The Wharerātā Group of Indigenous mental health leaders from Canada, the United States, Australia, Samoa, and New Zealand developed the Wharerātā Declaration. It comprises of five themes and the importance of Indigenous leadership in addressing the common mental health challenges faced by Indigenous people around the world.

The Wharerātā Declaration was endorsed in Australia by key government mental health agencies including the National Mental Health Commission (NMHC), the Mental Health Commission of New South Wales, and the Government of Western Australia Mental Health Commission. The Queensland Mental Health Commission, forming later, also endorsed the Wharerātā Declaration.

The endorsement of the Wharerātā Declaration underpinned the formation of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership in Mental Health (NATSILMH) in 2013-2014. NATSIMHL undertook to develop a companion declaration to the Wharerātā Declaration for use by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration was launched as a companion document to the Wharerātā Declaration and as the touchstone of its work to promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention.

For the first time, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were formally recognised as a priority population under Action 12.3 of the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan. This milestone marked a turning point in national policy, ensuring that the unique needs, strengths, and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are central to mental health and suicide prevention reform.

The then Minister for Health, Hon Greg Hunt announced the establishment of Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia to deliver a national plan for culturally appropriate care, and make suicide prevention services available and accessible to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples no matter where they live.

Following the announcement of this funding, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia was established in late March of 2020, as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention national leadership body. The work of the NATSILMH was incorporated into Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia’s remit.

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap 2020, created new ways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to share-decision making with governments. From this, the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Policy Partnership was established, ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders sit at the table to guide national mental health and suicide prevention reform.

For the first time, under the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement all governments signed a single agreement to reform Australia’s mental health and suicide prevention system. Clause 110 committed to embedding the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration and ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership is central to national reform.

The launch of Gayaa Dhuwi’s inaugural Strategic Plan 2024-2028 set the organisation’s foundation as the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention. It outlines a clear vision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, advocacy, and reform across the mental health system, guided by the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration.

The launch of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025-2035 build on the foundations of the 2013 Strategy, setting out a long-term, renewed national commitment. Co-design with governments and developed under Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Governance, it embeds culture, connection, and self-determination at the heart of suicide prevention reform.

The launch of the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Framework and Implementation Plan 2025-2035 marked a major step in embedding the Declaration’s five themes into national policy. It provides a clear roadmap for governments, services, and communities to work together to achieve culturally safe, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led mental health and suicide prevention reform.

The launch of the National Impact Platform 2025-2028 at the 2025 Gayaa Dhuwi Conference sets out a roadmap for reform in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention. Grounded in the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration, it focuses on four priorities - Lead, Connect, Influence, and Transform - to embed cultural safety, strengthen leadership, and hold governments accountable through annual reporting.