First Nations Collaborative Guest Blog — Building on Community Strengths: A Regional Pathway for Suicide Prevention in Far North Queensland.
SIS Facilitates December's First Nations Collaborative
Life Promotion and Suicide Prevention FNQ (an initiative of Beacon Strategies) — funded by the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) — is working to change the narrative on suicide and build a movement for change across Far North Queensland.
Delivered through the FNQ Collaborative, this ongoing and iterative initiative brings together community leaders, organisations, and people with lived experience to co-design solutions and drive systemic change. Within this broader effort, the First Nations Collaborative provides a dedicated, First Nations-only space shaped by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priorities, voices, and leadership.
To uphold self-determination and ethical partnering, Beacon Strategies has partnered with Strategic Indigenous Solutions (SIS) — a 100% First Nations-owned and led consultancy based in Cairns. SIS will deliver four Collaborative events by June 2026, each focused on themes such as First Nations leadership, cultural safety, collective impact, and community co-design.
Building on Community Strengths: A Regional Pathway for Suicide Prevention in Far North Queensland.
Across Far North Queensland, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities hold deep cultural knowledge, strong kinship networks, and enduring leadership that continue to sustain life, identity, and connection. Suicide prevention efforts are most effective when they recognise and build on these existing strengths.
In December 2025, Beacon Strategies partnered with Strategic Indigenous Solutions to convene Session 2 of the First Nations Collaborative in Cairns. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, Elders, practitioners, and sector partners from Cairns, Cape York, and the Torres Strait came together to share lived experience and collective insights on strengthening suicide prevention and life promotion across the region.
A clear opportunity emerged, which is that the region functions as one interconnected ecosystem. Families move regularly between communities for cultural, health, and family reasons, supported by strong relational networks. Regionally coordinated commissioning models can better reflect this reality, strengthening continuity of care and reducing service gaps.
Participants emphasised that community leadership is a key asset. When cultural governance, data sovereignty, and local knowledge guide decision-making from the outset, investments are more trusted, relevant, and sustainable.
The Collaborative also highlighted the power of cultural healing, whole-of-family approaches, and locally grounded leadership. These strengths — alongside consistent, culturally informed crisis responses — form the foundation of effective suicide prevention and long-term wellbeing.
Looking ahead to 2026, the First Nations Collaborative will continue working toward a First Nations Regional System Reform Blueprint, aligning funding, commissioning, and governance with community strengths and priorities.
The message from community is hopeful and confident: when systems walk alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and invest in what is already working, sustainable and life-affirming change is possible.
About Strategic Indigenous Solutions (SIS)
This guest blog was written by Tiana Thomas and Tonya Fuschtei, Co-Chief Executive Officers of SIS.
Strategic Indigenous Solutions (SIS) specialises in the development and facilitation of workshops that empower organisations to build capacity, enhance service delivery, and strengthen workforce capability to better meet the unique needs of Indigenous communities. Each workshop is tailored to address key community challenges and support culturally responsive, sustainable solutions that create meaningful impact.
To learn more about Strategic Indigenous Solutions and their work, visit www.strategicindigenoussolutions.com.au.