THE CONFERENCE
The 2026 National Indigenous Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Conference will be held in Brisbane QLD on 27–29 August 2026 as a powerful national gathering grounded in culture, connection, and collective responsibility bringing together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and allies to strengthen social and emotional wellbeing and confront the ongoing impact of suicide across communities. More than a conference, this is a movement for healing, truth, and transformation. At its heart lies a deep understanding: that culture is not an add-on to wellbeing rather it is the foundation of it. Connection to Country, community, identity, and spirit is central to healing, resilience, and the prevention of suicide. This gathering creates a culturally safe and empowering space where these truths are honoured, lived experiences are respected, and Indigenous knowledge leads the way forward. Elders, young people, community leaders, lived experience advocates, health professionals, policymakers, researchers, and frontline workers will come together to share knowledge, listen deeply, and walk alongside one another. Through story, dialogue, and action, the conference amplifies the voices of those with lived and living experience ensuring solutions are not only informed by communities, but led by communities..
Held at a critical moment for the nation, the conference aligns with key national priorities including the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025–2035, the Closing the Gap Agreement, and the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration Framework. These frameworks collectively call for culturally safe systems, Indigenous leadership, and community-controlled solutions to address the growing mental health challenges facing First Nations peoples. Across Australia particularly in remote, rural, and regional communities, social and emotional wellbeing continues to be shaped by intergenerational trauma, colonisation, systemic inequities, and barriers to accessing culturally appropriate care. This conference directly responds to these realities by elevating community-led, trauma-informed, and culturally grounded approaches that are already making a difference on Country. Delegates will engage in meaningful yarning about strengthening partnerships between governments, communities and service providers to ensure that policy translates into real outcomes on Country providing a national platform for listening, learning, and walking together to support the healing and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
CONFERENCE THEME
The Indigenous Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Conference will spotlight community-led healing, cultural knowledge, and innovative models of care that strengthen resilience and restore wellbeing across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with three major themes:
1. Healing Through Culture – Strengthening Identity, Connection, and Country
This theme honours the powerful role of culture as medicine showcasing Social and emotional wellbeing frameworks that integrate culture, connection to Country, identity and spirituality. It recognises that connection to Country, community, language, and cultural identity is central to healing trauma, restoring wellbeing, and preventing suicide. Through cultural renewal, ceremony, and Indigenous knowledge systems, this theme uplifts community-led healing practices that foster resilience, pride, and belonging across generations.
2. Empowering Our Communities – Voices Leading the Way
Centred on self-determination, community leadership, and lived experience, this theme amplifies the voices of Indigenous youth, Elders, and community members who are leading mental health and suicide prevention initiatives in their communities. It explores how Indigenous-led, trauma-informed approaches to care, advocacy, and policy can create pathways to hope, recovery, and change ensuring services are safe, inclusive, and grounded in community wisdom showcasing Youth, Elders and intergenerational healing initiatives that strengthen community resilience.
3. Transforming Systems – Building Stronger Supports for Future Generations
This theme focuses on strengthening systems of care through collaboration, cultural safety, and accountability which focuses on remote and regional service delivery models that address workforce shortages and access barriers for government policy and funding priorities shaping the future of Indigenous mental health and suicide prevention and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) as leaders in culturally safe mental health care. It calls for partnerships between community, government, and service sectors that honour Indigenous knowledge, support early intervention, and invest in sustainable, whole-of-community responses. Together, we work toward a future where every Indigenous person can access the support they need to thrive in spirit, culture, and connection.
CONFERENCE PHILOSOPHY & OBJECTIVES
The Indigenous Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Conference is grounded in the belief that healing begins with culture, connection, and community. We recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples hold the knowledge, strength, and solutions to support mental wellbeing and prevent suicide—solutions that are rooted in cultural identity, collective resilience, and self-determination. This conference affirms that true change requires more than clinical responses; it demands culturally safe, trauma-informed, and community-led approaches that honour lived experience and challenge systemic injustice. Guided by the voices of our Elders, youth, and leaders, we come together not only to share knowledge, but to inspire action ensuring that every Indigenous person has the opportunity to live with hope, purpose, and belonging.
Through culture, community leadership, and collective action, the conference aims to advance a future where First Nations peoples across remote, rural and urban Australia can thrive in strong social and emotional wellbeing by providing a culturally strong, trauma-informed, and community-led platform for yarning, learning, and collective action. This conference seeks to close the gap between policy, practice, and lived experience by ensuring that mental health and suicide prevention efforts are shaped by culture, connection, and Indigenous leadership.
Specifically, the conference aims to:
Provide a culturally safe and inclusive space for open, respectful conversations about mental health, suicide, healing, and hope in Indigenous communities.
Centre the voices of Elders, young people, and lived experience advocates to ensure Indigenous knowledge and leadership guide all prevention and recovery efforts.
Showcase culturally grounded, community-led programs that strengthen resilience, promote healing, and support holistic wellbeing across the lifespan.
Equip service providers, educators, policymakers, and organisations with tools to embed cultural safety, trauma-informed care, and community engagement in all aspects of their work.
Foster meaningful collaboration across community, health, education, and government sectors to build integrated, culturally responsive mental health systems.
Promote Indigenous workforce development and leadership to build capacity, sustainability, and self-determination within mental health and suicide prevention spaces.
Encourage the sharing of evidence, innovation, and community wisdom to support scalable, strengths-based approaches to prevention and early intervention.
Confront and address systemic drivers of distress—such as racism, colonisation, intergenerational trauma, and exclusion—through truth-telling, advocacy, and structural reform.
Offer professional and personal development opportunities that enhance cultural competence, understanding, and confidence in working with Indigenous individuals and communities.
Celebrate cultural strength, resilience, and connection—affirming that healing begins with identity, belonging, and the empowerment of communities to lead their own futures.
Delegates will explore innovative models that strengthen culturally safe mental health care, community-led suicide prevention strategies, and holistic social and emotional wellbeing approaches that honour connection to culture, Country, family and identity. Special attention will be given to place-based solutions for remote and regional communities, where workforce shortages, geographic isolation and service gaps require new ways of working guided by community knowledge and cultural authority. The Indigenous Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Conference is a collective commitment to restoring hope, preventing loss, and building strong, connected, and culturally thriving communities across Australia.
