Overview
Connection to family, kinship and community has a strong influence on social and emotional wellbeing. It is vital that all Aboriginal Victorians have social networks they can draw upon for everyday practical and emotional support, as well as during times of need.
Measures under Goal 14 have varied in performance
Psychological distress has decreased in the short term but increased in the long term.
Mental health service provision has increased. This could indicate that services are more accessible to Aboriginal people, or it could mean demand has increased.
Goal 14 aligns with the following Closing the Gap Outcome and Target
Outcome 14 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enjoy high levels of social and emotional wellbeing.
- Target 14 Significant and sustained reduction in suicide of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people towards zero.
The VAAF contains measures related to social and emotional wellbeing but not suicide.
Closing the Gap - How Victoria is tracking nationally
Outcome 14: For the years 2020 to 2024, the mortality due to suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria was 33.8 per 100,000 people. Of the six jurisdictions with available data (after adjusting for differences in population age structures), Victoria has the third highest suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Data Note
The following measures rely on datasets that are infrequently collected. No new data was available at the time of reporting.
- Measure 14.1.3 Proportion reporting strong social networks they can draw on in times of crisis
- Measure 14.1.4 Proportion of Aboriginal Victorians with a disability that have strong social support networks
Historical data for these measures is available on the First Peoples – State Relations website
14.1 Improve Aboriginal mental health and social and emotional wellbeing
Measure 14.1.1 Proportion reporting ‘high or very high’ levels of psychological distress
What does the data say?
In 2024, 33.1 per cent of Aboriginal respondents to the VPHS reported high or very high levels of psychological distress.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
The proportion of Aboriginal respondents reporting high or very high psychological distress was 5.4 percentage points lower in 2024 than in 2023. However, the proportion has increased by 8.1 percentage points since 2017.
Increased reporting of psychological distress means that results for this measure are getting worse over the long term.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024, 19.5 per cent of non-Aboriginal respondents to the VPHS reported high or very high levels of psychological distress.
Aboriginal respondents to the VPHS were 1.7 times more likely to report high or very high levels of psychological distress in 2024.
Measure 14.1.2 Rate of self-harm related emergency department presentations (by 15-24 years, and all)
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, there were 2,023 emergency department presentations for self-harm by Aboriginal patients. This represents 24.2 patients per 1,000 Aboriginal people.
Of those, 740 were by Aboriginal patients aged 15-24 years old. This represents 46.2 emergency department presentation per 1,000 Aboriginal 15–24-year-olds.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
There were 81 more emergency department presentations for self-harm for Aboriginal people of all ages in 2024-25 than in 2023–24, and 7 fewer for 15–24-year-old Aboriginal people.
In the short term, the rate of emergency department presentations for self-harm has not changed. Since 2018–19, the rate per 1,000 has risen by 9.8. In the 15-24-year-old Aboriginal population, the rate has increased 13.6.
Long-term increases in self-harm related emergency department presentations mean that results for this measure are getting worse.
Note: due to changes in the way hospitals identify self-harm, data before 2018–19 cannot be compared with contemporary data.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024–25, there were 24,689 emergency department presentations for self-harm by non-Aboriginal patients. This represents 3.6 patients per 1,000 non-Aboriginal people.
Of those, 7,677 were made by non-Aboriginal patients aged 15-24 years old. This represents 8.8 emergency department presentation per 1,000 non-Aboriginal 15–24-year-olds.
Aboriginal 15–24-year-olds were 5.3 times more likely to present to emergency departments for self-harm. For all ages Aboriginal people are 6.7 times more likely to present to emergency departments for self-harm.
Measure 14.1.5 Number of Aboriginal Victorians receiving clinical mental health services
What does the data say?
In 2023–24, the rate of community mental health care contacts was 1,639 per 1,000 Aboriginal people. Note that this number can be larger than 1,000 per 1,000 as contacts are not unique, meaning one person can have several contacts in the year.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
There were 199 more community mental health care service contacts per 1,000 Aboriginal people in 2023-24 than in 2022–23. Since 2014–15, the number has risen by 854 per 1,000.
It is difficult to assess whether this measure is improving. Increase in community mental health care service contacts could mean that more people are accessing the services they need, or it could mean that more people require those services who did not need them before.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2023–24, there were 364 per 1,000 non-Aboriginal community mental health care service contacts. The rate of community mental health care service contacts has grown over the past decade for the non-Aboriginal population, but more slowly.
Multi-disciplinary Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing team at Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative
SDRF enabler 2: Address racism and promote cultural safety
Throughout 2024-25, the Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing team at Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative strengthened mental health outcomes for Aboriginal people through culturally safe, trauma-informed support. More than 200 community members accessed counselling, advocacy and case management, delivered in holistic, person-centred ways that promoted healing and empowerment.
The launch of the Counselling and Wellbeing Hub in March 2025 improved access, privacy and coordination by co-locating counsellors, clinicians and allied health professionals. Streamlined referral pathways and a dedicated social and emotional wellbeing intake have increased self-referrals and reduced reliance on mainstream services, reflecting growing community trust.
Weekly Men’s and Women’s social and emotional wellbeing groups continued to foster belonging, resilience and cultural identity, engaging up to 15 participants each session.
