Policies and strategies
This information was last updated on 6 December 2024.
Policy context
In Australia, there are numerous policy initiatives to address mental health, suicide prevention and wellbeing at both the national and state and territory levels. The most relevant policy initiatives for First Nations people’s mental health, social and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention are listed below. For an overview of government policies, initiatives and most recent developments, see Australia’s mental health system.
Key national policies and strategies
The Indigenous Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Clearinghouse contributes to Action 13 of the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council agreed on the First National Mental Health Plan (1993–1998) in 1993. The current iteration is the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan (2017–2022). Known as the Fifth Plan, it has 8 priority areas: the fourth area is ‘improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and suicide prevention’.
For more information, see Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.
The National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement (National Agreement) came into effect in March 2022 and was signed by the Australian Government and all states and territory governments. It is supported by bilateral agreements between the Commonwealth and state and territories, committing to joint investment in mental health and suicide prevention services.
A key priority under the National Agreement is to effectively meet the mental health and suicide prevention needs of different population groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Clause 110 of the National Agreement commits governments to work in partnership with First Nations peoples, their communities, organisations and businesses to improve First Nations’ mental health, social and emotional wellbeing, and access to, and experience with, mental health and wellbeing services. It notes that its implementation will require:
- Supporting implementation of the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration.
- Ensuring alignment with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and associated Implementation Plans.
- Ensuring alignment with other relevant national commitments and agreements for First Nations’ mental health and suicide prevention including the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy, and the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing.
- Recognising and enabling leadership of First Nations peoples throughout the mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention system.
- Collaborating with ACCHS, organisations and other service providers wherever possible to improve First Nations people’s access to mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention services and deliver services in a culturally and locally appropriate manner.
For more information, see National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
This is a framework for social and emotional health service provision that would be culturally appropriate for First Nations people, whether they were attending a First Nations-specific or mainstream service. It was designed to support the implementation of the Fifth Plan and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023. For more information, see National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing 2017-2023.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy (NATSISPS) was first released in 2013 in response to the June 2010 report of the Inquiry into Suicide in Australia by the Senate Affairs References Committee: The Hidden toll: suicide in Australia. The NATSISPS was developed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) experts and leaders in mental health and suicide prevention as a strategic response to suicide among the First Nations population. The updated NATSISPS (2025 to 2035) builds on the original framework to ensure sustained reduction in suicide and self-harm among First Nations communities through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community leadership and governance. It highlights the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, cultural practices, lived experiences, holistic care, and local solutions to drive meaningful change.
The strategy provides a roadmap for state and territory governments to work in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations and communities to reduce the rates of suicide and self-harm amongst among First Nations people. It accounts for several changes within the Australian mental health system and aims to incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural safety with clinical approaches to achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health and suicide prevention outcomes for First Nations people. For more information, see National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy.
Other national mental health and suicide prevention policies and strategies
The National Mental Health Workforce Strategy 2022–2032 and associated documents provide a vision and roadmap for building a sustainable workforce that is skilled, distributed and supported to deliver mental health treatment, care and support that meets current and future population needs. Actions under the strategy aim to address critical shortages in key areas, including the First Nations mental health workforce. For more information, see National Mental Health Workforce Strategy 2022–2032.
The National Digital Mental Health Framework was developed as an outcome of Action 32 of The Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan (the Fifth Plan) and released in 2021. Comprehensive research about the current state of Australia’s digital mental health ecosystem and a series of national consultations with the sector, considered against recommendations made through the Productivity Commission’s 2020 Inquiry into Mental health, has informed development of this Framework. The Framework defines action areas to improve service access, reduce duplication of effort and investment, and embed digital mental health services in the broader mental health service system. It also documents the system enablers that will support service optimisation over time. For more information, see National Digital Mental Health Framework.
