An independent evaluation of the TrackSAFE Suicide Awareness Training finds that brief online suicide prevention awareness training for rail workers can increase workers’ belief that they can help to reduce rail suicide and their knowledge, confidence and likelihood to intervene with someone at risk of suicide on rail.
Rail staff can play a critical role in intervening when people are distressed on and around the rail network. This includes preventing suicides on the network. Rail staff making an intervention need to do it safely and empathetically.
TrackSAFE introduced 30 minute online Suicide Awareness Training in September 2023. This training is available for free via the TrackSAFE website.
Broadly this type of training is referred to as gatekeeper training. In suicide prevention, gatekeepers are individuals trained to recognise and support those at risk of suicide.
The aim of the training is to equip rail staff with the knowledge and skills to identify and safely intervene with individuals who may be considering suicide in the rail environment.
TrackSAFE commissioned the Dr Angela Clapperton and colleagues at University of Melbourne Centre for Mental Health to undertake an independent evaluation of the training.
The evaluation has been published in the journal Crisis and is available here.
More information and research on suicides on the Australian rail network is here.
Information on fatalities, injuries and near hits on the Australian rail network is here.
Updated December 2025