Looking forward Jamie-Lauren Culbong, Olivia Smith, Michelle Webb and Stella Starcevich

SPEAKERS

Jamie-Lauren Culbong
I am a Wadjuk Nyoogar woman currently living and working in Perth, Western Australia. I have lived most of my life between the city of Perth, where I was born, and the small town of Karratha up North. My Nyoogar family are from Narrogin and Albany, but I do have ties to the Pilbara and Kimberley regions. I am working as a part of the Looking Forwards Moving Forwards Project Team lead by Michael Wright at the School of Allied Health, Curtin University. I am interested in bettering organization relationships with the Aboriginal Community to provide, within the Mental Health space, meaningful outcomes for my people.

Olivia Smith
I am a proud Wongatha woman who grew up in Rockingham south of boorloo, whilst also traveling back to Kalgoorlie (my hometown) frequently. I have recently decided to attend university with the hopes to become a fully qualified anthropologist. My interest in anthropology stems from working within the heritage space and realizing gaps within the system, my hope for the further is to help empower the voices of community. I have been involved with the Looking Forward project for a year now and have found enjoyment in being involved in a space that is based on the premise of change, by upholding the voices of community, which is something I am passionate about. I have enjoyed making so many great connections within my involvement with the project and have always felt held and heard within that space, by the elders, the team and the other co researchers involved with the project.

Michelle Webb
I am Palawa woman from Southern Tasmania. I have been living and working in Noongar Country for almost thirty years as a student, educator, and researcher. I completed an Aboriginal Bridging Course in 1995 that started a journey in learning, listening, and eventually teaching. I have a Masters in Human Rights education and a Ph.D. looking at how Indigenous young people define and understand the broad term mental health and what they need to grow up and stay strong and well. My current role as a post-doc fellow in the LFMF research team allows me to continue to work with and for our community while being held and guided by the Elders and young people involved in our work

Stella Starcevich
I am a Yamatji Wajarri non-binary person who grew up in Kepa Kurl on Wudjari Nyoongar Boodja (Esperance). I have been living on Wadjak Nyoongar Boodja for 7 years after moving up to study a Bachelor of Primary Education at Curtin, and then teaching for a year in 2022. Since the beginning of 2023, I have been working as a research associate with the Looking Forward Research Team, and have had the absolute honour of being held through the weaving and in the magic that happens when Elders and young people share spaces, stories and culture.

ABSTRACT

The Looking Forward body of research has been led by Elders and Community members as Co-researchers in the mental health and AOD space for over a decade. The profound impact of working relationally is evidenced in the sustained and respectful relationships both within the Community and in the wider mental health service sector in on Wadjak Nyoongar Boodja.

The Elders recognised the importance of hearing and partnering with young people to improve the social, cultural and health outcomes for/of their local Community. Building Bridges and Our Journey Our Story are two of the projects that brought together Elders and young people to work specifically in the youth mental health space.

Both of these projects provided us with opportunities to work with Elders and young people in a culturally held codesign process that aims to improve the accessibility and responsiveness of youth mental health services.

Looking Forward team members and youth coresearchers will provide valuable insight into the way we work and the possibilities that become evident when relationships are prioritised. The profound and lasting impacts of these relationships transcend the research space and contribute to the cultural transmission of knowledge and the capacity of our Community.

Seminar recording