CORES Training Equips New Group Of Community Members

A group of 16 participants recently completed training facilitated by CORES Queensland, equipping them with the essential skills to identify and respond to a person at risk of suicide.

The training day was held at PCYC Burdekin on Friday, February 9 and CORES Queensland Coordinator and Counsellor Ross Romeo said it taught people the warning signs to look out for in someone they’re concerned about and what to say, what to do and where to go for help.

“It’s very interactive and we design it and deliver it in a way that does make it interactive,” he said.

“We don’t go anywhere telling anybody that we’ve got all the answers, so everyone learns from everybody else in the room.

“We supply the workbooks and the materials, but it’s all about engaging people and getting people to talk amongst themselves in breaks where they connect and form their own networks away from the training.”

The training also incorporates a lot of self-care strategies, teaching participants to take care of themselves.

CORES Queensland training sessions are free and are open to anyone 15 years and over, and Ross said they can be beneficial to anyone in the community.

“Suicide doesn’t discriminate, so everyone’s going to get something out of it, whether it’s in your personal or professional lives,” he said.

“The bit that appealed to me was that it was easy to understand and practical.

“It’s from a personal and community-focused perspective.

“Everyone can do it and we’ve all got a role to play.”

Glen Cornford was one of 16 to take the training earlier in the month, hoping to use the tools in his work with young people as an athletics coach in the Burdekin and Townsville.

“I definitely have an interest in helping all people with their mental health,” Mr Cornford said.

“I work with a lot of teenagers, so that’s a big worry for me, trying to identify when kids get to that point.”

Mr Cornford said he appreciated the interactive element of the training.

“To sit there and be around those people who had so much knowledge, especially the likes of Ross, it was great to take it all in and see other people’s points of view, opinions and ideas,” he said.

“It’s definitely well worth it.

“To learn those skills and to be able to identify that stuff early, that’s definitely valuable information to have.

“It gave me the confidence to be able to talk to people and ask the right questions.”

In a new partnership with the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre, CORES Queensland is hosting a two-hour self-care and mental wellbeing workshop.

This session will be held at the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre, 40 Chippendale Street, Ayr, on Tuesday, March 5 from 9:30am.

Email adminqld@kentishrc.com.au for more information.

“When things pop up around the community, I’d encourage everyone to come along because it’s all free and it’s delivered by local people,” Mr Romeo said.

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Caption: 16 participants undertook CORES Queensland’s suicide prevention training earlier in February. Photo supplied

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