“The Blank Page Summit on Suicide 2009  was the first time that the WA Government  sat down on country with the Commonwealth Government,  Indigenous people and others on the pindan of the Kimberley  to find ways to stop Indigenous people killing themselves.”

The Blank Page Summit on Suicide was held from 27-31 July 2009 at Billard Aboriginal Community.

The theme – getting together for life – formed the basis for the discussions and action planning throughout the Summit which resulted in the Blank Page Summit on Suicide Communique.

Find out more about Blank Page Summit on Suicide by:

Listening and watching

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• Summit 2009 Slide Show for the unfolding story
• Getting together for life film clip for key messages from Summiteers
• Blank Page Summit on Suicide Communique film clip for the call to action
• WA Parliamentary speeches film clips on World Suicide Day (2009)

Reading Summit presentations

• WA Coroner Alistair Hope
• Minister Jenny Macklin
• Stephen Victor Snr
• Mary Victor O’Reeri
• Lendal Victor

and after the Summit

• Speech by Mary Victor O’Reeri to welcome UN Special Rapporteur James Anaya (Canberra, 17 August 2009)
• WA Parliamentary speeches on World Suicide Day (1 September 2009)

WHO TOOK PART IN THE BLANK PAGE SUMMIT ON SUICIDE?

Special guests

• Chief Justice Wayne Martin (WA Supreme Court)
• Mr Alistair Hope (WA State Coroner)
• Hon Jenny Macklin MP (Federal Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs)
• Hon Dr Kim Hames MLA (WA Deputy Premier, Minister for Health & Indigenous Affairs)
• Bishop Christopher Saunders (Diocese of Broome)
• Ms Dawn O’Neil AM (CEO – Lifeline Australia)
• Sister Pat Rhatigan AO [WA Senior of 2008]
• Sr Sheila Murphy [servant of the people]

Key contributors

• Indigenous people from WA, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and the NT
• Individuals from up to fifty local, regional, state/territory and national agencies, organizations and taskforces

Summit executive team

• Mary Victor O’Reeri and Stephen Victor Snr (Main-People-in-Charge)
• Kari Kristiansen (Summit Director)
• Sam Mostyn (Summit Co-Rapporteur)
• Richard Aspinall (Australian Government link)