In 2010, the Wharerata Group of Indigenous mental health leaders from Canada, the United States, Australia, Samoa, and New Zealand developed the Wharerata 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.
In March 2013, the Whareata 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 supports the Wharerata Declaration.
- 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.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan (2017)
NATSILMH promoted the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration and advocated for its implementation. As a result, for the first time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were considered a priority population in the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan (2017) under Priority Area 4, which committed Australian governments to:
Action 12.3: 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 the promoting the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and supporting implementation of the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration.
On the 9th of September 2019, the Minister for Health, Hon Greg Hunt announced key funding of $4.5 million in 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 First Australians people 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 NATSILMH website is now maintained as an archive and contains resources, submissions and other material dating back to the body’s establishment in 2014.
