VACCHO officially launches two landmark initiatives to tackle suicide prevention
A night of celebration, Culture and Community marked the official launch of two powerful new tools for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing in Victoria.
Held at Carousel, Albert Park, Boon Wurrung Country in collaboration with Switchboard Victoria, the ‘Black Tie for BLKTRX’ event brought together Community leaders, Garrka yap-u burrundyata Knowledge Holders, health and LGBTQIA+ advocates and dignitaries to celebrate a milestone in Aboriginal-led suicide prevention and to honour the people who made it possible.
The urgent need for self-determined suicide prevention
The numbers are stark. In 2025, the Yirramboi Murrup Unit at the Coroners Court of Victoria released its report Suicides of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Victoria, 2020–2024, finding that the annual rate of suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remains three times higher than for non-Indigenous Victorians.
Both new initiatives were born from VACCHO’s ongoing advocacy for self-determined health solutions – and developed through the Balit Durn Durn Centre for Excellence for Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing, with support from the Victorian Department of Health.
Two tools united by one vision
BLKTRX is a new online directory designed to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Victoria find culturally safe and responsive mental health, social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) and suicide prevention services – quickly, easily and with confidence.
“It’s a Community-led initiative that backs self-determination, strengthens choice, and makes trusted services easier to reach and we want people to use it, not just when in crisis,” said Sheree Lowe, Executive Director of the Balit Durn Durn Centre.
Made live in December 2025, the directory has already seen almost 4,000 active users, showing that Community are finding the right services when they need it most.
“On January 26, a tough day for our Communities, we saw a significant spike in people accessing the site. It just highlights how important this service is, and that it’s doing exactly what we set out to achieve,” said Director of the Balit Durn Durn Centre Nicola Perry-Peters.
Connection is Prevention is a statewide awareness campaign encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to yarn with their loved ones who may be struggling. The campaign includes a suite of videos, posters and out-of-home media – meeting Community where they are, with a simple yet powerful message: connection saves lives.
The people behind the work
At the heart of BLKTRX is the Garrka yap-u burrundyata Knowledge Holders Group, who co-designed and developed the directory from the ground up. Their lived experience, cultural insight and deep expertise in suicide prevention were central to BLKTRX success – and on the night, attendees were moved to hear their collective story told.
“We started this work not knowing each other at all,” Knowledge Holder Nikki Foy shared on the night. “But through it, we’ve connected so much with each other. We’ve become like a family.
“Even though the work is hard, being here tonight to acknowledge it means the world.”
Joining them to mark the occasion was VACCHO CEO Dr Jill Gallagher AO, Executive Director of the Balit Durn Durn Centre Sheree Lowe – plus dignitaries Parliamentary Secretary for First Peoples Chris Couzens, Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Ella George, Switchboard Director of Services Anna Bernasochi, Victorian Commissioner for LGBTQIA+ Communities Joe Ball and Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People Dallas Widdicombe We were honoured to have them celebrate with us.
The journey continues
Preventing suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities requires sustained government commitment – to self-determination, cultural safety, and investing in Community-led solutions. BLKTRX and Connection is Prevention are important steps forward, but our work doesn’t stop there.
Our state election platform calls for the next government to fund two Healing Centres – a Community-designed and led healing service ready to be rolled out. They exist as evidence-based blueprints, born from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
“It’s vital to pause and acknowledge the tireless work that our Communities – and in particular the Garrka yap-u burrundyata Knowledge Holders – are putting in each day to suicide prevention,” Nicola Perry-Peters said.
“There is more work to do, and we will keep working.”
Media enquiries
For further media enquiries please email communications@vaccho.org.au or contact our media unit on (03) 9411 9411.
Background
VACCHO is the peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing in Victoria – the only one of its kind – with 34 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations as Members. VACCHO Members support over 65,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria, and combined are the largest employers of Aboriginal people in the state.
