Introduction by Croakey: The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention workforce is foundational to achieving a culturally safe, effective, equitable and sustainable mental health system, according to a position paper released this week.
This workforce brings together lived experience, cultural knowledge, clinical expertise, and community leadership, but is an asset that remains undervalued and under-utilised within the mental health system, it says.
The position paper, jointly released by Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia and Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA), says structural gaps in recognition, investment, and policy integration limit the potential of this workforce to lead meaningful and community-driven change.
“By addressing these systemic barriers through national standardisation, commissioning reform, sustained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governance, and cultural safety standards for workers, governments can unlock the full strength of this workforce,” says the paper.
Below is a media statement released by Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia and IAHA about their new publication, ‘Strengthening the Social and Emotional Wellbeing, Mental Health, and Suicide Prevention Workforce’.
Media statement
Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia and Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) are calling for urgent national action to recognise, resource, and embed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, suicide prevention and postvention workforce as a core pillar of Australia’s mental health system.
In a joint position paper, the two peaks set out clear, actionable recommendations to governments to deliver culturally strong, community-led reform as a blueprint for transformational change.
The call comes after the release of the Productivity Commission’s National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement Final Report, which finds that the Agreement is “not fit for purpose” and failing to deliver systemic reform.
The Agreement rightfully identifies workforce as a key enabler and pushes governments to empower the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce within this system, by implementing coordinated action, and reporting on workforce growth and distribution.
The position paper’s recommendations align with these commitments, supported by two existing national workforce strategies, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan 2021-2031 and the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy 2022-2032.
Professor Tom Calma AO, Patron of Gayaa Dhuwi and IAHA, said: “The Productivity Commission’s findings highlight that the current Agreement is not delivering the reforms, workforce or services our communities need.
“This position paper provides a clear pathway forward, one that puts the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, suicide prevention and postvention workforce at the centre of transforming our mental health system in ways that are culturally strong and community-led.”
Rachel Fishlock, Chief Executive Officer of Gayaa Dhuwi, said: “The evidence is clear, the policies are in place, and the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement give us the authorising environment.
“Now is the time to formally recognise, count, and sustainably fund our social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention workforce as a core pillar of Australia’s mental health system, ensuring culturally led, community-based care is at the centre of reform.”
Donna Murray, Chief Executive Officer of IAHA, said: “We need conditions that enable safe, effective and culturally responsive practice, with cultural governance and knowledge systems embedded and valued alongside clinical governance and biomedical understandings of mental health.
“This includes shared understandings of workforce roles and funding models that empower the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce – who possess unique knowledges and experiences – to operate in a culturally centred way. These proposed reforms build on the strengths of our workforce and our communities, and we are ready to work in partnership to implement them without delay.”
The position paper calls for:
- Formal recognition of the social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention workforce in national frameworks.
- Investment in workforce development across community, lived experience, and professional roles informed by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan 2021- 2031
- Accurate and timely collection and reporting of disaggregated and comprehensive workforce data.
- Collaborate commissioning and funding reform to enable cultural ways of working and to respond to the needs and preference of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Investment in locally designed, interdisciplinary teams centred on cultural knowledge and community authority, supported by development of further knowledge and understanding of their value and impact.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governance embedded in all workforce planning, funding, program delivery and evaluation.
Support services
Lifeline: 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14 for 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services
13YARN: 13 92 76 – a dedicated support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
1800Respect: 1800 737 732
The Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP)
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
QLIFE: 1800 184 527
StandBy Support After Suicide: 1300 727 247
headspace: 1800 650 890
Brother to Brother crisis line (1800 435 799): providing support for men
For further information, and resources, or to access support services: www.gayaadhuwi.org.au.
See Croakey’s archive of articles on social and emotional wellbeing and the cultural determinants of health
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