionately high suicide rates among older Queenslanders.
The program comes in response to data from 2023 showing people over 65 accounted for nearly 20 per cent of suspected suicides in the state, with those in regional and remote communities being particularly vulnerable. Through a partnership between TAFE Queensland and the Council of Ageing Queensland, 50 students enrolled in aged care studies will receive the training.
Delivered by the Queensland Mental Health Commission, the eight-week online course, ‘Respond to People in Crisis and at Risk of Suicide’, will provide nationally accredited units to help future workers recognise warning signs and intervene effectively.
Health and Ambulance Services Minister Tim Nicholls said the initiative is designed to build a more compassionate aged care system. “This is about ensuring aged care staff, right across the state, can be a lifeline for older Queenslanders,” Nicholls said. “By providing suicide prevention training to the future aged care workforce, we are giving workers the skills and confidence to step in early, provide support and, ultimately, save lives.”
The program also aims to create a more capable and job-ready workforce. “We’re backing our students with practical, job-ready skills that go beyond technical care – skills that can save lives,” said Minister for Training Ros Bates. “We’re empowering a workforce that is confident and capable of supporting both the physical and mental wellbeing of older Queenslanders, wherever they live.”
Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Ivan Frkovic emphasised the importance of early intervention, stating that a simple conversation can make a significant difference. “By embedding suicide prevention training early in students’ learning journey, we’re helping to build long-term capability to respond with compassion and confidence,” Frkovic said.
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
