Nous Group is proud to announce it has once again been named a finalist in the Victorian Premier’s Design Awards 2025, for its work with the Victorian Department of Health’s Suicide Prevention and Response Office (SPARO) on the Victorian Suicide Prevention and Response Strategy 2024–34.  

Judged by a jury of national and international design, architecture and business experts, the awards showcase the designers, architects, studios and businesses shaping a more innovative, productive, sustainable and competitive Victoria.  

A finalist in the Design Strategy category, the Suicide Prevention and Response Strategy 2024-34 set a new benchmark for government policy co-design that places those with lived experience at its centre.  

The project involved extensive engagement with government, service providers, clinicians, and community members, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQA+ individuals, veterans, and those in rural and regional areas. 

Brenden Carriker, who led the project at Nous, said: “We are honoured to be recognised as a finalist in the Victorian Premier’s Design Awards. This project demonstrates what’s possible when people with lived and living experience are genuinely empowered to shape policy.” 

The strategy’s design process was thorough and inclusive, featuring 14 sector and community roundtables and a virtual co-design process with groups of people who have survived suicide attempts, live with suicidal thoughts, care for someone who is suicidal, or are bereaved by suicide. A trauma-informed approach was integral, with dedicated support and protocols to ensure participant wellbeing. 

The result is a whole-of-system, evidence-informed strategy that empowers all Victorians to play a role in reducing suicide rates, breaking down stigma, and supporting those impacted by suicide. Early outcomes of the strategy’s implementation point to increased awareness and more open discussions about suicide and mental health across Victoria, with the strategy already informing new models of care and support programs. 

“By co-designing every aspect of the strategy, it sets a new standard for trauma-informed, inclusive policy development—one that is already making a meaningful difference in communities across Victoria. We thank everyone who shared their experiences and insights to help create a strategy that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of those most affected by suicide,” Brenden said.  

Nous congratulates all finalists and acknowledges the Victorian Government’s commitment to innovative, inclusive design that improves lives. 

Find out more about the Suicide Prevention Strategy 2024-34.