Maintaining the Momentum (Staff)

Project commencement date:

Project completion date:

Reasercher/Contact: Martin Harris
Member: Tess Crawley

The Maintaining the Momentum project aimed to ensure the viability of the Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention program in Tasmania. The project facilitated the design and establishment of Gatekeeper workshops across the state and allowed the monitoring of ongoing education and training initiatives. Key objectives included the evaluation and dissemination of both current and new research strategies, the analysis of demographic data collected, and the creation and maintenance of web-based information.

The main tasks for the project included the following:

• Design of protocols for Gatekeeper training relating to expressions of interest, and the organisation and coordination of workshops;
• Promotion of Gatekeeper training through liaison with both public and private agencies involved in activities affecting the target groups;
• Development of a database template to distribute resource material and allocate training through the Gatekeeper program;
• Provision of effective coordination and focus for education activity related to suicide prevention;
• Development and application of evaluation processes;
• The training of facilitators to continue the Gatekeeper training through the "train-the-trainer" process.

Upon completion of the project, the responsibility for the sustainability of the Gatekeeper program has been transferred to the Mental Health Branch of Department of Health and Human Services.