Minister for Indigenous Australians
Thank you for an opportunity to speak at the launch of the I-ASIST program.
I am joining you today from the lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, and I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
I’d also like to acknowledge and pay my respects to the Traditional Owners and Custodians and of all the lands around the country that you all are joining from today – and any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in attendance.
For those of you joining us today who have been affected by the death of a loved one, lost too soon to suicide, please accept my deepest and sincerest condolences.
Suicide, as we all know, is devastating for families and communities. Any death by suicide serves as a constant reminder for what more we all need to be doing to give our people hope for the future and the support they need to overcome their darkest hours.
The fact that Indigenous people are dying by suicide at twice the rate of other Australians is one of the most complex and urgent challenges we face as a nation – we will need to use every tool at our disposal to have a substantial impact.
I thank Professor Toombs and LivingWorks Australia for all your hard work over the past seven years in developing the world’s first suicide intervention skills training program for Indigenous Australians.
This is an incredibly valuable resource and I congratulate you on delivering this important work.
I’d also like to congratulate Professor Toombs on receiving the ‘Impact’ award for I-ASIST at the 2021 LiFE Awards from the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley.
This award recognises the effectiveness of I-ASIST in addressing, preventing and responding to suicidal behaviours.
Living Works I-ASIST will be an important tool in Closing the Gap and ensuring a sustained reduction in the number of suicide deaths down to zero.
As many would know, in 2020 all governments signed the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap – with, for the first time, shared accountability, greater transparency and embedding working in partnership across all levels of government and the Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations.
Target 14 isa significant and sustained reduction in suicide of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people towards zero – and is now the responsibility of all governments and jurisdictions must report annually on their progress towards realising this target.
I-ASIST is also supporting healthcare careers for Indigenous trainers, as they deliver suicide first aid skills to their local communities in a culturally appropriate and respectful way.
I’ve always believe that the changes will come at community level.
The trainers have a lived experience of suicide and bring with them knowledge, experience and empathy.
We know that there is a need to reach people in distress earlier to prevent the onset of suicidal behaviour. A focus on prevention and early intervention with a more integrated and compassionate mental health system is key.
The Morrison Government heard these messages loud and clear through the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry Report on Mental Health, the National Suicide Prevention Adviser’s Final Advice, as well as the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
For this reason, the 2021-22 Budget included the single largest Commonwealth investment in mental health and suicide prevention in Australia’s history – a record $2.3 billion, including $79 million specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and suicide prevention.
Our Government will continue to partner at the national level with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders in mental health, suicide prevention and social and emotional wellbeing.
We will also continue to work with communities and Indigenous organisations to better design and deliver mental health and suicide prevention services that meet the needs of Indigenous Australians.
Thank you for giving me the privilege of being with you today. Congratulations to Professor Toombs, LivingWorks Australia and all involved in launching this vital program.
It gives me great pleasure to launch your program and I’d like to thank all the Indigenous trainers for their dedication to their communities. I wish you all the best.
And I want you to take care in the work that you do to ensure you also look after yourself in providing the levels of support and intervention.
