Celebrating our Proud Spirits and Futures on Gayaa Dhuwi Day
Yesterday, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia marked Gayaa Dhuwi Day, our annual celebration recognising the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration and the work of the organisation.
This year, we proudly celebrate two major milestones: the 10th anniversary of the Declaration, and five years since the establishment of Gayaa Dhuwi as the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention.
The Declaration is the foundation of our work promoting a best of both worlds approach in which cultural and clinical interventions are combined to support our peoples' social and emotional wellbeing.
It is a call to action for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership across all parts of the Australian mental health system, with the goal of achieving the highest attainable standard of mental health and suicide prevention outcomes for our communities.
The Declaration builds on the international Wharerātā Declaration, bringing its global vision for Indigenous leadership in mental health into the Australian context to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, culture, and leadership are embedded across mental health system.
"Over the past 10 years, the Gayaa Dhuwi Declaration has elevated the importance of culture, community, and self-determination in mental health care, creating an environment in which system wide change can happen within the Australian mental health system," said Ms Rachel Fishlock, CEO of Gayaa Dhuwi.
Released earlier this year, the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration Framework and Implementation Plan is a blueprint for culturally safe, community-led social and emotional wellbeing services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
"The Declaration's Framework and Implementation Plan marks a significant step in our ongoing journey to improve social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention outcomes for our people. It stands as a testament to our collective commitment to the rich cultural heritage, wisdom, and resilience of our communities," said Professor Helen Milroy AM, Chair of Gayaa Dhuwi.
This year, Gayaa Dhuwi Day was celebrated during a Welcome Reception for the 2025 Gayaa Dhuwi Conference in Garramilla (Darwin), on the lands of the Larrakia people.
This year's conference theme, Proud Futures, recognises and celebrates the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in championing the next generation, celebrating identity, honouring self-determination, and creating a lasting legacy for cultural continuity over the next 65,000+ years.
Gayaa Dhuwi reminds the public and media outlets of the importance of responsible and culturally respectful reporting when it comes to issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This includes adhering to the Good Yarn Guidelines and ensuring that crisis support services are promoted effectively.
24/7 crisis helpline services available to the community include:
- 13 YARN (139276) – a dedicated support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Brother to Brother crisis line (1800 435 799) – providing support for men
- Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) – for young people in need of support