This Aboriginal-led, strengths-based model demonstrates measurable improvements in access, early intervention and long-term wellbeing for community members.
Goal 14 – Victorian Government Investment and Action
The key Aboriginal Governance Forums for realising outcomes in this Domain are the Victorian Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Partnership Forum and the Aboriginal Strategic Governance Forum.
Social and emotional wellbeing
Supporting self-determined Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing teams in ACCHOs
In 2024-25, statewide coverage was achieved with the expansion of 25 multi-disciplinary social and emotional wellbeing teams in ACCHOs. These social and emotional wellbeing teams, comprising a workforce of over 250 staff, supported over 5,000 community members in 2024-25.
Key outcomes for community members included stronger social and community connections, pride in culture, greater ability to self-regulate negative emotions, sustained engagement in treatments, increased willingness to seek help and creating a sense of control of own life and resilience.
Balit Durn Durn Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing
VACCHO’s Balit Durn Durn Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing (the Balit Durn Durn Centre), established in 2022, provides sector leadership and supports excellence in Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing practice.
In 2024-25, the Balit Durn Durn Centre completed an 18-month Aboriginal-led co-design service model for:
- Two Aboriginal Healing Centres - onsite and outreach healing programs to Aboriginal communities across Victoria (in response to Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System final report recommendation 33.1).
- The Nest - an intensive mental health and social and emotional wellbeing service for children aged 0 -11 years and their families (in response to Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System final report recommendation 33.1).
The service model for the two Aboriginal Healing Centres was developed through 3,599 hours of community consultation and analysis of evidence-based, best practice approaches of healing using both cultural and clinical methods.
For the Nest, Balit Durn Durn Centre undertook a rigorous co-design process that drew on the expert knowledge and lived experiences of:
- Aboriginal families across Victoria
- sector leaders and workforces from both Aboriginal Community Controlled and mainstream organisations focused on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal families
- an Expert Advisory Group.
The Gathering Place, Morwell
DH continues to support delivery of The Gathering Place (TGP) in Morwell. TGP was established in 2017 in response to a priority to strengthen community connections and culture following the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry.
TGP delivers community led programs to support the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of local Aboriginal communities in the Latrobe Valley. It provides a culturally safe and inclusive space that promotes and supports self-determination, providing the opportunity to gather, learn, share and celebrate culture.
In 2025-26, DH increased the funding allocated to Berry Street to employ a cultural consultant and undertake additional community engagement activities. Over the past 12 months, DH has worked closely with stakeholders, including VACCHO, to support TGP to transition from Berry Street to an Aboriginal community-controlled, self-determined model.
Suicide prevention and response
Victorian Suicide Prevention and Response Strategy 2024-34
The Victorian Suicide Prevention and Response Strategy 2024-34, launched in September 2024, is supported by rolling implementation plans and an accountability framework. The strategy aims to reduce the rate of suicide and support those impacted by it. It includes six priority areas to achieve a vision of ‘All Victorians working together to reduce suicide’.
The strategy and its accompanying documents, shaped by extensive consultation and co-design, recognise the importance of embedding Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing and respond to the experiences and perspectives of the community.
Supported by investment from the Victorian Government, VACCHO’s Balit Durn Durn Centre established the Garrka Yap-u Burrundyata (Wotjabolik language, meaning ‘holding the light in the darkness’) Suicide Prevention Knowledge Holders Group to elevate Aboriginal voices and share collective knowledge, guidance and experience. The Garrka Yap-u Burrundyata Suicide Prevention Knowledge Holders Group informs the design and development of suicide prevention initiatives for Aboriginal people and their families to ensure access to culturally safe services, and to support de-stigmatising suicide and asking for help.
Strong Brother Strong Sister
In 2024–25, Strong Brother Strong Sister provided suicide prevention and social and emotional wellbeing supports to 419 Aboriginal young people in the City of Greater Geelong and surrounding region. Every young person taking part in the Strong Brother Strong Sister program receives cultural mentoring and is involved in creating a tailored plan to support their needs, strengths and passions.
Yarning Safe N Strong
The Yarning Safe N Strong helpline, operated by the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, continued to deliver 24-hour, 7 day a week tele-counselling to Aboriginal people across the state. Yarning Safe N Strong provides culturally safe and trauma informed counselling with over 200 calls received per month during 2024-25.
Design of mental health crisis reforms
In April 2025 to June 2025, DH held consultations with the Balit Durn Durn Centre and 43 ACCHO representatives, including the VACCHO Mental Health Network Community of Practice, to commence the design process for new and enhanced mental health crisis services. This work contributes to action on the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System recommendations 8, 9 and 10 to design a comprehensive networked system of mental health crisis supports across the lifespan.
Consultations focused on culturally safe service options and pathways for Aboriginal people. The outputs of the design formed recommendations to the Victorian Government as part of a package of mental health crisis reforms, which incorporated consideration of recommendation 73 and 76(d) from Yoorrook Justice Commission final report, Yoorrook for Transformation (2025). The Victorian Government is considering the outputs of the design. DH will take opportunities for further engagement on these important reforms.
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