New research into cultural safety was recently presented at Danjoo Kooliny (Coming Together), an Embrace event set under the blue whale at WA Museum Boola Bardip.
The Medical Research Future Fund-backed project highlighted the urgent need for mental health services to provide culturally grounded and trauma-informed care to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
“Embedding culture is what’s going to engage our mob. Having representations of artwork, having Aboriginal people delivering these yarning sessions is what’s going to be really helpful for services,” Aboriginal Project Officer, Thomas Betts said of the findings.
“If you can get cultural safety right for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, you get it right for everyone.”
The event also featured yarning circles, the Embrace healing tree, and a collaborative art piece. Created by local artists Catherine Bynder and Gertrina Hayden, the artwork represents themes of the research including community, mental health, and healing. Attendees were guided through adding their own mark, adorning the piece with leaves and connecting linework, symbolising the connectedness between community.
Safe yarning cards that were developed in collaboration with members of the project’s advisory groups were also showcased and distributed at the event. These cards are available to download for free in both colour and black and white on the Embrace website.
Before a discussion about the project’s findings, Embrace Co-Director and Rio Tinto General Manager Laura Thomas announced an extended partnership through Channel 7 Telethon Trust to 2029.
During the presentations, Ms Thomas expressed a drive for supporting young people’s mental health.
“These new findings highlight just how critical it is for children to be able to access trauma-informed and culturally safe healthcare” she said.
“We’re therefore really proud to support Embrace through Rio Tinto’s long term commitment to youth mental health. This partnership reflects our belief that when young people thrive, communities thrive.”
Recommendations from the study will be provided in early 2026.
Embrace is supported by principal partner Rio Tinto and Channel 7 Telethon Trust.