… supporting communities to create and lead the safe spaces that meet their local needs.
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.
…the dream, the reality, the opportunity
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.
Roses in the Ocean provides the following support to local working groups:
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:
As would be standard practice in any home, workplace or community space, emergency services will also be contacted if:
Hosted by Stephen Scott, our General Manager – Strategy & Policy.
Click below for more information on our National Safe Spaces Network
