LivingWorks ASIST & I-ASIST

Program description

LivingWorks ASIST & I-ASIST are suicide intervention training skills programs that teach participants how to recognise suicide, provide a skilled intervention for a person experiencing thoughts of suicide, and create a safety plan. The programs also promote help seeking for issues relating to suicide.

Both programs run as a workshop for teachers or students aged 16+. Participants learn to be suicide intervention helpers and the programs prepare them to be confident in providing suicide first aid. Participants learn how to keep a person with thoughts of suicide ‘safe-for-now’.

I-ASIST was co-designed by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. To select this option, the majority of participants must be Indigenous. Both programs are delivered by experienced trainers.

School staff can also attend the Training for Trainers (T4T) option. This is a 5-day course that teaches school staff to present the ASIST workshop.

Intended outcomes

• Increased ability to provide guidance and suicide first-aid to a person with thoughts of suicide in ways that meet their individual safety needs.
• Understanding of elements of an effective suicide safety plan and the actions required to implement it.
• Understand how personal and societal attitudes affect views on suicide and interventions.
• Appreciate the value of improving and integrating suicide prevention resources in the community at large.
• Recognise other important aspects of suicide prevention, including life promotion and self-care.

Program details

Implementation considerations

• Target population: The ASIST workshops are designed for any young people aged 16+ and the T4T option is aimed at school staff who wish to deliver the workshops. LivingWorks I-ASIST has been developed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
• Program adaptability: Schools should discuss their student demographics and suicide prevention needs with LivingWorks to design their individualised Network of Safety approach. Adaptations to trainer selection, training delivery, audiovisuals, and safety resources can also be developed. The program is suitable for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The program can be adapted for diverse cohorts including:
  • culturally and linguistically diverse students
  • LGBTIQA+ students.
• Staffing: Backfilling will be required. The Menu provider and its personnel must not be alone with any school student or group of school students in the classroom or in any other place at the school’s premises without another educator, teacher or teacher’s aide present at all times.
• Training requirements: The training sessions will require one room large enough to accommodate a large group (30 participants) and depending on group size, 2–3 small rooms in reasonable proximity to the large group room. Basic Audio-Visual infrastructure such as a screen and projector with sound is also required.
• Factors to consider:
  • There is a minimum of 8 participants and maximum of 30 for workshops, and a time commitment of 2 days for ASIST and 2.5 days for I-ASIST.
  • The T4T option requires a time commitment of 5 days (40 hours) plus any additional self-study time, with ongoing mentoring, feedback, and support provided.
  • On completion of the T4T course, participants are considered a provisional trainer. To become a registered trainer, participants will need to execute a LivingWorks Trainer Agreement, deliver 3 workshops within 12 months with another appropriately qualified registered or provisional trainer then deliver a minimum of one workshop per year to maintain their status as a registered trainer.
  • A postponement fee of 30% of the total workshop price may apply if a workshop is postponed by the school within 7 days.
  • A cancellation fee of 20% of the workshop may apply if a workshop is cancelled by the school within 28 days, a fee of 50% if cancelled within 7 days and 100% if cancelled within 2 business days. If the workshop is cancelled by LivingWorks, the school will receive a full refund.
  • If the school is unable to procure the required number of minimum participants, they must contact LivingWorks with more than 7 days’ notice or postponement fees will apply.
• Australian context: The program has been developed and applied in Australia.

Cost

Minimum cost

$5,000+

Detailed cost

The LivingWorks ASIST workshop is $12,916.20 (including GST). The LivingWorks I-ASIST workshop is $22,660 (including GST). Each program includes:

• in-person workshops (16 hours for ASIST, 20 hours for I-ASIST) delivered by 2 x trainers, including preparation, delivery and travel costs
• ASIST/I-ASIST training license for each participant on completion of the workshop
• up to 30 x LivingWorks ASIST participant kits, which can be used as an ongoing teaching resource
• support from a designated LivingWorks contact for workshop planning, registration, and administration processes.

The LivingWorks ASIST T4T cost depends on the number of participants, priced at $48,152 (including GST) for up to 10 participants, $67,980 (including GST) for up to 15 participants and $108,768 (including GST) for up to 24 participants. This includes:

• a 5-day (40 hour) in-person workshop
• ongoing mentoring, feedback and support
• status as a provisional trainer on completion of the course.

Schools may also purchase additional LivingWorks ASIST T4T Kits at $67.98 each (including GST).