Patrons of Postvention Australia
Emeritus Professor Ian Webster AO
Professor Diego de Leo
Founder
Envoy Alan Staines OAM
For over 30 years, Alan has played a pivotal role in the recognition and development of suicide prevention and postvention services in Australia. Alan was responsible for the formation and establishment of Postvention Australia – the National Association for the Bereaved by Suicide in 2013.
Alan was the Founder and Director of Hope for Life, the Salvation Army’s Suicide Prevention Bereavement Support Services from 2006-2013. He was also responsible for developing the Australian Lifekeeper Memory Quilt initiative. He played a key role in establishing the Salvo Care Line (1983) and the Salvation Army OASIS Youth Care Centre in Surry Hills (1992). In 1991 Alan founded and helped establish Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) and for 18 years he served on the SPA Board as National Secretary. In 2003, in recognition of Alan’s perseverance and tireless efforts in suicide prevention, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to young people through Suicide Prevention Australia and the Salvation Army. In 2004, he was honoured with Life Membership of Suicide Prevention Australia. In 2007, Alan received the Order of the Founder (OF), the highest Salvation Army honour for distinguished service. In 2013, Alan was awarded the Farberow Award from the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) at the IASP Congress in Oslo, Norway in recognition of outstanding contributions in the field of bereavement and survivors of suicide loss. Alan’s ongoing vision is to establish and build a strong network that provides holistic, physical, emotional and spiritual support, comfort and understanding to enhance the health and well-being of every person bereaved by suicide.