Life Promotion and Suicide Prevention FNQ — December 2025
As we enter the home stretch of 2025, the final weeks of the year are filled with activity, purpose, and connection.
The Month That Was (November 2025)
National Suicide Prevention Strategy — Community Conversations Across the Region
In November, we facilitated both in-person and online focus groups exploring the National Suicide Prevention Strategy across the Cairns and Hinterland, and the Torres and Cape regions. Thirteen participants attended the in-person session, and fourteen joined online, including participants dialing in from remote Cape and Torres communities.
Key messages included:
It takes a community to prevent suicide.
Curiosity about whether empathy can be taught — and how we might nurture it.
A renewed sense of energy and clarity, with many expressing that the Strategy offers a meaningful roadmap.
The online session enabled broader participation from remote communities.
Read more in our latest blog exploring these reflections here.
Referral Workshop — Making and Receiving Referrals
This month, we facilitated an interactive design session unpacking the art of making and receiving referrals.
We explored:
What we really mean when we talk about referrals
What we hope for when we make a referral
How we can best support the referral process
What makes a referral effective and meaningful — and for whom
A blog summarising these insights will be published soon — watch this space.
First Nations Collaborative — December Gathering
Our December First Nations Collaborative gathering brought together community leaders, cultural practitioners, and partner organisations for a deep and purposeful session.
Together, we:
Mapped key, primary, and secondary stakeholders across the region
Explored who holds influence — and who may be missing from the conversation
Examined how advocacy works, and how our collective voice can shape system priorities
Finalised the top actions to carry forward into 2026, strengthening our shared approach to life promotion grounded in First Nations knowledge and leadership
A full wrap-up will be shared soon.
Introducing: The Network of Community Engagement Points (NetCEP)
Beacon Strategies has launched a sister initiative to Life Promotion and Suicide Prevention FNQ — the Network of Community Engagement Points (NetCEP) in the Tablelands and Mareeba regions. This initiative is part of the NQPHN funded Distress Brief Support initiative and supports local community members and trusted places to provide compassionate responses to people experiencing distress through coaching, resources, training, and connection.
Follow our journey of building a Network of Community Engagement Points via LinkedIn, Facebook or sign up to our newsletter here.
What’s Happening This Month — December 2025
Coffee and Conversations — End-of-Year Catch-Up
Join us for a relaxed end-of-year coffee catch-up at Billy’s Café.
Date: Tuesday 16 December
Time: 9:30 – 11:00 AM
Location: Billy’s Café, 57 Sheridan Street, Cairns
RSVP here: Coffee and Conversation – Life Promotion and Suicide Prevention FNQ End-of-Year Event
See you next month
As 2025 draws to a close, we want to acknowledge the generosity, passion, and commitment shown by communities and sectors across FNQ. We look forward to continuing this journey with you in 2026.