Additional thoughtful and caring support services will soon be available free of charge in South Eastern NSW to help people following a suicide attempt or suicidal crisis. 

COORDINARE - South Eastern NSW PHN welcomes Mission Australia as a new service provider of universal aftercare services for the South Eastern NSW region, alongside current provider Grand Pacific Health (GPH), which operates the Next Steps program. 

In aftercare services, a support coordinator or peer worker provides tailored support based on an individual’s needs and goals for up to three months. This includes developing safety and support plans and connecting them with formal or informal supports to address the drivers of suicidal distress and contribute to long-term recovery. 

Andrew Gow, Acting CEO for COORDINARE said, "As an additional provider, Mission Australia's universal aftercare service will expand referral pathways for our community and strengthen regional capacity. Mission Australia's service will complement the support provided by GPH's Next Steps program, which has been operating for more than seven years and developed strong referral pathways with mental health services.  

"Our partnership with Mission Australia and GPH plays to the unique strengths of each organisation. Both services are based on the emerging evidence for peer work in helping people with suicidality on their recovery journey through connection, compassion and tailored support,” added Mr Gow. 

Mission Australia’s service will offer face-to-face support in underserved areas like Shoalhaven and Goulburn-Mulwaree. It will ensure accessible support for men and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and build pathways to reach those experiencing suicidal distress who seek help through social support services—such as financial aid, relationship support, or unemployment assistance—rather than the health system. The Mission Australia service is expected to start supporting clients by October.  

In NSW more than 850 people die from suicide each year and it is estimated that during that time another 25,000 will make a suicide attempt. Over 50% of people who die by suicide do not interact with the public health system in the year prior to death, highlighting the importance of finding new ways to reach people in distress.  

Universal Aftercare services are guided by the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation’s Universal Aftercare Service Delivery Model and are designed to be flexible and person-centred. Funding for aftercare services in South Eastern NSW is provided under the bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and NSW Governments. 

COORDINARE is committed to strengthening mental health and suicide prevention services across South Eastern NSW, and to supporting collaboration between experienced local providers to deliver effective care. 

Refer to mindframe.org.au for support and advice on reporting of suicide-related stories. 

If you, or someone you are with, is in immediate danger call 000.  

If you are feeling distressed and in need of assistance, please contact: 

• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
• 13YARN: 13 92 76
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
• Men's line: 1300 78 99 78
• Veteran's Line: 1800 011 046
• Qlife: 1800 184 527
• Kids helpline: 1800 55 1800 

Support for those impacted by suicide loss is available from StandBy Support After Suicide (24/7, phone 1300 727 247) and Thirrili Indigenous Postvention Support (24/7, phone 1800 805 801). 

Minds Together​- ​ a free online program for family, friends, carers and kin who are supporting someone following a suicide attempt or experiencing suicidal distress.