Cultural Conversations: Promoting Wellbeing and Identify for First Nations Children and Families
Tracks
PRINCE ROOM - In-Person Only
| Monday, March 16, 2026 |
| 4:40 PM - 5:00 PM |
Overview
Doug Wong, Stride Mental Health & Jason Von Roehl, Our Cultural Conversations
Presenter
Jason Von Roehl
Founder
Our Cultural Conversations
Cultural Conversations: Promoting Wellbeing and Identify for First Nations Children and Families
Presentation Overview
Early intervention approaches that strengthen the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children lie at the heart of our work, guided by culturally safe, community-led initiatives. By placing cultural identity and belonging at the centre, these programs help young people make informed decisions about wellbeing, education, and lifestyle while fostering resilience, confidence, and pride in culture. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare describes social and emotional wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a holistic foundation, shaped through connection to land, culture, family, community, and spirituality — emphasising that these connections are central to identity rather than secondary to wellbeing. By nurturing these bonds, programs create environments where children can flourish emotionally, socially, and culturally.
Our experience highlights how self-determination and community leadership enhance mental health support. Programs guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are trusted, meaningful, and responsive to the diverse needs of children and families. Safe spaces that integrate cultural expression with emotional support—whether in schools, community groups, or standalone programs—promote engagement, belonging, and agency. Drawing on practical examples and lessons from implementation, this work illustrates how embedding culture, community guidance, and trusted relationships into everyday practice enables children and families to feel recognised, supported, and empowered. These insights offer a practical framework for translating culturally safe, self-determined principles into initiatives that nurture resilience, reinforce identity, and cultivate enduring connections to family, community, and culture for First Nations and multicultural children and families.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Cultural Identity is Central to Mental Health
Strengthening pride and connection to culture improves resilience, self-esteem, and overall wellbeing among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Mental health interventions are most effective when they validate
and embed cultural identity. Programs that foster belonging reduce isolation, support emotional regulation, and provide a foundation for healthy decision-making.
2. Community-Led, Self-Determined Approaches Enhance Engagement and Outcomes
Programs guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, co-designed with communities, build trust, relevance, and sustained participation. When young people and their communities are empowered to shape services, interventions respect self-determination, reduce systemic barriers, and improve uptake of mental health and support services.
3. Safe Spaces Foster Cultural and Emotional Wellbeing
Culturally safe environments—whether in schools, community programs, or standalone groups—create a supportive space where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can strengthen identity, build connections,
and engage positively with mental health supports. By prioritising safe, culturally respectful spaces, programs enable children to feel valued and understood, which fosters emotional wellbeing, resilience, and engagement.
Safe spaces are critical for translating cultural identity into practical mental health outcomes, providing environments where young people can express themselves, explore identity, and access support without fear of
stigma or exclusion.
Our experience highlights how self-determination and community leadership enhance mental health support. Programs guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are trusted, meaningful, and responsive to the diverse needs of children and families. Safe spaces that integrate cultural expression with emotional support—whether in schools, community groups, or standalone programs—promote engagement, belonging, and agency. Drawing on practical examples and lessons from implementation, this work illustrates how embedding culture, community guidance, and trusted relationships into everyday practice enables children and families to feel recognised, supported, and empowered. These insights offer a practical framework for translating culturally safe, self-determined principles into initiatives that nurture resilience, reinforce identity, and cultivate enduring connections to family, community, and culture for First Nations and multicultural children and families.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Cultural Identity is Central to Mental Health
Strengthening pride and connection to culture improves resilience, self-esteem, and overall wellbeing among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Mental health interventions are most effective when they validate
and embed cultural identity. Programs that foster belonging reduce isolation, support emotional regulation, and provide a foundation for healthy decision-making.
2. Community-Led, Self-Determined Approaches Enhance Engagement and Outcomes
Programs guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, co-designed with communities, build trust, relevance, and sustained participation. When young people and their communities are empowered to shape services, interventions respect self-determination, reduce systemic barriers, and improve uptake of mental health and support services.
3. Safe Spaces Foster Cultural and Emotional Wellbeing
Culturally safe environments—whether in schools, community programs, or standalone groups—create a supportive space where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can strengthen identity, build connections,
and engage positively with mental health supports. By prioritising safe, culturally respectful spaces, programs enable children to feel valued and understood, which fosters emotional wellbeing, resilience, and engagement.
Safe spaces are critical for translating cultural identity into practical mental health outcomes, providing environments where young people can express themselves, explore identity, and access support without fear of
stigma or exclusion.
