"CALM Yarn exists because a generic program cannot meet the needs of First Nations communities. The lived experience amongst First Nations People is unique and is rich in wisdom that can benefit all of us. This is why training has to be co-designed and co-delivered with community.
— Audrey Bevan, CEO, Accent HR / CALM
The data on suicide among First Nations people in Australia is stark, and it points to a clear need: training that is culturally grounded, not generic. CALM Yarn was built to meet that need directly.
Standard suicide prevention training is written for a general audience. It rarely reflects the history, community structures, kinship networks or cultural protocols that shape how First Nations people experience distress and seek support. Programs that ignore this context risk being ineffective, or worse, alienating the very people they are meant to help.
The scale of the gap is significant. AIHW data shows the suicide rate among First Nations people is more than 2.5 times higher than for non-Indigenous Australians, and for First Nations people aged 25 to 44 the rate climbs to 49.3 per 100,000. These are not numbers to dwell on for shock value. They are the reason culturally specific training exists as a distinct category, not an optional add-on.
CALM Yarn is delivered by First Nations facilitators and content shaped by First Nations voices. It uses yarning, a recognised and respected way of sharing knowledge in many First Nations communities, as the structure for learning rather than a standard classroom format.
The program still builds the same practical capability as CALM's other courses: recognising distress, starting a direct conversation about suicide, and connecting someone to support. What changes is how that capability is taught, and whose knowledge shapes the content.
CALM Yarn suits Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, First Nations-led services, and mainstream services with First Nations staff or client bases, including PHNs, government departments and community sector organisations working directly with First Nations communities.
It is also relevant for non-Indigenous staff working alongside First Nations colleagues or clients, where cultural safety is part of doing the job well.
A recurring theme in First Nations health research is the importance of self-determination: programs designed with community rather than for community. CALM Yarn's development reflects this. It is not a translated or lightly adapted version of a mainstream course. It is built around a different starting point.
Organisations that run CALM Yarn are not just meeting a training requirement. They are building a workforce that can respond appropriately and respectfully within a specific cultural context, which improves both the immediate safety of the conversation and the likelihood that someone in distress will feel safe enough to accept help.
What makes CALM Yarn different from standard suicide prevention training?
CALM Yarn is delivered by First Nations facilitators and structured around yarning, a culturally recognised way of sharing knowledge, rather than a standard classroom format used in mainstream suicide prevention courses.
Who should attend CALM Yarn training?
CALM Yarn is designed for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, First Nations-led services, and mainstream organisations with First Nations staff or clients, including PHNs and government and community sector bodies.
Why is First Nations-specific suicide prevention training needed?
AIHW data shows the suicide rate among First Nations people is more than 2.5 times higher than for non-Indigenous Australians, and generic training often does not reflect the cultural context needed to respond safely and effectively.
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