Shoalhaven
- About us
- Our activities
- Activity highlight
- Get involved
- Contact us
- Location
- Supporters and partners
- Latest news
- Where to get help
- Useful links
- Helpful resources
About us
We are a network of representatives from local services and community organisations who work closely with the community to raise awareness on suicide with the aim to reduce the impact of suicide in the Shoalhaven.
Our activities
We provide education to the community on resilience building and suicide prevention. The education is aimed at different target groups within the Shoalhaven and provided in various locations. We work closely with other agencies to ensure resources are used effectively. We partner with Shoalhaven council to run workshops for young people including:
- HSC survival courses in partnership with Macquarie University
- Beautiful Soul workshops for resilience building
- Mental Health First Aid for youth workers
- Substance abuse and mental health training
- Suicide prevention workshops targeting local workers in partnership with Wesley LifeForce
- Suicide prevention workshops targeting seniors in partnership with Maturity Blues.
SPAN also distributes information at community health promotion events.
Activity highlight
Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention & Awareness Network promotional Banner
Purpose:
To encourage high school students to discuss issues surrounding suicide and depression and promote a positive life message
Description:
We ran a competition for students to design a promotional banner around the theme of positive living. Students had a class on healthy lifestyle choices, the positives of staying healthy and living life to the fullest. Students were also given information on what to do if they need some help now or in the future.
Steps to completion:
- Discussed the project with the head welfare teacher and head art teacher at local high schools
- Developed a competition including rules of entry and prizes
- Prepared information for participating schools and classes
- Organised a presentation and invited schools, parents and students.
Project impact:
The project attacked 27 entries and the first prize entry was selected to be put on a banner for display in the Shoalhaven area.
All students who participated received information and education on resilience building and suicide prevention.
Get involved
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at Crossroads 49 Worrigee Street Nowra.
All are welcome.
Members are involved in coordinating training and educational activities. All members are given opportunities to develop skills in project management and actively encouraged to participate in training. Members distribute information and are available to speak to other organisations.
SSPAN has members from many walks.
Contact us
Bruce Murphy (Chair)
PH. 44232657
EMAIL. brucemurphy1@bigpond.com
Wendi Hobbs
PH. 44231784
EMAIL. wendi.hobbs@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Location
SSPAN covers the Shoalhaven which comprises an area of 4,660 square kilometres on the New South Wales south coast. The area of the Shoalhaven is larger than all the other local government areas in the Illawarra Region (Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Wingecarribee).
Supporters and partners
SSPAN is grateful for the support and partnership of:
- Rotary
- St Vincent De Paul
- Shoalhaven Youth Mental Health
- Shoalhaven Division of General Practice
- Shoalhaven City Council
- Shoalhaven Hospital Emergency Department
- Shoalhaven Mental Health Team
- South Coast Aboriginal Medical Service
- Ulladulla Youth Centre
- Bay and Basin Community Resource Centre
- Mental Health Consumer Advocate service
- Shoalhaven Funeral Directors group
Latest news
Media Releases
- Establishment of SSPAN - Suicide is a Community Problem
[WORD 21KB]
- A night with Tim O Toole [WORD 188KB]
- Banner design contest [WORD 4KB]
- April Stress Less Seminar [WORD 62KB]
- March Stress Less Seminar [WORD 38KB]
- The Little Red Card could save a mates life [WORD 21KB]
- World Suicide Prevention Day [WORD 21KB]
Where to get help
The Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Network is NOT a crisis service. If you or someone you know might be in danger, seek urgent help. Call Emergency services - 000, or go to your local hospital emergency department.
24 Hour Crisis Services:
- Police & Ambulance Emergency 000
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- Kids Help Line 1800 551 800
- Men line Australia 1300 789 978
- Department of Community Services (DOCS) Helpline
1800 066 777 - Rape Crisis Centre 1800 424 017
- Mental Health Information 1300 552 289
- Poison’s Information Centre 13 11 26
- SANE Helpline – 1800 18 SANE (7236)
- Local Community Services:
- Nowra Police Station 02 4421 9699
- Nowra Mental Health Service 02 4422 6066
- Drug & Alcohol Helpline 1300 652 226
- Shoalhaven Women’s Refuge 02 4421 8276
- St Vincent De Paul Society Nowra Men’s Hostel 02 4423 3558
- Anglicare Counselling 02 4423 1018
- Suicide Call Back Service (24 hours) – 1300 659 467
Free national telephone support service for people at risk of suicide, their carers and those bereaved by suicide.
Useful links
Websites:
- www.beyondblue.org.au
- www.ybblue.com.au
- www.moodgym.anu.edu.au
- www.bluepages.anu.edu.au
- www.infrapsych.com.au
- www.sane.org
- www.grieflink.org.au
Helpful resources
- Information brochure [PDF 50KB]
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