The National Agreement was developed as a partnership, between Indigenous organisations and the Commonwealth, State and Territory and local governments, intended to overcome the inequality experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It includes 17 targets, with the partners’ commitments against these to be confirmed by July 2021.

They include Target 14, which relates to improving social and emotional wellbeing and reducing suicide.
Several other targets relate to life circumstances that are directly relevant to suicide prevention, including:
– Target 7: Youth employment and education
– Target 9: Appropriate, affordable housing
– Target 10: Reducing incarceration of adults
– Target 11: Reducing youth detention
– Target 13: Reducing family violence
– Target 15: Promoting connection to Country
– Target 16: Access to culture and language

Across all domains, four Priority Reforms have been agreed, all of which are likely to impact on PHNs’ commissioning relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, requiring shared leadership, improved collaboration and greater accountability for progress.

All parties to the agreement are required to publish an Implementation Plan for how they will progress reforms to achieve the targets. These documents provide detailed information about suicide prevention investment at jurisdictional levels.