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Culture Care Connect Program

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Culture Care Connect integrates suicide prevention and holistic aftercare with cultural sensitivity and community empowerment.

We prioritise preserving and celebrating the diverse cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples while providing essential care and support to recipients and providers of our services. Culture is at the heart of the program.

The Culture Care Connect program operates out of more than 40 ACCHOs. Nationally, the Program employs up to 100 people from their respective local Communities, to support their local Communities with suicide prevention activities. Our program offers choice and control, empowering communities to customise suicide prevention plans and access localised aftercare.

By fostering a trauma-aware and healing-informed environment, we aim to provide individuals receiving and delivering services and support with the care they need and want.

Developed in alignment with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, Culture Care Connect sets a new standard in community-driven healthcare. See the National Agreement Outcome 14: Significant and sustained reduction in suicide of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people towards zero.

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The Culture Care Connect Model of Care

The Culture Care Connect Model of Care, developed by NACCHO, lies at the heart of this program. This model serves as a blueprint for local and jurisdictional suicide prevention planning, as well as the coordination and delivery of aftercare services.

Drawing inspiration from the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Model wheel created by Graham Gee, Pat Dudgeon, Clinton Schultz, and colleagues, our model operationalises this framework to ensure comprehensive support for individuals and communities.

 

CCC Model of Care picture

 

Reference: Culture Care Connect program model of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide prevention, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, 2022.

Culture Care Connect Artwork Summary

Culture Care Connect artwork

 

The artwork was created by former NACCHO staff member, Jodi Knight. It is a visual representation of the Culture Care Connect program which is nationally co-ordinated by NACCHO. This artwork symbolises the three levels of program implementation, advocacy and knowledge sharing across the changing landscape of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide prevention, mental health and social and emotional wellbeing nationally. The colours evoke feelings of calm.

The gatherings represent coordination, advocacy and governance structures at a national, Affiliate and local level. At the local level, the artwork depicts the three different aspects of the Culture Care Connect program: community-controlled suicide prevention planning and coordination; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led program delivery; and strong and supported program workforce.

Events

NACCHO Culture Care Connect Summit 2024

NACCHO’s inaugural National Culture Care Connect Summit was held on beautiful Gimuy Country (Cairns) in September 2024.

World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conf 2024

Monica Barolits-McCabe (left), NACCHO’s Executive Director, had the honour of presenting at the World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference held on the lands of the Seneca Nation, near Niagara Falls in August 2024. The conference theme, Reclaiming Indigenous Resiliency and Hope, resonated deeply with the participants. During her presentation, McCabe highlighted NACCHO’s Culture Care Connect program.

Culture Care Connect program locations

CCC Map 2024 - 1

View the Manual of Resources by the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention.

View Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander data.

Visit the NACCHO Connection, Strength and Resilience Portal. This portal provides a set of resources aimed at supporting resilience and reducing social and emotional harms to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Visit Portal