Across the community-managed mental health sector, Mental Health Coordinating Council members are turning reconciliation into practice through resources and programs that support culturally safe care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, connection to culture, healing and self-determination.

Each year, National Sorry Day, observed on May 26, and National Reconciliation Week, held 27 May to 3 June, invite us to reflect on our shared history and the responsibility we all hold, as community-managed mental health workers and citizens, in shaping a more just and inclusive future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, All In, is a call for all Australians to actively contribute to reconciliation through meaningful action, shared responsibility and ongoing commitment.

For the community-managed mental health sector, this includes recognising the importance of culturally safe, healing-centred approaches and supporting the leadership, knowledge and self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

Note: The term ‘social and emotional wellbeing’ over mental health is preferred and used by many First Nations peoples, to describe the social, emotional, spiritual and cultural wellbeing of a person. This encompasses the mind, body, spirit, and connection to Country.

Below are a few resources and programs from our members, providing pathways to support this work.

ACON: culturally sensitive health programs

ACON supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who identify as LGBTQ+, Sistergirl, Brotherboy, transgender, or who are living with HIV through culturally sensitive sexual health, HIV, and community wellbeing programs.

Black Dog Institute: resource hub

Black Dog Institute provides First Nations resources focused on culturally appropriate social and emotional wellbeing support.
These include the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, a Lived Experience Network, a First Nations wellbeing PhD scholarship, crisis-support guidance, and links to national Aboriginal community controlled services.

ReachOut Australia: Yarn Up

ReachOut Australia’s First Nations resources centre on Yarn Up, a safe online space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to connect with community and access wellbeing support. Resources cover racism, shame, grief, family, school, culture, mindfulness, trusted support people and future pathways.

Lifeline Australia: 13YARN

13YARN is a free, 24/7 crisis support line that is led, co-designed, developed and delivered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Ted Noffs Foundation: Deadly Dreaming

Deadly Dreaming is a Ted Noffs Foundation cultural program for First Nations young people, offering creative and traditional workshops in schools and communities. Led by First Nations facilitators, it supports cultural connection, belonging and engagement across Western Sydney, Nepean, Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains.

Weave Youth and Community Services: Aboriginal healing Program

Weave Youth and Community Services is a place-based, community-led organisation on Gadigal and Bidjigal lands in Sydney, providing wraparound support across housing, employment, education, social and emotional wellbeing, and connection to culture.

Weave’s Aboriginal Healing Program supports long-term healing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients through cultural engagement and practice aligned with the Aboriginal Healing Framework.

our work

A Guide to Culturally Safe Practice in Mental Health

MHCC’s co-designed resource for the mental health sector helps carers, supporters and organisational leaders in mental health services, work collaboratively and respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Aboriginal Peer Workforce Training Program

We are proud to announce that we will soon be delivering an Aboriginal Peer Workforce Training Program, funded by the NSW Ministry of Health’s Mental Health Branch, Aboriginal Mental Health. The program will provide fully subsidised training for a number of Aboriginal students to complete a culturally adapted version of the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work. It will also support Aboriginal Mental Health Peer Workers to complete the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, helping to deliver Aboriginal Peer Work training into the future.

Reconciliation Action Plan

MHCC is continuing our own reconciliation journey. Walking alongside members of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group, we have been progressing our Innovate RAP with Reconciliation Australia, including further development work across the key pillars of relationships, respect, opportunities and governance.

These initiatives are important steps, but they are only part of an ongoing process of learning, accountability and relationship building to support sustained action.