Project Officer Thomas Betts discusses social and emotional wellbeing at the carnival.
Social and emotional wellbeing was a slam dunk as staff from Embrace @ The Kids Research Institute Australia’s cultural safety project team and Kulunga Aboriginal Unit played offence at the Deadly Sista Girlz basketball carnival earlier this month.
An education program within the Waalitj Foundation, Deadly Sista Girlz aims at engaging, educating and empowering girls to make positive choices for their health and futures. Nine schools participated in the carnival at Cockburn ARC.
Cultural Safety Project Officer Thomas Betts, who led presentations to the girls when they had a bye round, said it was important to be able to chat to the students about Social and Emotional Wellbeing, as it also makes up an important part of the Deady Sista Girlz’ program.
“We were really thrilled to link up with Waalitj Foundation for this event,” Thomas said.
We’re able to share resources with the students, and really become a familiar face so these students can get comfortable enough to come to us in the future and have a yarn.
Lisa Kickett, also a Project Officer on the Cultural Safety project, added that there was a “huge potential for work placements for these young people”.
“We’re really looking to strengthen our partnerships and relationships with the community. And for us to be able to talk about our project and hear young people’s voices, we need to get into the community. We see this as an opportunity to set up ongoing placement opportunities for the future,” Lisa said.
For Kulunga Capacity Building Officer Samantha Kickett, attending the event and meeting with students was a great way to expose them to the different pathways into research.
“There are alternate ways to get into research and still be able to do meaningful work in communities, with support from Elders while they learn,” Sammie said.
Staff Louise Delane, Thomas Betts, Lisa Kickett and Tamara Lipscombe at the event.