Outcome 14: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enjoy high levels of social and emotional wellbeing

Target 14: Significant and sustained reduction in suicide of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people towards zero.

Minister responsible

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health

Productivity Commission national progress against the target

The path forward

For First Nations peoples, good health and wellbeing encompasses connections to mind, body, family, culture, Country and spirituality for both individuals and communities. The Commonwealth is prioritising social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) approaches to address the historical, political, social, and cultural determinants of health for First Nations peoples.

Work has begun on partnering with First Nations communities, governments and peak bodies to improve SEWB and mental health outcomes and reduce suicides. A key focus is ensuring First Nations leaders, Elders and communities are empowered to determine what wellbeing and healing means to them, drive care delivery, and control their outcomes. This includes embedding the strengths of culture, and First Nations peoples having access to data and information to inform decision-making.

The Commonwealth is also working closely with First Nations partners to build the cultural capacity and capability of all SEWB, mental health and suicide prevention services and systems to ensure mainstream services are culturally safe and equipped to deliver trauma-aware and healing-informed responses. They are doing so with a focus on embedding the cultural significance of kinship, family and community within these services, as this builds strong relationships and a solid foundation for SEWB throughout the life course.

The Commonwealth will prioritise First Nations-led and community-driven responses, including the coordination and delivery of culturally safe and responsive mental health and suicide prevention services through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health services for First Nations peoples.

Priority actions

First Nations Policy Partnerships

The Commonwealth is partnering with Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia, with actions focused on shared decision-making, and building the cultural capacity and capability of all SEWB, mental health and suicide prevention services and systems.

The Commonwealth is committed to working in partnership with Gayaa Dhuwi to enact the SEWB Policy Partnership. The SEWB Policy Partnership will drive development of policy relating to SEWB, mental health and suicide prevention, including:

• Implementation of the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia Declaration
• Implementation of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy
• The refresh of, and implementation plan for, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing Framework 2013–2023.

Targeted regional initiatives for suicide prevention

The Commonwealth is investing in targeted regional initiatives for suicide prevention to support the transition and learnings from the National Suicide Prevention Trial environment towards building the capacity of all Primary Health Networks to implement evidence-based, systems-oriented and community-led approaches to suicide prevention across Australia. Funding will support a dedicated Suicide Prevention Regional Response Coordinator in each Primary Health Network as well as additional investment in regional and community based suicide prevention interventions.

Taking the lead from First Nations experts

The Commonwealth is prioritising leadership and self-determination of First Nations organisations by:

• Working with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) on the Culture Care Connect Program – a First Nations community‑led suicide prevention and aftercare service network and training program. This work with NACCHO integrates suicide prevention planning and responses to build a sustainable and supported workforce.
• Elevating the voices of First Nations peoples and sharing their stories by investing in the Black Dog Institute’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre. This Centre co‑designs, informs, and delivers culturally safe mental health and suicide prevention initiatives.

Summary of new actions

*A full appendix of new and existing measures being undertaken by the Commonwealth to support Closing the Gap efforts is on the NIAA website, at Closing the Gap implementation measures.