Expressions of interest are now closed!
Local communities were invited to submit an Expression of Interest for an important new type of community-based service to support people who are experiencing suicidal distress.
Scroll down for more information.
Roses in the Ocean’s National Community-led Safe Spaces
As a direct result of the systemic advocacy of people with a lived experience of suicide, there has been promising government investment in non-clinical, alternative supports for people impacted by suicide in Australia. Roses in the Ocean has played a central role in the conceptual and practical development of these innovative safe space models at a state and national level.
While witnessing consistent barriers first-hand, Roses in the Ocean has clearly identified the common themes that have emerged about what local communities are looking for and wanting from a safe space. Our expertise in working with people with a lived experience of suicide, demonstrated capacity to develop and lead co-design initiatives, and our role in establishing the emerging Suicide Prevention Peer Workforce combine to bring a unique set of expertise to the local co-design of safe spaces.
The Community-led Safe Space model has the versatility to look, feel and operate in different ways depending on the specific and evolving needs of a community. Considerations include immediacy of need, demographics, priority population groups, geographical challenges, what an individual community wants, and what they have access to in terms of physical space.
Discussion Paper: A National Safe Space Network
…the dream, the reality, the opportunity
Expressions of Interest are now closed!
An important new type of community-based service to support people who are experiencing emotional or suicidal distress.
Over the next three years, Roses in the Ocean’s National Community-led Safe Spaces Project aims to establish 15 community led, volunteer-run non-clinical Safe Spaces where people can find compassionate and empathetic support amongst people who have a shared experience.
The Safe Space volunteer workforce, known as Peer CARE Companions, are local people with lived experience of suicidal distress who will be trained by Roses in the Ocean to use their lived experience to support others. The local working group will be supported by Roses in the Ocean to establish and maintain a Safe Space in their community.
How Roses in the Ocean supports you?
Roses in the Ocean provides the following support to local working groups:
- A grant of $20,000 per year to support the operation of the Community-led Safe Space (for the life of the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program funding round)
- Facilitation of local co-design of the Community-led Safe Space
- Facilitation of Peer CARE Companion training for volunteers of the Community-led Safe Space
- Fortnightly working group mentoring for first 6 months of establishment
- A monthly online community of practice that links up all the Community-led Safe Spaces nationally to discuss their progress and solutions to any challenges
Have questions?
You can email Jon Eddy, our Safe Space Coordinator with any questions you may have about the initiative.
Volunteer in a Community-led Safe Space near you!
Current Community-led Safe Spaces
| Name | Location | Opening Hours | Website | Social Page | Contact Email |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Busselton Community Safe Space | 86 West Street, Shop 2, Busselton Western Australia, 6280 | Friday, 5pm - 9pm | Website | Facebook page | |
| Castlemaine Safe Space | Senior Citizens Centre: Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine, Victoria | Tuesday, 1:30pm - 4pm; Friday, 6pm - 8:30pm | Website | Facebook page | |
| Sydney's Northern Beaches MoWaNA | The Mind Café, Shop 3, 1346 Pittwater Road, Narrabeen NSW, 2101 | Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 5pm - 9pm; Wednesday & Thursday, 8am-10am | Website | Facebook page | |
| Cygnet Garden Safe Space | 1 Frederick Street, Cygnet Tasmania, 7112 | Wednesday, 10am - 4pm; Thursday, 2pm - 6pm | Watch this space | Cygnet Community Hub Facebook page | |
| Aunties Safe Space P.I.N.T. | 30 Mahony Court, Driver Northern Territory, 0830 | Open daily, 8:30am - 4:30pm | Watch this space | Facebook page | |
| Mariposa Trails | Glenelg Community Centre, 4 Colley Terrace, Glenelg SA, 5045; Para Hills Community Hub, 22 Wilkinson Road, Para Hills | Variable Sundays, 2pm - 7pm - contact the Safe Space for more details | Website | Facebook page | |
| Bunbury Shining Hope Community-led Safe Space | 9 Ramsay street, Bunbury WA, 6230 | Every 3rd Sunday of the month, 5pm - 8pm | Watch this space | Facebook page | |
| Blue Mountains Safe Space for Suicide Prevention | 2 Station street, Katoomba NSW, 2780 | The 2nd Friday of every month, 6pm - 9pm | Watch this space | Facebook page |
A map of each Community-led Safe Space, current and coming soon!
Our “000” position
Contact of emergency services by Roses in the Ocean’s Non-clinical Peer-led Services.
To ensure the safety, health, and wellbeing of all people involved in Roses in the Ocean’s Non-clinical Peer-led Services, emergency services will only be contacted in situations where:
- a person who is actively engaged in the service requests we do, or
- a person is disengaging from the service AND has communicated that they have the immediate intention of acting on their plan of suicide; or
- an incident occurs requiring immediate medical or other assistance.
Watch Information Webinar
Hosted by Stephen Scott, our General Manager – Strategy & Policy.
Click below for more information on our National Safe Spaces Network