Suicide Prevention Australia values the insights of people with lived experience of suicide, and the important contributions they make to suicide prevention discussions and activities. We understand that some individuals face financial difficulties that make it hard to attend the conference, so we offer the opportunity for them to apply for a bursary to support their participation.

Please note, if you received a bursary to attend the National Suicide Prevention Conference in 2024, 2025 or 2026, you are unfortunately not eligible to apply for another bursary for NSPC27. This is in order to ensure that the process remains equitable.

• Bursary applications open: 12 August 2026.
• Bursary application close: 11 October 2026.  Submissions will not be accepted after this date.
• Bursary applicants notified of outcome: From December 2026 onwards.

To support you with your bursary application, we have included an Example Responses document that demonstrates how to structure and write your abstract in line with the provided guidelines. We hope this example gives you a clear understanding of what is expected and helps you prepare a strong application.

NSPC27 will involve frequent discussion of suicide and suicide-related experiences. Being away from familiar routines, environments and support networks may also be challenging for some people. We encourage you to consider what support you may need before, during and after the conference. You may find it helpful to think about:

• Who could you contact for support while attending?

• What could help you take breaks, manage difficult content or remain engaged during the day?

• How will you look after yourself outside conference hours?

• How could you maintain or adapt the routines and supports you usually rely on?

We encourage you to review the resources below as you consider whether attending the conference is right for you at this time.

A Guide to Self-Care and Guidelines for talking safely about suicide.

The provision of bursaries is dependent on Suicide Prevention Australia receiving bursary funding from the Federal Government, State and Territory Governments and/or other sponsors. The conference organisers cannot guarantee the availability of bursary funds for the National Suicide Prevention Conference 2027 (NSPC27).

Applying for a bursary ensures that the process remains equitable, as we often receive more bursary applications than there is funding available for.

The eligibility criteria include the following:

• Are a person with lived experience of suicide.
• Face financial constraints that would prevent you attending the National Suicide Prevention Conference if you did not receive a bursary.
• Have not received a bursary to attend the conference from 2024-2026.
• Can attend all three days of the conference (18-20 May 2027).
• Are aged 18 years or older.
• Are an Australian resident.
• Are willing to participate in the post-conference survey.