HOLYOAKE WINS TWICE AT THE SUICIDE PREVENTION AUSTRALIA WA LiFE AWARDS

On Tuesday 18 March Holyoake took home the ‘Communities in Action’ Award and the ‘Priority Populations’ Award at Suicide Prevention Australia’s 2025 WA LiFE Awards. An outstanding result amongst excellent nominees and wonderful recognition of Holyoake’s Prevention team.

The Communities in Action Award recognises the critical role that individuals and organisations in communities play in identifying and taking action in suicide prevention. This may involve the development of a local plan for mental wellbeing and suicide prevention, or an activity that brings the community together to facilitate social connection and provides opportunities to talk about mental health and suicide prevention. This award acknowledges that communities working together are at the heart of suicide prevention strategies. Holyoake’s Multifaceted suicide prevention/postvention response into Kellerberrin was awarded the state’s best. Finalists also included Buddy Up Australia, Maria Morgan, Murdoch Life Assist and Right By You (Neami National).

The Priority Populations Award recognises innovation in service delivery by an individual or organisation that is culturally responsive, overcomes barriers, promotes inclusion and delivers improved outcomes for all.

The award recognises suicide prevention initiatives that are addressing, preventing or responding to suicidal behaviours in populations and groups disproportionately affected by suicide, or are highlighting the gaps and identifying strategies and embedding innovative solutions specifically for people in need.

Holyoake’s Wheatbelt Suicide Prevention Service was also awarded the state’s best. Other Finalists in this category included Buddy Up Australia, Men’s Department of the Organisation of African Communities WA, Suicide Prevention Networks in Universities as well as Holyoake’s Multifaceted suicide prevention/postvention response into Kellerberrin.

Holyoake’s interim Chief Executive Officer, Ben Smith celebrated the recognition placed on the Holyoake Prevention team stating that “this is an outstanding achievement in highly competitive award categories. Internally we know how impactful our Prevention team is within communities and so, it’s pleasing to see the team celebrated publicly too. Their work is challenging and complex and we are grateful for their unwavering commitment to both prevention and postvention. Thank you to Suicide Prevention Australia for the acknowledgement.”

The five category winners from the WA State LiFE Awards now go into judging for the National SPA LiFE Awards with winners announced at the National Suicide Prevention Conference in May.

Congratulations to our Prevention team for the exceptional and critical work you deliver for West Australian communities.