Our Journey

Our Journey, Our Story

What we did

Our Journey Our Story (2019-2024) built on findings from the Looking Forward Moving Forward and Building Bridges projects.

Our Journey Our Story worked with Aboriginal Elders, Aboriginal young people, headspace centres and their lead agencies across Western Australia.

Through the research, these groups co-designed approaches for more culturally secure mental health services that better meet the needs of Aboriginal young people and their families.

“I really value young people. I think they’re amazing. I think you know that there’s always an opportunity to find that hope and way forward.” – Service Provider, 2020

What we learned

Services

Service models can be adapted to suit the local needs of community whilst still upholding the fidelity of the clinical model.

Researchers

Relationships have underpinned our work with our service partners. A commitment to “debakarn”, going along steady, and the uncertainty created with Covid-19 led to “check-ins” being made a priority at our partner team meetings. People have felt held and valued in the research space and this has meant that engagement and focus remained high despite new challenges.

Community

Service staff and senior management showed overwhelming commitment to and remain passionate about doing things better for our communities. Many have personal motivation for being involved in the youth mental health space.

Project Resources

ABC Kimberley Breakfast: A genuine conversation can deliver better health outcomes.

Aboriginal Co-Researchers Working with

Broome

  • Uncle Johnny Puertollano
  • Uncle Kevin Puertollano
  • Aunty Linda Dean
  • Scott Wilson
  • Tonii Skeen
  • Seqoiah Darcy
  • Vincent Carter
  • Ben McKenzie
  • Stewart Jan
  • Dre Bedford
  • Jacob Hamaguchi
  • Denae Williams

Midland

  • Aunty Cheryl Taylor
  • John Mogridge

Northam

  • Uncle Paul Parfitt
  • Aunty Kathy Davis

Joondalup & Osborne Park

  • Aunty Oriel Green
  • Aunty Moya Newman
  • John Mogridge

Youth co-researchers working across south west sites:

  • Lachlan Sibosado
  • Lulkbudia Mclean
  • Marleigh Zada
  • Alex Merendino
  • Stephanie McGuire
  • Kaisha Champion
  • Kaito Sibosado
See all Co-researchers

The Project Team

Project lead
  • Associate Professor Michael Wright, Yuat Nyoongar man from the Moora and New Norcia area of WA.

Staff

  • Dr Michelle Webb
  • Amanda Sibosado
  • Tiana Culbong
  • Jamie Culbong
  • River Starcevich
  • John Fielder
  • Dr Helen Flavell
  • Tilsa Guima Chinen
  • Savannah Travia-Dann

Chief Investigators

  • Professor Alex Brown (Deputy Director, Aboriginal Health
    equity Theme Leader, South Australian Health and Medical
    Research Institute)
  • Professor Pat Dudgeon (The University of Western Australia
    and co-chair of the ministerial Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander
    Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group)
  • Mr Rob McPhee (CEO, Danila Dilba Health Service and
    co-chair of the ministerial Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander
    Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group)
  • Mr Glenn Pearson (Research Focus Area Head, Aboriginal
    Health Institute Leadership Team, Telethon Kids Institute)
  • Associate Professor Ashleigh Lin (Program Head, Mental Health &
    Youth, Telethon Kids Institute)
  • Dr Elizabeth Newnham (Curtin University)
  • Professor Elizabeth Geelhoed (Health Economist, The University of
    Western Australia)
  • Ms Kiarnee King Baguley (headspace Broome)

Associate Investigators

  • Dr Brad Farrant (Senior Research Fellow, Telethon
    Kids Institute)
  • Dr Sophie Davidson (Consultant Psychiatrist State
    Forensic Mental Health Service)
  • Dr Stuart Shanker
  • Dr Jonathan Bullen (Curtin Medical School,
    Curtin University)
  • Mr Glenn Pearson (Research Focus Area Head, Aboriginal
    Health Institute Leadership Team, Telethon Kids Institute)
  • Associate Professor Ashleigh Lin (Program Head, Mental Health &
    Youth, Telethon Kids Institute)
  • Dr Elizabeth Newnham (Curtin University)
  • Professor Elizabeth Geelhoed (Health Economist, The University of
    Western Australia)
  • Ms Kiarnee King Baguley (headspace Broome)

“You can spend how much money you like, it’s still not going to make a difference until the work on the ground and your organisation is more willing to understand the people that they’re servicing that we will see significant change happen” – Aboriginal staff member, Lead agency

This project was supported by the Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) as part of the Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission.

Our Journey Our Story was approved by the Western Australian Aboriginal Health Ethics Committee (HREC 955), Kimberley Aboriginal Health Planning Forum, Kimberley Research Subcommittee and the Wheatbelt Regional Aboriginal Health Planning Forum. Reciprocal ethics Curtin University (HRE2020-0023).