Local ideas building stronger communities
At a glance
$407,000 invested in community wellbeing and suicide prevention
24 locally led projects funded across the Murrumbidgee
Projects reached councils, schools, sporting clubs, workplaces and rural communities, building connection, resilience and wellbeing while strengthening confidence to recognise and respond to distress
What strengthens mental wellbeing and suicide prevention in a school community can look very different to what works for farmers, sporting clubs or people living in a small rural town.
That understanding was at the heart of Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network’s (MPHN) Community Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention Grants in 2025-2026, which invested $407,000 in 24 locally designed and delivered initiatives across the Murrumbidgee.
Applications came from councils, schools, sporting clubs, community groups and other organisations, with projects designed around the people, places and circumstances of their own communities.
For MPHN Suicide Prevention Lead Emma Bromham, the grants recognise that communities themselves are often best placed to understand what will make a difference locally.
“There is no single solution to suicide prevention. Creating meaningful change requires a range of coordinated activities that build connection, resilience, help-seeking and support within communities.”
Rather than prescribing a single solution, funding gave communities the opportunity to develop place-based activities that meant something locally, building connection, resilience, mental health literacy and help-seeking.
“It was about giving communities the opportunity to decide how they wanted to support their communities around wellbeing and suicide prevention,” Ms Bromham said.
CONNECTION ACROSS RURAL COMMUNITIES
Across seven rural communities, Riverina Ramblers, delivered by Mongrels Men, used something as simple as walking together to create opportunities for connection and conversation.
During 2025-2026, the program delivered 54 events and activities involving more than 570 people, including 47 Community Walk and Talks attracting more than 420 participants, Mental Health Response workshops and supported a Just A Farmer community screening attended by more than 100 people. Its dedicated Facebook page also attracted more than 26,000 views.
Participants described the value of being able to talk about mental health as naturally as physical health, while the regular walks created welcoming opportunities to make friends, maintain social connections and reduce isolation.
BUILDING CONFIDENCE AROUND YOUNG PEOPLE
In Federation Council, the Vibe Check Youth Mental Health Intervention Project trained 31 community members in Youth Mental Health First Aid across Corowa, Howlong and Mulwala and distributed 50 locally developed Vibe Check toolkits through sporting clubs, schools and community organisations.
One participant captured the value of putting practical skills into community hands:
“Sticking to the First Aid principle is brilliant. We are not trained professionals who can fix, but we are aware of mental health symptoms and not afraid to talk about it and support and guide people to seek help when they need it.”
STARTING EARLY AT SCHOOL
At Lutheran School Wagga Wagga, a whole-school approach reached 328 students, trained 42 student peer leaders and upskilled 35 staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid.
The results went beyond participation: 68% of students reported greater confidence seeking help, 72% felt more confident supporting peers and 80% reported a strong sense of belonging. Staff also observed earlier help-seeking and improved coping and emotional regulation.
Together, the 24 projects demonstrate the power of taking suicide prevention beyond traditional health settings. By backing local organisations and local ideas, MPHN is helping communities build the connections, knowledge and confidence to look out for one another long before someone reaches crisis.