Jilya World Suicide Prevention Day Fundraising Concert feat. John Butler

World Suicide Prevention Day is coming up on September 10, and to mark the day The Westerman Jilya Institute For Indigenous Mental Health will host a huge fundraising concert for Indigenous suicide prevention featuring special guest John Butler. All funds raised will go towards The Westerman Jilya Institute, which advances, supports and mentors Indigenous psychologists for Australia’s highest risk communities.

The concert, happening on Friday 10 September in the beautiful surrounds of Winthrop Hall at UWA, will also feature a host of other top Indigenous artists including Gina Williams AM and Guy Ghouse, Kobi Morrison, Bojesse Pigram and Naomi Pigram. The announcement of the concert comes after The Westerman Jilya Institute recently confirmed it received a $403,000 Lotterywest grant — its first operational grant since the Institute was launched eight months ago on World Suicide Prevention Day 2020.

Dr. Tracy Westerman AM founded the Westerman Jilya Institute in response to the unacceptable rates of Indigenous child suicide, and says the concert represents a coming together of all Australians to say these lives matter, and matter equally: “We are incredibly grateful for these generous and talented musicians giving up their time to support us in this most vital of causes…The Westerman Jilya Institute is committed to building an army of Indigenous psychologists across Australia to ensure our best opportunities for a future free of the unacceptable rates of Indigenous child suicides.”

It’s hope the concert will raise over $175,000 for the institute, going towards an additional 15 scholarships to go with the institute’s current 15.