In alignment with the National Suicide Prevention Conference 2026 theme “United Voices, Brighter Futures”, this presentation explores the development and implementation of a collaborative suicide prevention training initiative designed specifically for the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) treatment sector in NSW. Recognising the unique needs of this sector, this project exemplifies authentic collaboration, courageous conversations, and a commitment to lasting change through tailored workforce development partnership with the NSW Health Education and Training Institute (HETI), Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs and the AOD sector (CAOD), Aboriginal Mental Health and the AOD Sector (Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Local Health Districts and Non-Government Organisations).
Central to the initiative is the adaptation of the NSW Government’s Towards Zero Suicides approach, an important step in ensuring suicide prevention efforts are not siloed and instead reflect the interconnected realities of people’s lived experiences. By working in partnership with HETI, subject matter experts, and AOD service providers, and people with a lived experience, both face-to-face workshops and eLearning modules were shaped to ensure the language, content, and delivery methods were relevant, acceptable, and impactful for AOD workforces.
This collaborative process also illuminated the benefits of aligning suicide prevention approaches across mental health and AOD sectors. While historically treated separately, individuals accessing AOD services often experience significant mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation. A shared but tailored approach supports a more unified, compassionate, and effective response—building the bridge between sectors.
The presentation will present early insights from implementation, highlight the value of collaboration, and discuss lessons learned in navigating sector-specific needs while contributing to a broader system shift in suicide prevention. Through this work, we aim to strengthen the capacity of the AOD workforce to confidently engage in suicide prevention, ultimately contributing to safer, more responsive, and more inclusive services. Genuine cross-sector partnerships and tailored workforce development can create lasting change—and how, together, we can move towards zero suicides across all parts of the health system.