National Suicide Prevention Conference 2019
Bursary Application

Before you begin: please note that bursary funding is not available two years in a row. If you received a bursary to attend the Adelaide Conference held in July 2018 please do not proceed with this application.

Thank you for your interest in receiving financial support (a bursary) to attend the 2019 National Suicide Prevention Conference (NSPC) in Melbourne, Victoria. The Conference provides a limited number of bursaries to assist Australian residents who have a lived experience of suicide and who are involved with a local suicide prevention organisation to attend the 3-day Conference.

Before applying, please ensure you have spoken with your employer and/or family so that you will know that you have their support if offered a bursary. You will need to be available for all three days of the Conference. You will need to think about your travel time, especially if you will need an extra day before or after the Conference because this will affect the amount of time you are away from home and your natural support networks.

Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) always receives many more applications for a bursary than there are funds to support. For this reason, bursary recipients are expected to commit to attend all three (3) days of the Conference: Tuesday 23rd - Thursday 25th July 2019.

Optional program activity

A number of pre-Conference workshops will be scheduled, including workshops conducted by the international speakers on the day prior to the Conference (Monday, 22nd July). There is an additional cost involved with these workshops which cannot be covered by the bursary funding, however you may elect to attend this day at your own expense. Consider approaching your local service club for the additional financial support.

Why have bursaries?
Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) supports and encourages representation of those with a lived experience in discussions and activities about suicide prevention. There are many barriers that can make it harder for some people to attend the Conference. The National Suicide Prevention Conference bursary fund helps individuals with a lived experience of suicide to attend the Conference.

We know that many people with a lived experience of suicide also identify as mental health consumers and/or carers.