In recent years there has been an increasing recognition of the limits of GDP as a measure of 'progress' and a growing emphasis on notions of wellbeing, satisfaction, or quality of life. A number of alternative measures of national progress have emerged both in Australia and overseas, with some of the better known including the 'Australian Unity Wellbeing Index', the 'Genuine Progress Indicator' and the 'Happy Planet Index'. In common with these measures, economist Amartya Sen has rejected the notion that development can be measured purely by changes in personal income or GDP. Instead, in his concept of 'development as freedom' and associated capabilities approach, Sen suggests that 'instrumental freedoms' such as economic opportunities, basic education and political participation should be seen as constitutive elements of human progress. This seminar examines these approaches in the context of their relevance to Indigenous Australia, asking whether Indigenous wellbeing can be measured and, if so, how. In doing so it reflects on Australian and international efforts to understand Indigenous notions of wellbeing, including the 'Indicators of well-being, poverty and sustainability relevant to indigenous peoples' developed under the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) framework for the measurement of Indigenous wellbeing. The seminar concludes by reflecting on the influence of notions of wellbeing and capabilities on current Indigenous policy and discourse in Australia and the implications for future policy development.