Supporting Workplaces and Staff With Suicide Prevention & Response
Staff exposure to suicide and sudden death is an overlooked workplace hazard, linked to trauma, stress, and an increased risk of suicide.
Workplace Aware is an evidence-based program providing co-designed training, protocols and support tailored to context and need.
Co-Designed with Frontline Staff, Backed by Research
Co-designed and evaluated over seven years with frontline staff, our program provides tailored, practical tools that make a measurable difference.
What We Offer
Evidence-Based Solutions for working with suicide and sudden loss.
We help organisations mitigate the impacts of staff exposure to suicide and sudden loss with training, protocols and support across every level.
Equip your managers and staff with evidence-based skills to respond effectively to incidents of suicide or sudden death, while building organisational capacity through tailored training and practical workshops.
We partner with you to design, co-create, and implement prevention and response frameworks — from needs assessment to embedding best practice solutions that strengthen workplace systems.
Confidential supervision, debriefing, and response coordination to help staff manage the impact of suicide and sudden death, supporting both recovery and long-term wellbeing.
Who We’re Here For
Practical Support for Leaders, HR and Staff After Suicide or Sudden Loss
Whether you’re leading an organisation or part of a team, experiencing suicide or sudden loss at work can feel overwhelming. You don’t have to navigate it alone—we provide clear guidance, tailored training, and compassionate support to help you and your workplace recover and move forward.
“I’m a leader responsible for my workplace”
As a manager, HR professional, or business owner, you face both the human impact of loss and the responsibility of WHS compliance. You may be asking: “How do I support my staff? How do I meet my duty of care without the right tools?” We provide practical guidance, policies, and training that help you meet obligations, reduce risk, and lead with confidence.
FAQs
-
Our programs align with WHS psychosocial hazard requirements, helping you fulfil legal and ethical obligations.
-
Yes. We provide simple, practical tools designed for non-specialists.
-
No. We work with businesses of all sizes, across industries.
“I’m part of a team that has been impacted”
As a staff member, sudden loss or suicide in the workplace can leave you feeling uncertain, unsupported, or isolated. You may be wondering: “How do I process this? How do we support each other without adding more stress?” We offer confidential support, workshops, and team sessions that help you build resilience, care for yourself, and feel supported at work.
FAQs
-
Yes. All individual and team sessions are confidential.
-
We adapt our support to fit your team’s needs and avoid overwhelm.
-
Not always. Individual support can be accessed confidentially.
Our clients
Trusted by leading organisations across Australia
Our program has consistently supported a wide range of workplaces across government, health, education, and community sectors, fostering growth and positive development.
Our Approach
How We Support Workplaces Through Sudden Loss
Workplace Aware was developed with and for staff working with and impacted by suicide. This work is vital but can have negative and long lasting psychosocial impacts. Mitigation of these psychosocial hazards requires integrated workplace training, protocols and support. Our approach is not off-the-shelf. Every organisation is different and so is every response. We work closely with you to best fit our evidence-based tools to your culture, your structure and your people.
How it works:
1. Understand and Connect
Coordinate urgent steps following an incident — staff safety, family liaison, and on-site support. We ensure responses are compassionate, consistent, and reduce further harm.
2. Assess and Plan
Together, we review your current systems, communication channels, and wellbeing structures. We identify strengths, gaps, and priorities, then build a tailored postvention or crisis-response framework just for your organisation.
3. Equip and Empower
We guide leaders, HR teams, and staff through practical tools, scripts, and training so they can respond safely and compassionately. Our workshops and coaching sessions build confidence and capacity at every level.
4. Support and Sustain
We stay beside you through the implementation phase, ensuring your organisation moves from reaction to recovery with care. Follow-up reflection sessions help translate lessons learned into lasting change.
Workplace Aware is led by Ali Clements, a mental health and postvention consultant with extensive experience supporting Australian organisations through workplace tragedy and recovery.
Research & Impact
Proven Workplace Benefits of Our Program
Every project we do is part of an integrated research and evaluation program which informs our evidence based approach. We achieve of significant and measurable improvements in workplace awareness, preparedness and response to suicide and sudden loss.
Improved Awareness
Staff report increased awareness of suicide postvention skills and recovery protocols.
Greater Preparedness
Workplaces feel more confident in responding effectively to suicide and sudden death incidents.
Recognised Impact
Workplaces report the empowering impact of the Program and the integrated training, procedural and support tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Support for Organisations and Individuals After a Workplace Loss
Every workplace is different, and so are the challenges that follow a sudden loss. Whether you’re leading an organisation or part of a team directly affected, the questions below address what to do next — and how Workplace Aware can help you respond with care and clarity.
If you or someone you know is in immediate distress, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 for free, 24/7 support.
For Leaders and Organisations
-
Postvention is the structured response after a suicide or sudden death. It’s about supporting staff, stabilising communication, and helping teams recover — while reducing the risk of further harm. It also strengthens your long-term wellbeing culture and suicide prevention capability.
-
Preparation helps you act quickly and compassionately if tragedy ever occurs. Having a bespoke postvention and prevention system in place protects your people, your leadership integrity, and your organisation’s reputation.
-
Typical wellbeing initiatives focus on everyday stress and mental health. Postvention planning deals specifically with the ripple effects of loss, trauma, and grief in the workplace — guiding leaders on what to say, what not to say, and how to care for staff safely.
-
Yes. We work with leadership and HR teams to create tailored frameworks that integrate into your existing wellbeing strategy — from communication protocols to leadership training and reflection practices.
-
That’s a great start. We don’t replace them — we strengthen and connect what’s already there. We help ensure your response is coordinated, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive across every level of your organisation.
For Individuals and Teams
-
You don’t need to face this alone. The first step is to reach out for support — to your HR or wellbeing contact, or to a postvention specialist like Workplace Aware. It’s important to acknowledge the loss, communicate safely, and offer space for people to process what’s happened.
-
It’s okay to talk about suicide — safely and respectfully. We can help your team navigate those conversations, understand common reactions to grief, and find ways to support one another while maintaining boundaries and privacy.
-
We provide facilitated staff sessions, debrief circles, and guidance for managers on how to communicate and support their teams. If you’re struggling personally, you can also contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) for immediate support.
-
Not at all. Unresolved grief can continue to affect morale and wellbeing long after the event. We can help you revisit what happened, address the unspoken impact, and begin rebuilding trust and connection.
-
You don’t have to have all the answers — just start with care and listening. Encourage them to talk to someone they trust or reach out to professional support services. If you’re unsure how to approach the conversation, Workplace Aware can guide you in how to check in safely and compassionately.
Knowledge Hub
Publications and Research Papers in Suicide Postvention
Care, clarity, and support when it’s needed most.