First Peoples
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this resource may contain images or names of people who have since passed away.
Suicide
This resource contains information about suicide which may be upsetting to some people.
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Journey of wellbeing
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience significantly higher rates of mental health issues and suicide than any other group in Australia. There are also many Aboriginal people involved in supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal people and Aboriginal Service Providers play a crucial role. Much more must be done to work with Aboriginal communities and organisations to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people.
This document contributes to the ongoing conversation about good practice in supporting Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing.
Key Findings:
- The Journey model focuses on collaboration, improving transitions and strengthening mainstream services to build connections between services, organisation and agencies. These concepts are critical in ensuring that clients don’t fall through the cracks when they are transferred between services and ensures that clients feel supported and respected at critical decision-making junctures in their journey.
- Mainstream services need to be appropriately equipped to manage the care of Aboriginal people who present outside of Aboriginal Service Providers (ASP) services. Not only are mainstream services such as local health districts (LHDs) often the only services with 24-hour access, but access to mainstream services should remain an option for Aboriginal people who prefer not to engage with community focused service providers.
- Having strong relationships with and a powerful reputation within the community empowers individuals to take control of their own social and emotional wellbeing. Empowerment of Aboriginal people in this space is about control. Reducing stigma, enhancing mental health literacy and encouraging a soft, supported process of engagement better allows individuals to take control of their own lives and make informed, considered, pro-active decisions about their social and emotional wellbeing.
The Journey model is based upon the advice and direction of Aboriginal communities, community leaders, service providers and the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AH&MRC).
