Role
The partnership aims to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The focus is to:
- improve social and emotional wellbeing
- improve mental health
- reduce suicide rates.
The partnership is between:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives
- the Australian Government
- state and territory governments.
It is part of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
It aims to develop a ‘joined-up approach’ between partner members. This approach focuses on shared goals.
The Social and Emotional Wellbeing Policy Partnership is one of 5 policy partnerships being set up. The 5 policy areas are:
- social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB)
- justice (adult and youth incarceration)
- housing
- early childhood care and development
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
The partnership model is a new way for government to work alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are equal partners with governments in the process. It involves:
- advocacy
- consultation
- shared decisions
- accountability.
The Australian Government committed $8.6 million from 2022–23 to set up the partnership. This includes funding for Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia to provide joint administrative support with the Department of Health and Aged Care.
At the Mid-Year Economic Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) 2024-2025, the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Policy Partnership received an additional $2.25 million over one year. This extension will allow the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Policy partnership to continue their important work for another year until the end of June 2026.
The partnership approaches social and emotional wellbeing in a broad and holistic way. It looks at a range of factors including:
- prevention
- protective factors
- mental health
- suicide prevention
- support after suicide.
What social and emotional wellbeing is
Social and emotional wellbeing includes a collective sense of self that is defined by connections to:
- mind
- body
- family
- community
- culture
- country
- spirituality.
Furthermore, sense of self is significantly impacted by historical, political, social, and cultural determinants of health.
The concept also recognises:
- the significant diversity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia
- how culture evolves and adapts over time
- how experiences and expressions of social and emotional wellbeing can change over an individual’s lifespan.
Learn more about social and emotional wellbeing in our agreement to implement.
Agreement to implement (terms of reference)
Learn about the agreement to implement.
Members
The partnership has no more than 20 members. Representation is at least equal between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parties and government parties.
The partnership is co-chaired by a:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander co-chair who is:
- a senior representative of Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia and
- government co-chair who is:
- a deputy secretary from the Department of Health and Aged Care.
There is also a deputy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander co-chair who is:
- the Chief Executive Officer of Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia.
Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia is the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention.
The Department of Health and Aged Care has lead policy responsibility for mental health and suicide prevention.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander party includes:
- 5 representatives from Coalition of Peaks (including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander co-chair):
| Members | Representing |
|---|---|
| Representative from Coalition of Peaks | Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia |
| Representative from Coalition of Peaks | National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation |
| Representative from Coalition of Peaks | Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council |
| Representative from Coalition of Peaks | Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service |
| Representative from Coalition of Peaks | The Healing Foundation |
- 5 independent representatives – selected through an open process by the Coalition of Peaks.
The government party includes:
| Members | Representing |
|---|---|
| Australian Government co-chair | Australian Government |
| 8 senior government officials | Each state and territory |
| Senior official | National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) as a non-voting member |
NIAA is the Commonwealth Agency with lead policy responsibility for social and emotional wellbeing.
See the agreement to implement for a full list of partnership members.
Objectives
The objectives of the partnership are to:
- Establish a ‘joined-up’ approach between all governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives.
- Improve social and emotional wellbeing and mental health outcomes and reduce suicide rates.
- Give a focus to the priority reforms in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (national agreement), and how they can make the changes needed to accelerate improved levels of social and emotional wellbeing in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Identify specific measures to accelerate improved levels of social and emotional wellbeing and mental health outcomes and reduce suicide rates.
- Identify opportunities to work more effectively across governments, reduce service gaps and duplication and improve outcomes under the national agreement.
- Support efforts to implement the national agreement. This includes meeting targets for the priority reform areas and socioeconomic outcomes.
- Enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-led outcomes on Closing the Gap, and support community-led development initiatives.
- Enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives, communities and organisations to negotiate and implement agreements with governments to address all priority reforms and policy strategies to support the national agreement.
Meetings
- Meeting 1 was held on 30–31 March 2023 in Adelaide, South Australia.
- Meeting 2 was held on 3 August 2023 in Darwin, Northern Territory.
- Meeting 3 was held on 9 November 2023 in Melbourne, Victoria.
- Meeting 4 was held on 14 March 2024 in Sydney, New South Wales.
- Meeting 5 was held on 29 August 2024 in Broome, Western Australia.
The partnership will meet at least 4 times a year.
Communiques
Social and Emotional Wellbeing Policy Partnership – Communiques
Related committees or groups
Related committees or groups are:
- Closing the Gap Joint Council
- Justice Policy Partnership
- Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership
- Housing Policy Partnership
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Policy Partnership.
Contact
