The Close the Gap Campaign has released its annual report, emphasising the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agency and leadership in driving critical reform to close the gap in health and wellbeing outcomes.

The Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration Framework and Implementation Plan was launched today in Meanjin (Brisbane) on the lands of the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples, setting a 10-year roadmap to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, cultural strength, and best practices into Australia’s mental health system.

In December, on Kuarna Country in Adelaide, in partnership with the Australian government, Gayaa Dhuwi officially launched the renewed National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy. Led by Gayaa Dhuwi, the renewal of the 2013 NATSISPS has been overseen by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Governance Committee and a Steering Committee.

As Australia Day approaches, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health organisations are urging increased attention to the social and emotional wellbeing and mental health of our communities.

Australia’s leading mental health organisations believe the proposed social media ban will risk cutting young people across Australia off from mental health support, exposing them to new harms and leaving many without any support.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should have every opportunity to live happy and fulfilling lives. Instead, too many of our families are struggling with mental health challenges, continuing grief and trauma, and suicide.

For Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia every day is World Suicide Prevention Day, as it works towards zero suicides amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Following today’s release of the updated Closing the Gap Data Dashboard and Annual Data Compilation Report, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia is calling for governments to do more under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Following the delivery of the 2024-25 Budget, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia welcomed funding for trauma-informed and culturally safe mentoring and assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In response to the tragic death of a 10-year-old Indigenous boy by suicide while in state care last week, leading Indigenous mental health organisations are today calling on Federal and State Governments to urgently invest in social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) and mental health supports for Indigenous children in state care.

Following today’s release of the updated Closing the Gap Data Dashboard, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia is calling for governments to take their Closing the Gap commitments seriously.

Following today’s release of the Productivity Commission’s Review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia is calling for urgent implementation of the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration within Australia’s mental health system.

Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia and its members are bracing for an increase in racism, bigotry, and discriminatory rhetoric as the first Australia Day post-Voice to Parliament Referendum looms.

Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia is calling for the Australian Government to make an immediate and genuine commitment to address the impacts of the Voice Referendum on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – particularly children, youth, and elders.

In solidarity with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander bodies across the country, Gayaa Dhuwi has taken a week of silence, solace and reflection to consider the results of the referendum on The Voice to Parliament.

In the spirit of true collaboration and partnership, we want to acknowledge our allies in the lead up to the voice referendum. We want to thank them for their support and acknowledge that they too will be having their own unique experiences and reflections during this time.

Advocates for Indigenous mental health are launching the Good Yarn Guidelines, a new national guideline that aims to improve the safety and accuracy of media reporting on First Nations issues and reduce harms to First Nations social and emotional wellbeing and mental health.

A Voice to Parliament will improve health outcomes.

Today, advocates for Indigenous mental health are launching a Respectful Referendum Pledge, a set of principles to encourage more civil and inclusive debate over the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

We are excited to announce the appointment of Ms Rachel Fishlock as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention.