ASIST Delivery in East Arnhem Land

Marisca Seinen, our Corporate Trainer, found herself delivering ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) up in the Aboriginal community of Numbulwar, opposite Groote Eylandt, on the mainland of East Arnhem Land (NT).
Roper Gulf Council wanted to ensure their sports/rec staff and youth workers were trained to become suicide first-aiders. ASIST teaches people to recognise when someone is at risk of suicide and what can be done to keep that person safe. People with thoughts of suicide deal with overwhelming pain/loss or despair and struggle to remember what their strengths are and to know what it is that they need to help them stay safe. What that help looks like, can be different for every individual.
Marisca felt is was fantastic to see how the community’s connection to land and culture is so important to them and that sometimes, just a reminder of this, by taking someone ‘out bush’, is often what keeps them going.
Two amazing days were spent with a great group of participants who were eager to learn – perhaps a tad apprehensive (as we all are at first) when theory was put into role-play practice, but all were able to connect their learnings to what they felt would work for their community.
Their feedback told us they felt far more prepared and confident to make a difference to someone in their community.

Such an awesome feeling for all involved!