Orygen has a strong commitment to supporting the social, emotional and mental wellbeing of First Nations young people. We work in partnership with communities, young people, researchers and organisations to create culturally safe spaces, amplify First Nations voices and strengthen self-determination. Through youth participation, peer-led support, organisational change, research and community initiatives, we focus on practical action that leads to meaningful, lasting outcomes and supports First Nations young people to thrive, connected to culture and community.
Supporting young First Nations people
Youth participation
In 2023 and 2024 Orygen welcomed a First Nations young person to the First Nations Advisory Group and two new First Nations candidates were appointed to the National Youth Advisory Council. Our mission is to create an environment where First Nations young people can thrive, be informed of available services and programs, and be supported to seek help free from discrimination or biases.
First Nations Peer Support
In 2024, identified positions were made available for First Nations Peer Support Workers to join the teams at headspace Melton and headspace Werribee, with additional positions advertised in 2025.
A special opportunity for connection and storytelling was created by peer worker Waari at headspace Melton. Waari brought together a group of young people and staff to create a powerful mural paying tribute to the three First Nations groups surrounding the Melton region (Wurundjeri, Wadawurrung and Bunurong Peoples), inspired by the Kurung Jang Baluk group of the local area.
Organisational commitments and resources
Statement of Commitment
In February 2020, Orygen launched the Statement of Commitment to the First Nations peoples of Australia. This Statement forms the centrepiece of the First Nations agenda at Orygen and represents our organisation’s collective and ongoing responsibility.
New cultural safety module
Orygen’s First Nations Team worked with Orygen Registered Training Organisation to develop appropriate training materials, which led to the creation of a new module Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Safety as part of the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work (Consumer Peer Work).
Yarning Circles for First Nations staff
Organised by Orygen’s First Nations team, these monthly yarning circles bring together the Advisory Group with an open invitation for all First Nations staff at Orygen and the five headspace centres to share, learn and grow. This storytelling journey nutures unity and reflects a collective commitment to improving the lives of First Nations youth and fostering a vibrant, culturally rich community within Orygen. First Nations staff are invited to reach out to [email protected] to be included in the yarning circles.
Research
PhD Opportunities
Orygen partnered with the Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health to provide support for PhD students and interns, empower Indigenous researchers and build the Indigenous and non-Indigenous mental health workforce. With the generous support of our donors The BB & A Miller Foundation and Helen Kirby, two First Nations PhD students – Joel Liddle and Thalia Eastman – were supported to undertake research in our First Nations PhD program.
Ayeye apmerrke areye-akerte: A story about young Aboriginal men from Central Australia
Joel commenced his PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2020. His research focusses on understanding community perspectives on young Aboriginal men’s mental health (aged 16-40) and the associations between cultural continuity, biculturalism, bilingualism and mental health.  Finalised in 2025, his thesis Ayeye apmerrke areye-akerte: A story about young Aboriginal men from Central Australia forms a significant and impactful piece of work on the high rates of reported poor mental health among young Aboriginal men in Central Australia. The thesis considers the causal links between historical and contemporary sociocultural factors that negatively impact this population group and how the revival of Indigenous knowledges, supported by cultural knowledge archives, has the potential to restore cultural strength and identity, and improve a sense of agency, self-esteem, adaptive thinking and behaviours.
VicHealth Partnership grant
Funded through a joint VicHealth Partnership Grant, Orygen, the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, the Kaiela Institute and the Aboriginal-led Rumbalara Football Netball Club undertook a project to determine the impact of involvement in the Rumbalara Football Netball Club on members’ social and emotional wellbeing, including their capacity to navigate mainstream educational or employment systems and the club’s impact on non-Aboriginal people’s attitudes of racism and positive attitudes of respect for culture and history.
Rumbalara Wellbeing and Resilience Project: Final Report 2024
Community
Point and be proud – The ripple effect
Across 2020, 2021 and 2022, Orygen supported St Kilda Football Club in the development and evaluation of the Point & Be Proud program. This grassroots educational program for young people focused on building awareness of racism and discrimination and its ongoing mental health impacts. A documentary about the program called The Ripple Effect won the 2021 Sport Australia Award.
Point and Be Proud: marking National Reconciliation Week 2022 - Orygen, Revolution in Mind
Art Mob
Made possible with thanks to the support of our generous donors, The BB & A Miller Foundation and the Lettisier Foundation as trustee for Evans Family Foundation over 2019 and 2020, Art Mob was established to help address some of the challenges and barriers young First Nations people encounter when using traditional pathways to access headspace services. Young people involved in the program reported feeling more connected and freer to be themselves. Importantly, we also saw an increase in referrals to headspace as a result of the program, highlighting the importance of an alternative entry point. Although this program unfortunately did not continue past COVID, it provided rich learning and First Nations peer workers continue to support young people and co-facilitate art projects as an avenue to wellbeing.