Workforce development, training and support

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ For NSW Health professionals

The NSW Government has invested in the Zero Suicides in Care (ZSiC)​ program for NSW Health professionals, which aims to reduce suicides and suicide attempts of people accessing care in NSW.

Co-ordinated action across Local Health Districts (LHDs) and Specialty Health Networks (SHNs), the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI), the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) and the NSW Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) is being taken to:

1. refine NSW Health policies and models of care to improve suicide prevention skills among staff
2. promote strong service leadership that supports a just and restorative culture
   
3. develop a range of suicide prevention education and training​ modules for the NSW Health workforce.
   

NSW Health policies and models of care in suicide prevention

​The Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) has developed:

• The NSW Policy Directive Clinical care of people who may be suicidal​ – This policy sets out the minimum standards of care that NSW Mental Health services and mental health clinicians undertake in the identification of people who may be suicidal, and the assessment and treatment of people with suicidal thoughts and behaviour. 
  
• NSW Health Suicide Care Pathway and toolkit​​ – These resources provide guidance on how to identify, assess, intervene and transition care for people with suicidal ideation and behaviours. ACI is also working with LHD/SHN teams to build skills in redesigning and implementing local pathways for suicide care. 
  
• The Consumer Suicide Care Pathway​ – This consumer resource helps to explain the process of care, what questions will be asked and how consumers will work in partnership with staff when accessing health services for suicidal thoughts or behaviours.       ​
  

NSW Health acknowledges that suicide impacts the entire health system. We have asked the ACI to develop a whole-of-health suicide prevention policy directive by June 2026. The policy will provide staff - who have different levels of clinical expertise and work in a variety of settings - with structure and guidance on suicide prevention.

Under this project the ACI will:

• conduct a review of the evidence across Australian and international jurisdictions for current whole-of-health policies about care of people who may be suicidal
• complete stakeholder mapping, implement a consultation plan and a governance framework.

For further information email: ACI-MentalHealth@health.nsw.gov.au​.   

Enhancing safety and embedding a just and restorative culture

​The Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) has produced:

• A Suicide Prevention Quality Improvement Toolkit​​​​​ - Designed to provide information, resources and quality improvement (QI) tools for managers and clinicians to reduce the impact of suicide on mental health service consumers in NSW health services. 
  
• The Guide to Co-developing a Restorative Just and Learning Culture​​ - This guide focuses on repairing harm, rebuilding trust, and restoring relationships that support a positive safety culture and fosters a collective commitment to safety. Other resources include videos and podcasts are available on the Restorative, Just and Learning Culture​​​​​ webpage. 
  

For further information email: CEC-MHPSP@health.nsw.gov.au.     ​

Suicide prevention education and training

The NSW Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) has:

• developed a range of suicide prevention training available for all staff, mental health clinicians and other clinical or non-clinical staff who may work with consumers experiencing suicidal distress. Further information is available in the training flyer​​​ and on the HETI website Zero Suicides in C​are Training​​
  
• established a​​ZSiC Educators Network and monthly drop-in sessions to share resources and foster training collaboration and expertise between NSW Mental Health Educators.

For further information, contact the HETI Mental Health Projects team at HETI-MentalHealth@health.nsw.gov.au​. 

For community managed organisations (CMO)

The NSW Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) has developed several suicide prevention education and training modules. They are available to community managed organisations (CMOs) who are funded by NSW Health and are nominated by Local Health District (LHD) or Speciality Health Network (SHN) partners to take the training.

The online training consists of five eModules:

1. Using a Zero Suicide Approach (15-20mins)
2. Safety planning and counselling to reduce access to means (20-25 mins)
3. Assessment and formulation with a person who may be suicidal (40-60 mins)
4. Improving engagement with people who may be suicidal (30 mins)
5. ​Core Suicide Prevention Training (30-35 mins)

This flexible training approach aims to:

• build on existing skills of staff who may work with consumers experiencing suicidal distress
  
• promote a consistent understanding of NSW Health’s approach to providing care to people who may be suicidal
  
• develop a shared approach to suicide prevention across entire communities. 
  

Access to training is funded by the Zero Suicides in Care initiative. For more information contact the HETI Mental Health Projects team at HETI-MentalHealth@health.nsw.gov.au​

For Aftercare services

NSW Health is creating online training on how to provide support after a suicide attempt or crisis. The training embodies best-practice and will be offered free to all Aftercare services operating in NSW. 

The training includes topics that address: 

• fundamentals of suicide intervention 
• person-centred care 
• service delivery 
• trauma and risk factors 
• self-care considerations 
• populations and considerations. 

Training will be available through the HETI online eLearning platform, Ngurra Learning. It is funded by the Australian and NSW governments under the Universal Aftercare initiative. 

For more information contact the HETI Mental Health Projects team at HETI-MentalHealth@health.nsw.gov.au

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​ For the peer workforce

Who are peer workers?

Suicide prevention peer workers are people with lived experience of suicidal distress, suicidality, or bereavement by suicide. Peer workers are better able to support others in times of distress because of their experience. They can also help create a recovery plan and recommend services that support wellbeing. 

Developing the peer workforce

Peer workers are employed at NSW Health suicide prevention services, including at Safe Havens and on Suicide Prevention Outreach Teams.

Information and resources for the peer workforce: 

• Peer workers - Information about peer work, workforce initiatives and pathways to accredited training. 
• ​Peer Work Hub​ - An online resource that supports NSW organisations to build and strengthen their peer workforce.  
  

Training and professional development​

​Mental Health Professional Online Development Program (MHPOD)

The Mental Health Professional Online Development (MHPOD) Program​​​ will help build the capacity of Australia’s mental health and related workforces to deliver high-quality, evidenced-based care to improve Australians’ mental health and wellbeing. The program includes online education, resources, and tools.

MHPOD is free to anyone in the mental health profession seeking to build their knowledge and skills. MHPOD is a complete digital learning experience that includes 7 sections: Learning Portal, Pathways, MHPOD AI, Communities of Practice, Resources, Partnerships, and MicroLearning.

The program’s introductory level caters to the diverse workforce in mental health. Subjects range from 

• clinical content - such as mental health assessments 
• ​to broader non-clinical content that can be applied in various settings - such as consumers using mental health services, or other health and social services. 

​Each module will build on earlier learnings. ​

​HETI training and scholarships

​The Health and Education Training Institute (HETI) provides mental health education and training for the NSW Health mental health workforce and for the wider health workforce on mental health-related matters. HETI also works with partners within the NSW Mental health and suicide prevention sector for improved mental health and wellbeing​​.

HETI offers a range of scholarships to NSW Health staff. Visit Scholarships & Grants for Health Care Education & Training​​ for more information.

Nursing and Midwifery Office (NaMO)

The Nursing and Midwifery Office (NaMO) offers a range of scholarships for nursing staff. For more information, visit Nursing and midwifery scholarships and financial assistance​.

Black Dog Institute

Black Dog Institute offers a range of services including evidence-based training, webinars, resources, online programs and digital tools for health professionals. More information, including the link to the Suicide Prevention Network​​​, can be found on their Health professionals​​​​ web page.