'Enough is enough': 121 Indigenous Victorians die by suicide in five years as healing centre funding stalls

The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) staged the memorial on Tuesday to highlight what it describes as a preventable crisis. All 121 deaths occurred after the landmark March 2021 report from the royal commission into Victoria's mental health system, which explicitly called for investment in Aboriginal-led healing centres as a key response to disproportionately high suicide rates among First Nations people.

"Enough is enough," VACCHO officials said at the event. The organisation accuses the state government of having "done nothing" to fund the recommended centres, despite the commission's findings that culturally appropriate, community-controlled services are critical to addressing the underlying trauma driving the suicide crisis.

The royal commission, which released its final report in 2021, found that Victoria's mental health system was "in crisis mode" and that Indigenous communities faced unique barriers to care, including systemic racism and lack of culturally safe services. The report recommended a network of Aboriginal healing centres as a priority measure.

VACCHO argues that without dedicated funding for these centres, the state's mental health response continues to fail Indigenous communities. The organisation says that while mainstream mental health services exist, they often do not address the intergenerational trauma and cultural disconnection that contribute to suicide risk.

The Victorian government has not yet announced funding for the healing centres. In responses to previous criticism, government representatives have pointed to broader mental health investments and Indigenous health initiatives, but VACCHO maintains that the specific recommendation for Aboriginal-led centres remains unfunded and unactioned.

The 121 chairs — one for each life lost — were placed on the steps of parliament in a visual plea for action. "This is not a statistic, it's our families, our communities," VACCHO representatives said.

Indigenous suicide rates in Victoria remain significantly higher than the non-Indigenous population, mirroring national trends that have persisted for decades. The 2021 royal commission was intended to be a turning point, but advocates say without concrete funding and implementation, its recommendations risk becoming hollow promises.

Why This Matters

Over 24 Indigenous Victorians die by suicide each year on average — a preventable loss the health body says is directly linked to lack of culturally appropriate services.
The royal commission recommendation was supposed to be a landmark reform, but its non-implementation raises questions about whether government inquiries lead to meaningful change.
This affects every Indigenous family in Victoria and puts pressure on the state government to act ahead of the next budget or election cycle.

Background

The 2021 Victorian royal commission into mental health was established after years of advocacy and growing evidence that the state's mental health system was failing. Its final report, released in March 2021, was hailed as a comprehensive roadmap for reform. Among its 65 recommendations was the creation of Aboriginal-led healing centres — culturally safe spaces where Indigenous people could access care rooted in traditional healing practices alongside clinical support. Since then, suicide rates among Indigenous Victorians have remained alarmingly high. VACCHO has repeatedly called for the government to fund the centres, but no dedicated allocation has been made. Tuesday's memorial marks the latest escalation in advocacy efforts.

Key Perspectives

[VACCHO]: The peak Aboriginal health body argues the state government has broken its promise by failing to fund the healing centres. It says every post-commission suicide is a direct consequence of inaction, and that only community-controlled, culturally safe services can turn the crisis around. [Victorian Government]: The government has not announced funding for the specific recommendations but points to broader investments in mental health and Indigenous health, including increased funding for Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations. They maintain they are committed to reform but face fiscal constraints. [Critics/Skeptics]: Some mental health experts caution that while healing centres are important, they are not a silver bullet. Suicide prevention requires a multi-pronged approach including housing, employment, education, and addressing systemic racism. Others question whether government can move fast enough given the scale of the crisis.

What to Watch

Victorian state budget (expected early 2027) — whether specific funding for Aboriginal healing centres is allocated.
Quarterly suicide data from the Victorian Coroner — whether the rate shows any decline.
VACCHO's next steps — the advocacy body may escalate with legal action or calls for a federal inquiry if the state remains unresponsive.

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