Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing

It's the #workingtogetheranniversary this year; ten years after publishing the second edition of *the* landmark text on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing, it's wonderful to hear from the editors of the book. Professor Helen Milroy is a Palyku woman whose homelands are in the Pilbara region of WA. She is Australia’s first Indigenous doctor and child psychiatrist, the Stan Perron Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Perth Children’s Hospital, and Honorary Research Fellow at the Kids Research Institute. She’s the Chair of Gayaa Dhuwi Proud Spirit, board member of Beyond Blue and a published author and illustrator of children’s books. #decolonisingpsychology

Thank you to Kathryn Kirchner for sharing her thoughts on the Working Together book on its tenth anniversary 💜 Kathryn is the Lead School Psychologist in the Kimberley region here in Western Australia and we value her input. #workingtogetheranniversary #decolonisingpsychology

On this #workingtogetheranniversary, ten years after publishing the second edition of *the* landmark text on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing, it's wonderful to hear from the editors of the book. Professor Pat Dudgeon is a Bardi woman, the first Aboriginal psychologist to graduate in Australia, Director of the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention, lead Chief Investigator of the Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing research project, Deputy Chair of the Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association and a Board Member of Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia. #decolonisingpsychology

The Working Together book was a gamechanger for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and social and emotional wellbeing when it was published ten years ago. It's still as relevant today as it ever was - AFL and SEWB star Michael Mitchell even reckons its a good gift. Considering its free to download, https://shorturl.at/QxFJx, it's not a bad idea 🤔 #workingtogetheranniversary

Ginger Gorman is a journalist and author. When supporting her First Nations sisters at the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention at the University of Western Australia, she found she had knowledge gaps and used the Working Together book to address them. Thank you, Ginger! #workingtogetheranniversary #decolonisingpsychology Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia NACCHO Australia Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association (AIPA)

Simon Katterl recorded some of his thoughts on the #workingtogetheranniversary and we're so happy to share them with you 🔊 "One of the most important contributions to mental health literature, research, (and) practice on this land, ever." Thank you, Simon! Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia NACCHO Australia Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association (AIPA) You can download the book for free at: https://shorturl.at/HWYq9

Thank you so much, Judith Lovegrove for your lovely testimonial 💜 We really appreciate your thoughts on the #workingtogetheranniversary. Judith is a Ngarrindjeri woman, and the Indigenous Governance and Engagement Lead for the Menzies School of Health Research Mental Health ‘Stay Strong’ team. As Judith shared, the Working Together book has made significant contribution to national policies and strategies to improve mental health services provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mob. #indigenousknowledges #decolonisingpsychology NACCHO Australia Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association (AIPA)

Associate Professor Jeffrey Ansloos recently spoke at the prestigious Robin Winkler Lecture for 2024, presented by the UWA School of Psychological Science and Centre for Social Impact. We were honoured to host him at the The University of Western Australia. A/Prof. Ansloos discussed his research in Canada - he's found that being Indigenous and having a mental health emergency makes you more likely to experience harm from police and less likely to receive support #decolonisingpsychology Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association (AIPA) NACCHO Australia Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia

Professor Helen Milroy is a Palyku woman whose homelands are in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and is Australia’s first Indigenous doctor and child psychiatrist. She's the Stan Perron Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Perth Children's Hospital Foundation and The University of Western Australia, Honorary Research Fellow at The Kids Research Institute Australia, and the Chair of Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia . And! she was one of the wonderful authors and one (of three) fabulous editors of the Working Together book. Alongside Roz Walker and Pat Dudgeon. #workingtogetheranniversary Thank you, Helen for sharing!

We were recently honoured to have Dr. Mark Standing Eagle Baez visit us at the University of Western Australia. He spoke at the prestigious Robin Winkler Lecture for 2024, presented by the UWA School of Psychological Science and Centre for Social Impact. In presenting on 'Global Indigenous Struggles for Racial Justice and Collective Healing’, Dr Baez talked about the effects of colonialism on the mental health of Indigenous peoples, and the need for self-determination. #decolonisingpsychology Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association (AIPA) NACCHO Australia Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia