Life Promotion and Suicide Prevention FNQ — February 2026
Hello friends and collaborators and welcome to February 2026!
Read on to find out more about what’s coming up across the Life Promotion and Suicide Prevention FNQ Collaborative — including upcoming training and events, recent regional updates, and a glimpse at what’s ahead as our work continues to grow across Far North Queensland.
Soon to be hiring
In the coming weeks, we’ll be on the lookout to fill two Coordinator roles to support and strengthen suicide prevention activity across our region.
One role will focus on Cairns and the Hinterland, and the other on Torres and Cape, with both positions working across the broader patch that Life Promotion FNQ operates — spanning Cairns and Hinterland and Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service regions.
These roles reflect our commitment to delivering on NQPHN’s Joint Regional Plan, particularly the principle of “right support, right place, right time.” With a strong emphasis on place-based approaches, prevention and early intervention, and strengthening local collaboration, the Coordinators will work alongside communities, services, and partners to support locally-led responses to suicide prevention.
Upcoming Training & Events
Understanding and Implementing the National Suicide Prevention Strategy — In person
📅 Tuesday 17 February 2026 | ⏰ 10:00am–12:00pm
📍 Bolands Centre, Cairns
An interactive focus group exploring how the National Suicide Prevention Strategy’s domains — Prevention, Support and Critical Enablers — show up in local practice, and where there is opportunity to do more together.
👉 Register here: https://www.lifepromotionfnq.com.au/events/national-suicide-prevention-strategy-focus-group-in-person
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Community Owned Response to Eliminating Suicide (CORES) — Suicide Intervention Training
📅 Wednesday 18 February 2026 | ⏰ 9:00am–4:00pm
📍 NOPHN, 111 Grafton Street, Cairns | Cost: Free
A practical, community-delivered training focused on recognising early warning signs, supporting help-seeking, and building confidence to respond before crisis occurs.
👉 Register here: https://www.lifepromotionfnq.com.au/events/community-owned-response-to-eliminating-suicide
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Understanding and Implementing the National Suicide Prevention Strategy — Online
📅 Thursday 19 February 2026 | ⏰ 2:00pm–3:30pm
An online option for those unable to attend in person, offering the same opportunity for reflection, discussion, and shared learning.
👉 Register here: https://www.lifepromotionfnq.com.au/events/national-suicide-prevention-strategy-focus-group-in-person-xg4h2
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First Nations Collaborative Gathering — March 2026
Culture as the foundation for life promotion, healing and system change
📅 Tuesday 17 March | ⏰ 10:00am–12:30pm (light lunch provided)
📍 Nintiringanyi Cultural Training Centre, Cairns
This First Nations-only gathering will centre culture as a core determinant of wellbeing and suicide prevention, creating space for yarning, reflection, and shared learning.
👉 Register here: https://www.lifepromotionfnq.com.au/events/first-nations-suicide-prevention-collaborative-march
Other Updates from the Region
Community Development Training (24 February):
In February, we’re hosting a practical “how-to” community development workshop, with participants engaged from Cairns and the Hinterland, as well as Torres and Cape communities including Kowanyama, Thursday Island, and Lockhart River. This training is a follow up from last year’s community development training and we’re looking forward to participants coming together, learning more about participatory community development and taking these skills back into their communities.
Critical Shifts — Lived Experience Discussions:
In partnership with Roses in the Ocean, we recently commenced the first Critical Shifts discussion with the lived experience focus group. ‘Access’ was the first theme explored, with rich insights shared by participants from across the region. One reflection that grounded the session:
“When we have connected, healthy, happy families and communities, and everybody has the opportunity to thrive — that is suicide prevention.”
See you at an Event in February and back again for next month’s update!