Young First Nations voices at the heart of new mental health research
Federation University Professor Bindi Bennett has been awarded a prestigious grant by the Australian Research Council (ARC) to lead a groundbreaking project aimed at supporting the mental health of First Nations young people in rural and remote communities.
First Nations young people living in these areas experience some of the highest rates of mental illness in Australia – yet they also face the biggest barriers to accessing care.
A K/Gamilaroi woman and Professorial Research Fellow at Federation’s National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, Professor Bennett aims to help change that with the development of a new community-led prevention and early intervention project.
The research project will be grounded in Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing, with a key focus on capacity building carers and communities.
“Due to the remoteness of communities and the real barriers and delays in getting care, the project will focus on giving carers the skills they need to help young people early,” Professor Bennett said.
The research will also examine skills for non-Indigenous mental health workers to engage respectfully and effectively with First Nations communities and improve a broader understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander responses to care.
The design and delivery of care will be done collaboratively with First Nations communities, Elders, carers – and importantly, young people themselves.
“Young people know what they need. If we give them the opportunity to articulate it, we might actually learn something,” Professor Bennett said.
Professor Bennett said the project will be embedded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander approaches to research, including yarning methodology – a culturally grounded approach to dialogue and knowledge-sharing.
“For me in the Gamilaraay language, it's a conversation where you're using your ears and your heart and your connection to deeply hear someone. And there's a lot said in silence, and there's a lot said without necessarily speaking,” she said.
“By using Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander approaches to research, it ensures the project is not just about academic outputs – but shared outcomes.”
Andrew Gunstone, Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor Reconciliation at Federation University, said the awarding of ARC’s Discovery Indigenous grant reflected the importance of Professor Bennett’s work.
“This is an outstanding achievement for Bindi and the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth and Justice – reflecting our commitment to Indigenous-led research that delivers real outcomes for communities,” he said.
This is the fourth ARC grant the National Centre has now been awarded in its short history, including another project led by Professor Bennett, and others involving Professor Emma-Jaye Gavin and Professor Andrew Gunstone.
About the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice
Australia’s leading think-tank on reconciliation, the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice explores regional and national understandings and engagements in these areas across community, industry, and academia, through a rich program of education, engagement, outreach, and research. More information about the National Centre can be found on its webpage and on LinkedIn.