A new Community-led Safe Space is coming to Townsville, and local community members with a lived experience of suicide are invited to help shape its future by joining the Working Group.

The Community-led Safe Space model, developed by Roses in the Ocean, provides a volunteer-run, non-clinical environment where people experiencing emotional or suicidal distress can access compassionate support from people with lived experience who have received specialised training.

The Townsville Working Group is seeking three to four additional members to help guide the establishment and operation of the service. They are particularly interested in hearing from people with skills or experience in:

• Finance and administration
• Meeting notes and record keeping
• Volunteer support and coordination
• Community engagement and stakeholder relationships

Working Group members will help oversee implementation activities, support volunteer recruitment and onboarding, contribute to governance and sustainability planning, and strengthen connections across the community.

Importantly, these roles are designed to share responsibilities, not create hierarchies. While members may take on different tasks, everyone within the Working Group is considered equal, with major decisions discussed and made collectively.

A lived experience of suicide may include having experienced suicidal thoughts, survived a suicide attempt, supported a loved one through suicidal crisis, or been bereaved by suicide.

If you are passionate about supporting your community and can contribute your skills and time, we encourage you to complete an Expression of Interest by clicking here. For further information, please contact the Community-led Safe Space team through Roses in the Ocean.