We’re “all in” for National Reconciliation Week

We’re “all in” for National Reconciliation Week 

This week is National Reconciliation Week, a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2026 is All In, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every day. 

The Reconciliation Australia website has some great information on how you can get involved in online and in-person events in support of reconciliation. 

Mental Health Australia's vision for reconciliation is a nation that delivers equitable mental health and social and emotional wellbeing outcomes and experiences for all people in Australia. A united country with mentally healthy people and mentally healthy communities, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples no longer experience higher rates of mental health challenges and suicide than non-Indigenous Australians. 

We are deeply committed to pursuing this vision through our current Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). This RAP aims to deepen our understanding of our core strengths, expand relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led organisational members and stakeholders, and use our sphere of influence to support our member Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia’s Declaration and Implementation Plan. This plan sets out a 10-year national roadmap to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership across Australia’s mental health and suicide prevention systems. 

Grounded in the five themes of the Declaration – Cultural Strength, Best Practice, Best Evidence, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Presence, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership and Influence – the Framework translates vision into action. It ensures that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander concepts of social and emotional wellbeing, culture, and healing are valued alongside clinical care, guiding reform across all parts of the system.

Equality and equity, in addition to truth-telling and self-determination, are essential elements to support our collective journey to reconciliation.

More on Mental Health Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan

Last week, Reconciliation Australia published its 2025 RAP Impact Report which shows that Reconciliation Action Plans are driving meaningful change at scale. 

Mental Health Australia is proud to have achieved more than half our deliverables in our current Innovate RAP. Over the past 12 months, our reconciliation activities have included:

• Wurundjeri Elder Uncle John Terrick welcomed us to Country at our Members Policy Forum in November 2025 in Melbourne. He shared his story and reminded us of the importance of truth-telling, connection and inclusiveness in earning mutual respect.
• Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Serena Palm welcomed us to Country at events in June 2025, and March and May 2026 in Canberra. Aunty Serena spoke about the importance of self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and how social and emotional wellbeing is deeply connected to Country, land, song and dance.
• We welcomed perspectives from the CEO of Gayaa Dhuwi Rachel Fishlock at the recent May Members Policy Forum. Rachel spoke about the persistent issue of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priorities being treated adjacent to, rather than central to, mental health reform.   
• We worked closely with Gayaa Dhuwi to develop an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander calendar for the 2025 World Mental Health Day campaign. 
• We recently welcomed Thirrili Ltd as a new member. Thirrili Ltd is a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-controlled organisation providing 24/7 culturally safe postvention support to individuals, families and communities impacted by suicide or traumatic loss. Learn more at https://thirrili.com.au/
• We hosted a morning tea during National Reconciliation Week 2025 and invited colleagues from our Deakin office, including students from the Indigenous Allied Health Australia participating in co-tenancies through IAHA’s Mentoring Program.
• We held quarterly RAP Working Group meetings, and welcomed a new external member from Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia.
•  In the spirit of continuous improvement, and recognising that Mental Health Australia is not large enough to participate in the Australian Reconciliation Barometer Survey, we included reconciliation-focused questions in a staff pulse survey to better understand staff knowledge and confidence and to help inform our approach from here.
• We continued our subscription to Koori Mail, shared fortnightly with staff to amplify First Nations-led news and perspectives from across the country.
• Where possible, we purchased goods and services from Supply Nation registered and certified businesses.
• This week, we are participating  in an all-staff session responding to our staff pulse survey results, where colleagues expressed a desire to learn more about social and emotional wellbeing and shared reflections aligned with this year’s All In theme. 
• A cross-section of Mental Health Australia staff will also participate in cultural training delivered through Indigenous Allied Health Australia in the coming months.