The National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy provides a strong plan for the development of services and programs to support the mental health and wellbeing of children in all age groups. While the strategy focuses on all children, it does include specific strategies for First Nations children and families, such as recognition of the importance of the cultural and linguistic diversity of First Nations communities, and the importance of co-design and First Nations community control. The strategy requires that priority be given to First Nations children in kinship and community care, as well as requiring schools and early childhood learning centres to increase cultural accessibility for First Nations children within their programs. For more information, see National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health policies and strategies
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021–2031 was released by the Department of Health in 2021. It is a collaborative effort with First Nations health leaders to enhance the wellbeing of these communities. The plan takes a holistic approach, addressing physical, emotional and cultural health through partnerships and community-controlled primary care. Prevention is emphasised via health promotion, early intervention and trauma-informed practices. For more information, see National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021–2031.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan 2021–2031 was co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and released by the Department of Health in 2021. The plan’s target is for First Nations people to be fully represented in the health workforce by 2031. It includes actions to attract, recruit and retain workers across all roles, levels and locations within the health sector. For more information, see National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan 2021–2031.
The Cultural Respect Framework was developed for the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Standing Committee. This framework commits the Australian Government and all states and territories to embedding cultural respect principles into their health systems. This framework is intended for the government health sector, health departments and hospital and primary health care settings to guide strategies to improve culturally respectful services. For more information, see Cultural respect framework 2016 – 2026 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework aims to provide a model for higher education providers to successfully implement Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health curricula. It provides clear learning outcomes and cultural capabilities that could be applied widely across tertiary learning contexts and aims to prepare graduates across health professions to provide culturally safe health services to First Nations people. For more information, see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework.
Other relevant national policies
The National Preventive Health Strategy 2021–2030 was released by the Department of Health and Aged Care in 2021. It details a long-term approach to prevention that focuses on enhancing the health and wellbeing of all Australians. Increasing physical activity is a key area within the Framework for Action. First Nations people are a priority population within the Strategy. The Strategy acknowledges that health for First Nations people is recognised more holistically, being a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing. Mental health policy addresses SEWB for First Nations people, incorporating concepts of land-connection, spirituality and family. There are several components that target First Nations people that include an emphasis on the importance of connection to land, spirituality, ancestry and family and community. For more information, see National Preventive Health Strategy 2021–2030.
The Australian Student Wellbeing Framework was developed and implemented by the Education Council in 2020. The Framework outlines best practice principles for implementing policies and practices that create positive learning policies environments for school students. The Framework does discuss wellbeing in a general way, and mentions social and emotional outcomes for students as a way of promoting staff wellbeing and as part of the teaching curriculum. It does not discuss mental health and wellbeing apart from mentions of emotional wellbeing or outcomes. The Framework does outline building relationships with First Nations families and communities as a way of ensuring a culturally safe environment and to exchange knowledge on wellbeing. For more information, see The Australian Student Wellbeing Framework.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Strategy 2015 was endorsed in 2015 by education ministers, who agreed to a set of priorities and principles to inform state and territory approaches to First Nations education. The 2015 Strategy does not mention student mental health and wellbeing at all. Attendance is one of the Strategy’s priority areas, stating that attendance and engagement are essential for students to achieve their potential. The Strategy also states that there is a need to better understand the complexities that impact on school attendance and to identify strategies that support First Nations students' attendance at school and their engagement in education. For more information, see National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Strategy.
State and territory policies and strategies
Mental health and suicide prevention
The updated Strategic Framework for Suicide Prevention in NSW 2022–2027 provides key directions for a five-year, whole-of-government approach to support a whole-of-community response to suicide prevention across NSW. The updated framework builds on the significant achievements of the 2018–2023 Framework and draws upon and aligns with: the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, the National Suicide Prevention Adviser's Final Advice and emerging evidence and achievements. For more information, see Strategic Framework for Suicide Prevention in NSW 2022-2027.
Balit Murrup means ‘strong spirit’ in the Woi-wurring language. Balit Murrup was released by the Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services in 2017. Its objective is to reduce the rates of suicide, mental illness and psychological distress and so reduce the gap in health outcomes between Aboriginal Victorians and the general population. The framework is a key commitment under Victoria’s 10-year mental health plan. For more information, see Balit Murrup: Aboriginal social emotional wellbeing framework 2017-2027.
