In 2022, the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments signed a new National Agreement on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, which sets out new expectations for government mental health and suicide prevention services, including enhanced commitments to culturally-responsive services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Both tiers of government are responsible for progress towards the National Agreement on Closing the Gap as it relates to mental health and suicide prevention, including:

• Achieving Target 14: a significant and sustained reduction in suicide of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples towards zero
• empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to share decision-making authority with governments through formal partnership arrangements;
• building a strong, sustainable community-controlled sector to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;
• ensuring all services funded by Australian governments are culturally safe and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
• ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have access to, and training and support to use, locally relevant data and information to set and monitor the implementation of efforts to close the gap, their priorities, and drive their own development.

The Commonwealth remains responsible for funding Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) to deliver social and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention services, through:

• Primary Health Networks
• Medicare Benefits Scheme arrangements
• direct grants

State and Territory government service providers and service commissioning agencies (including hospital and community mental health services), as well as Commonwealth services, must:

• Support the implementation of the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration;
• Recognise and enable leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout the mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention system;
• Ensure services and policies are compatible with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy, the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing, and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan 2021-2031;
• Collaborate with ACCHOs and other service providers to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s access to mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention services;
• Deliver services in a culturally and locally appropriate manner;
• Support regional planning and commissioning, including:
  • Allowing flexibility in funding to respond to local needs
  • Ensuring funding is distributed fairly based on needs
  • Being transparent about funding decisions
• Grow the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the mental health and suicide prevention workforce through training, recruitment and retention strategies, and by supporting culturally safe workplaces;
• Allocate a minimum number of scholarships, traineeships, clinical placements and jobs to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, reflecting the local population.