Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience disproportionally high rates of suicide and other health inequities. This report outlines the requirements of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander systems approach to suicide prevention and proposes a framework and implementation guidelines for such an approach.

This chapter discusses some of the complex issues surrounding the notion of cultural competence—and the critical need for practitioners to develop knowledge, skills, understandings and attributes to be responsive in diverse cultural settings. The argument for culturally competent mental health practitioners and services is situated within a human rights framework which underpins the principles, standards...