Culture, Country and community leadership are helping shape a different approach to suicide prevention and wellbeing in Central Arnhem through the Happy Yarning initiative.
Led by Mimal Land Management and supported by Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NT PHN), Happy Yarning creates opportunities for people across the Mimal and Warddeken Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) to connect, yarn and access wellbeing support in ways that are grounded in local culture and community priorities.
The initiative began when NT PHN commissioned Mimal in 2024. Since then, NT PHN has worked alongside Mimal to support the initiative as it has evolved, including connecting Mimal with partners and supporting flexibility as community needs change.
A Mimal Director and Community Wellbeing Worker said Happy Yarning was helping create opportunities for people to open up and connect with support.
“It’s pretty good the way that people start to come and open their ideas to us. Because you know, that young fella, he came around… and we had a yarn about it and he opened up.”
Happy Yarning was developed to address barriers to support while building on community strengths including culture, Country, language, Elders and family. Activities include yarning circles, on-Country healing, cultural activities, men’s and women’s groups, training and practical support through the Happy Yarning Hub.
As part of ongoing community consultation, the project has been embedded into the Nayuhungki Kunwok Regional Culture (NYK) program, supported by Mimal and Warddeken Land Management, ensuring culture remains the roots and foundation of the work, with strong cultural identity recognised as a protective factor.
Delivery has drawn on a network of health, wellbeing and community partners supporting training, service connection, and community-led responses to wellbeing concerns. Workforce development has continued through on-Country men’s and women’s healing gatherings with Gan’na Healing, Culturally Responsive Trauma-Informed Practice (CRTIP) training with AMSANT, and other relevant SEWB and Suicide Prevention training. The project has also been supported by Nawarddeken Academy, Sunrise Health Service, Katherine West Health Board, CatholicCare NT, Roper Gulf Council, Bulman School, and Darwin Indigenous Men’s Service.
One of the clearest outcomes has been growing community ownership. Men’s activities that began as small facilitated sessions have progressed towards men organising activities themselves, while community members have sought opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge needed to lead local programs.
The September 2025 evaluation recorded 384 cumulative attendances across Happy Yarning activities, with a further 124 attendances recorded between January and June 2026.
NT PHN will continue working alongside Mimal as the initiative evolves, supporting sustainable, community-owned approaches to suicide prevention and wellbeing across the region.
For further information on Happy Yarning and wellbeing activities or potential referrals, please visit the Mimal Land Management website.
Please note: Happy Yarning is not presented as an emergency response pathway. If life is in danger or there is an immediate risk of harm, call 000. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can call 13YARN on 13 92 76 for free, confidential and culturally safe 24/7 crisis support. Lifeline is available 24/7 on 13 11 14.