The Korin Korin Balit-Djak plan is a companion document to Balit Murrup. It details the ways in which the Victorian government will work with Aboriginal communities, community organisations, other government departments and service providers to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal Australians in Victoria. For more information, see Korin Korin Balit-Djak.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework aims to increase workforce opportunity for First Nations people in the Queensland Government health sector in clinical, non-clinical and leadership roles. Through building a supported health workforce that has culturally safe and responsive health care, positive health outcomes for First Nations can be achieved. For more information, see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework.
Western Australian Department of Health in 2015. It was designed to guide programs and services with the goal of improving the health and wellbeing of Western Australian communities and solely focuses on First Nations people. Seven priority areas of the framework include addressing risk factors (physical activity, suicide prevention, mental health and SEWB falls under), managing illness better, building community capacity, better health systems, First Nations workforce development, data/ evidence/ research, addressing the social determinants. For more information, see WA Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Framework 2015–2030.
Other relevant policies and strategies
The Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2019–2023, developed by the Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services works to address mental health and wellbeing, First Nations health, sexual/reproductive health, active living and promoting healthy lifestyles. Interventions are implemented to address these domains and to decrease inequities in Victoria over a four-year period. Implementation aims to ensure that First Nations communities in Victoria have access to culturally appropriate and effective healthcare services. For more information, see Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2019–2023.
Key agreements and inquiries
Agreements
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap (Commonwealth of Australia 2020) aims to address inequality and improve life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through collaborative efforts between different levels of government in Australia. It involves formal partnerships; community-controlled sectors; better government organisations; and improved data access, focusing on 19 targets (including social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) and suicide prevention). For more information, see National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
The Indigenous Evaluation Strategy was released in October 2020 and provides a framework to help Australian Government agencies to put First Nations people at the centre of the evaluations of policies and programs that affect them. For more information, see Indigenous Evaluation Strategy.
In 2002, the Council of Australian Governments commissioned the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision to develop, and regularly report on, a set of indicators that could show the impact of policies and programs designed to improve First Nations people’s standard of living. The most recent report was released in 2020. For more information, see Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2020.
Inquiries
The Mental Health, Inquiry Report examines the influences and effects of mental health on Australians and outlines priority reforms related to prevention, early intervention, experience with health and related services and improving psychological health in the workplace. The report was prepared by the Productivity Commission and published in November 2020. For more information, see Mental health.
The Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) project investigated how to best promote the human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls and their communities. The project was a partnership between the Indigenous Affairs Group of the Commonwealth Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, now the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) and the Australian Human Rights Commission. The project provided recommendations to improve the lives of women and girls across a broad range of subject areas, including social and emotional wellbeing and mental health. For more information, see Wiyi Yani U Thangani Report (2020).
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was established in 2013 in response to instances and allegations of child sexual abuse in Australia. The Royal Commission released its findings in 2017. The report suggested that more than 6,800 children had been sexually abused in institutions across Australia, including 985 people who identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. For more information, see the Royal Commission’s Final Report.
The Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory was established in 2016 to inquire into the treatment of children detained in detention facilities and child protection in the Northern Territory. The inquiries revealed accounts of abuse against children in youth detention. The Final Report contains 147 findings and makes 227 recommendations. It outlines a long-term reform agenda to the Northern Territory’s child protection and youth justice systems. For more information, see The Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory.
The Bringing Them Home report was published in 1997. The inquiry was commissioned in 1995 to:
- trace the past laws, practices and policies that resulted in the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families
- examine the adequacy of and the need for any changes in current laws, practices and policies relating to services and procedures currently available to those First Nations people who were affected by the separation
- examine the principles relevant to determining the justification for compensation for persons or communities affected by such separations
- examine current laws, practices and policies with respect to the placement and care of First Nations children and advise on any changes required taking into account the principle of self-determination by First Nations peoples.
For more information, see Bringing them Home Report (1997).
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody was established in response to growing public concern over deaths of First Nations people in custody. The final report made 339 recommendations about procedures for First Nations people in custody as well as social factors including youth policy, alcohol, health, employment, housing, land rights, self-determination and reconciliation. The 1991 report highlighted the mental health of offenders and the over-criminalisation of First Nations people as key factors contributing to suicides and other deaths in custody. For more information, see Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.