Decolonising mental health when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families

Emerging Minds and Mental Health Professionals' Network (MHPN), Australia, June 2023

Related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, Child mental health

Resource Summary

This webinar co-produced with the Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN) discusses the importance of decolonising mental health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, and strategies that support the cultural needs of First Nations children and families at an individual, family and community level.

Facilitated by Dana Shen (Aboriginal cultural consultant, SA), our panellists include:

Professor Pat Dudgeon (psychologist, WA)
Shirley Young (Aboriginal social worker, SA)
Tileah Drahm-Butler (social worker, SA)

Slides Panel bios Supporting resources

Discover more resources

Toolkit

Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children toolkit

Emerging Minds

This toolkit draws from the expertise of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consultants, practitioners, non-Indigenous practitioners and Aboriginal and non-Indigenous organisations. Rather than focusing on why it is difficult to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, their families and communities, it will explore how non-Indigenous practitioners and services can develop genuine connections with First Nations people and communities to create the best conditions for effective service delivery; services based on respect, learning and creating shared understandings.
Fact sheet

Key considerations when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lived experience advocates

Emerging Minds, Rosetta Milera, Neva Wilson and Josie-Anne Wilson

This factsheet outlines key considerations for engaging and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lived experience advocates.
Guide

Healing through voice, culture and Country: Short films

Emerging Minds

There are many ways that organisations can help practitioners to work proactively and in culturally sensitive ways with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents. These include (but are not limited to) providing supervision and training on child-focused ways to identify and respond to presentations of family violence; providing cultural supervision and mentoring from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to support meaningful and confident engagement; and working collaboratively with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to co-design appropriate and effective responses to families who are affected by violence.
Short article

Individual and family factors associated with child mental health and wellbeing

Melissa Willoughby and Joanna Schwarzman, Australian Institute of Family Studies

This short article describes the research evidence on individual and family factors associated with child mental health and wellbeing.
Webinar

A whole child approach to disaster recovery

Emerging Minds and Mental Health Professionals' Network (MHPN)

This webinar, co-produced by the Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN), our panel of experts explore ways to support infants and children following a disaster.
Research summary

Highlights in child mental health research: October 2024

Prepared by AIFS

This October 2024 research summary provides a selection of recently released papers, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses related to infant and child mental health. Each summary includes an introductory overview of the content for the month, followed by a list of selected articles. Each article is accompanied by a brief synopsis which presents the key messages and highlights. Links to abstracts, full-text articles and related resources, where available, are provided.
Webinar

Relationships matter: Walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents

Child Family Community Australia & Emerging Minds

This webinar with Child Family Community Australia (CFCA) explores ways that practitioners can build a deeper connection with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
Research summary

Highlights in child mental health research: September 2024

Prepared by AIFS

This September 2024 research summary provides a selection of recently released papers, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses related to infant and child mental health. Each summary includes an introductory overview of the content for the month, followed by a list of selected articles. Each article is accompanied by a brief synopsis which presents the key messages and highlights. Links to abstracts, full-text articles and related resources, where available, are provided.
Practice paper

Why we need to support infants and children before, during and after disasters

Emerging Minds

Infants and children rely on the adults around them to meet their needs, keep them safe and help them to make sense of their world. This puts them at greater risk of adverse impacts when a disaster occurs. This practice paper introduces the foundational knowledge and skills needed to support children and families at all stages of a disaster (preparedness, response and recovery).
Practice paper

Disaster preparedness with a focus on infants, children and families

Emerging Minds

This practice paper is designed to help you understand the importance of disaster preparedness for not only increasing safety and protecting lives when a disaster occurs, but facilitating the recovery of individuals, families and communities. It also offers practical advice for supporting the disaster preparedness of the children and families you work with.
Practice paper

Understanding how disasters influence infants and children

Emerging Minds

This practice paper aims to equip practitioners with knowledge about the ways disasters can influence a child’s ecology and the importance of targeted support for children’s resilience and recovery in the short and long term.
Practice paper

Supporting infants, children and families in an evacuation

Emerging Minds

This practice paper explains why it’s important to consider pregnant people, infants, children and families in evacuation planning and management. It provides practical considerations and strategies for ensuring evacuation procedures and centres meet the needs of infants, children and families and enhance their safety, wellbeing and recovery.

Decolonising mental health when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families

Emerging Minds and Mental Health Professionals' Network (MHPN), Australia, June 2023

Resource Summary

Discover more resources

Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children toolkit

Key considerations when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lived experience advocates

Healing through voice, culture and Country: Short films

Individual and family factors associated with child mental health and wellbeing

A whole child approach to disaster recovery

Highlights in child mental health research: October 2024

Relationships matter: Walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents

Highlights in child mental health research: September 2024

Why we need to support infants and children before, during and after disasters

Disaster preparedness with a focus on infants, children and families

Understanding how disasters influence infants and children

Supporting infants, children and families in an evacuation

Subscribe to our newsletters