Alocal bowling club will receive funding to support suicide prevention initiatives and training.
The Port MacDonnell and District Bowling Club has been allocated $3500 to provide 16 members the opportunity to undertake Mental Health Awareness training resulting in a direct benefit to a further 100 South Australians in 2024-25.
The club was one of a record number of South Australian sporting clubs, community volunteer groups and Suicide Prevention Networks to receive as part of the 2024-25 round of the State Government’s Suicide Prevention Community Grants.
This latest round was the most successful on record, with 35 successful applicants set to receive a share of more than $185,000 to support community suicide prevention initiatives.
The 35 recipients include 11 Suicide Prevention Networks (SPNs), 13 sporting clubs and 11 community groups.
Successful applicants are located across Adelaide and regional South Australia including Streaky Bay, Port MacDonnell, Mount Barker, Goolwa, Mypolonga, Berri, Milang, Gawler, Coober Pedy, Cummins, and Tailem Bend.
The individual grants of up to $6000 can be used towards education and training sessions, including trainer fees, course fees, venue hire, catering, resources, travel and accommodation costs, and promotional activities.
It’s expected more than 1500 South Australian volunteers and club members will be trained in mental health and/or suicide prevention through this program during 2025.
Embedding people who are trained to recognise the signs of distress and offer support to those in need within sporting clubs and community groups across metro and regional areas will have a collective impact on the wellbeing of entire communities.
Around 13,500 South Australians from all priority populations, including traditionally hard to reach groups such as men, will be able to access compassionate support when and where they need as programs or training are introduced to their club or community group.
The grants, which have been running since 2015, aim to reduce suicide by building compassionate, safe and resilient communities through skill-building, education and training.
The next round of grants will open in early 2025.
