Recent national findings on mental health and suicide prevention must mark a turning point in the way governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, a leading Indigenous mental health group says.

Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia noted on Monday that the findings of the Productivity Commission Review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement and the Australian National Audit Office's (ANAO) Audit of Suicide Prevention Policy Development and Monitoring demonstrate "commitments alone are not enough".

"Without structural and system reform, and genuine accountability, outcomes will not change," the organisation said.

Gayaa Dhuwi chief executive Rachel Fishlock said the findings present a critical opportunity for governments to reflect, reset and move beyond business as usual.

"We have mechanisms that are intended to support partnership and shared decision-making, but too often the conditions required for those mechanisms to work effectively are not in place," she said.

"If Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are not provided with the right governance architecture, the right processes, the right information, and the time and space to give genuine input, then shared decision-making is not able to occur.

"That creates a situation where commitments exist in principle, but cannot be operationalised in practice."

Gayaa Dhuwi noted that the findings of the Auditor General's Report on the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy showed a process that was "not properly set up to enable Gayaa Dhuwi to perform its role effectively".

The Auditor General found the federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing did not establish clear roles for all parties involved in developing and approving the Strategy, which affected its ability to effectively advise government and contributed to delays.

The report also found that between 2021 and 2024, Gayaa Dhuwi sought advice from the Department on the process for finalising the Strategy, but "either did not receive advice, received inconsistent advice, or received advice that was not aligned with the commitment to work in partnership".

Gayaa Dhuwi said the findings on the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Policy Partnership were also significant, with the Auditor General finding the Department had not put in place governance and funding arrangements consistent with strong partnership and shared decision-making, and had not effectively ensured the Policy Partnership was a genuine partner in suicide prevention policy development.

"The report also found the Policy Partnership had largely operated as an information-sharing forum, limiting its ability to influence policy and make joint recommendations," Gayaa Dhuwi said.

'Reform continues to be endorsed in principle, but not delivered in practice'

Gayaa Dhuwi said the findings align with the organisation's position paper, A System-Wide Approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, which makes clear "reform continues to be endorsed in principle, but not delivered in practice".

The organisation called for structural reform to change the policy, funding and governance settings that "continue to constrain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership", alongside system reform and accountability across mental health and suicide prevention systems.

"That includes ensuring systems are culturally safe, responsive, transparent and capable of working in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples," the group said.

Professor Helen Milroy AM, Chair of Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia, described the situation as a pivotal moment.

"We are at a crossroads of opportunity," Professor Milroy said.

"The evidence is there and the need for change is clear. What matters now is whether governments are prepared to work differently, centre culture and healing, and create the conditions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to genuinely shape the reforms that affect our lives."

Gayaa Dhuwi renewed its call for governments at all levels to "use this moment" to strengthen shared decision-making, reform partnership processes, implement the Priority Reforms of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap with integrity, "to ensure the next phase of national reform delivers lasting change in social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention for our people".

Department agrees "in full or in principle" with all recommendations of ANAO audit

A spokesperson for the federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing told National Indigenous Times the Department acknowledged the findings of the audit into suicide prevention policy development and monitoring and has "agreed in full or in principle with all recommendations and is taking action to address issues identified in this audit".

"This work builds on significant ongoing investment, with over $330 million since 2022‑23 for culturally appropriate supports to improve social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," they said.

"The (federal) government remains committed to working in genuine partnership with Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia and the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Policy Partnership to implement the recommendations."

The Department spokesperson said the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy was developed through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander‑led, co‑design process, with "extensive" community engagement and alignment to national reforms, including the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, and also acknowledged that development of the Strategy "took longer than anticipated".

They said the Department "remains committed" to partnering with Gayaa Dhuwi to co-design an Implementation Plan for the Strategy.

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