Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia takes its name from the
Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration

On 27th August 2015, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership in Mental Health (NATSILMH), a precursor body to Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia, launched the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific companion to the Wharerātā Declaration (see below) and as the touchstone of its work to promote Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention.

After two years of promotion by NATSILMH, the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan (2017) commits Australian governments to:

Improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander access to, and experience with, mental health and wellbeing services in collaboration with ACCHSs and other service providers by: recognising and promoting the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and supporting implementation of the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration (Action 12.3).
THE GAYAA DHUWI (PROUD SPIRIT) DECLARATION HAS FIVE THEMES:

1

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander concepts of social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and healing should be recognised across all parts of the Australian mental health system, and in some circumstances support specialised areas of practice.

2

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander concepts of social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and healing combined with clinical perspectives will make the greatest contribution to the achievement of the highest attainable standard of mental health and suicide prevention outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

3

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values-based social and emotional wellbeing and mental health outcome measures in combination with clinical outcome measures should guide the assessment of mental health and suicide prevention services and programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

4

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence and leadership is required across all parts of the Australian mental health system for it to adapt to, and be accountable to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the achievement of the highest attainable standard of mental health and suicide prevention outcomes.

5

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders should be supported and valued to be visible and influential across all parts of the Australian mental health system

The Gayaa Dhuwi Declaration can be found here and the supporting documentation found in the Resource Centre.
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