Tasmanian LiFE Awards – 2026 Nominee

Cheryl is a founding member and volunteer president of the Dorset Suicide Prevention Network (DPSN). As a community-led group of local residents and health service providers, together they support the Dorset region in mental health wellbeing and suicide prevention. Under Cheryl’s leadership, DPSN has been pivotal in bringing people and organisations together to tackle suicide prevention and building community capacity.

Cheryl is a full-time dairy farmer, yet she works tirelessly in suicide prevention through increasing awareness and reducing stigma in a rural community with historically high rates of suicide.

She initially became involved in suicide prevention through her personal experience with a family member. At the time it was extremely difficult to get support for someone at high risk of suicide. From this personal experience, Cheryl learned a lot about suicide prevention, and she took on a role of connecting people with information for support. As part of the farming community where people’s mental health is exposed to the volatile market and seasonal forces, Cheryl was able to play an important role. Through hearing personal stories, Cheryl began to realise many people were struggling and she took a leadership role in building community capacity for suicide prevention and response.

In a community where there had been almost no information or support available, the DPSN, under Chery’s leadership, has taken an active role in providing training, a service directory, and support for community initiatives. The DPSN is now acknowledged as an exemplary example of what a community-led group can do in their community.