Biography
Jason Von Roehl is the founder of Our Cultural Conversations, delivering Indigenous cultural education and engagement activities for young people and adults across Cairns and the wider region.
Jason’s Aboriginal heritage is connected to the Ngen’giwumirri language group of the Daly River region in the Northern Territory. He has lived and worked across Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, and Cairns, bringing a broad
perspective shaped by diverse community and service contexts.
Through Our Cultural Conversations, Jason has collaborated with a wide range of community stakeholders, including early childhood services, schools, employment and education providers, non-government
organisations, local councils, and other community services. His work is grounded in strengthening cultural understanding, connection, and respect across these settings.
Jason works in partnership with Stride Mental Health to deliver a weekly Cultural Program at Gordonvale State School, supporting culturally grounded, strengths-based approaches that enhance wellbeing, engagement, and connection for young people.
Doug Wong
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Family Support Officer
Stride Mental Health
Cultural Conversations: Promoting Wellbeing and Identify for First Nations Children and Families
Presentation Overview
Early intervention approaches that strengthen the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children lie at the heart of our work, guided by culturally safe, community-led initiatives. By placing cultural identity and belonging at the centre, these programs help young people make informed decisions about wellbeing, education, and lifestyle while fostering resilience, confidence, and pride in culture. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare describes social and emotional wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a holistic foundation, shaped through connection to land, culture, family, community, and spirituality — emphasising that these connections are central to identity rather than secondary to wellbeing. By nurturing these bonds, programs create environments where children can flourish emotionally, socially, and culturally.
Our experience highlights how self-determination and community leadership enhance mental health support. Programs guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are trusted, meaningful, and responsive to the diverse needs of children and families. Safe spaces that integrate cultural expression with emotional support—whether in schools, community groups, or standalone programs—promote engagement, belonging, and agency. Drawing on practical examples and lessons from implementation, this work illustrates how embedding culture, community guidance, and trusted relationships into everyday practice enables children and families to feel recognised, supported, and empowered. These insights offer a practical framework for translating culturally safe, self-determined principles into initiatives that nurture resilience, reinforce identity, and cultivate enduring connections to family, community, and culture for First Nations and multicultural children and families.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Cultural Identity is Central to Mental Health
Strengthening pride and connection to culture improves resilience, self-esteem, and overall wellbeing among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Mental health interventions are most effective when they validate
and embed cultural identity. Programs that foster belonging reduce isolation, support emotional regulation, and provide a foundation for healthy decision-making.
2. Community-Led, Self-Determined Approaches Enhance Engagement and Outcomes
Programs guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, co-designed with communities, build trust, relevance, and sustained participation. When young people and their communities are empowered to shape services, interventions respect self-determination, reduce systemic barriers, and improve uptake of mental health and support services.
3. Safe Spaces Foster Cultural and Emotional Wellbeing
Culturally safe environments—whether in schools, community programs, or standalone groups—create a supportive space where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can strengthen identity, build connections,
and engage positively with mental health supports. By prioritising safe, culturally respectful spaces, programs enable children to feel valued and understood, which fosters emotional wellbeing, resilience, and engagement.
Safe spaces are critical for translating cultural identity into practical mental health outcomes, providing environments where young people can express themselves, explore identity, and access support without fear of
stigma or exclusion.
Our experience highlights how self-determination and community leadership enhance mental health support. Programs guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are trusted, meaningful, and responsive to the diverse needs of children and families. Safe spaces that integrate cultural expression with emotional support—whether in schools, community groups, or standalone programs—promote engagement, belonging, and agency. Drawing on practical examples and lessons from implementation, this work illustrates how embedding culture, community guidance, and trusted relationships into everyday practice enables children and families to feel recognised, supported, and empowered. These insights offer a practical framework for translating culturally safe, self-determined principles into initiatives that nurture resilience, reinforce identity, and cultivate enduring connections to family, community, and culture for First Nations and multicultural children and families.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Cultural Identity is Central to Mental Health
Strengthening pride and connection to culture improves resilience, self-esteem, and overall wellbeing among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Mental health interventions are most effective when they validate
and embed cultural identity. Programs that foster belonging reduce isolation, support emotional regulation, and provide a foundation for healthy decision-making.
2. Community-Led, Self-Determined Approaches Enhance Engagement and Outcomes
Programs guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, co-designed with communities, build trust, relevance, and sustained participation. When young people and their communities are empowered to shape services, interventions respect self-determination, reduce systemic barriers, and improve uptake of mental health and support services.
3. Safe Spaces Foster Cultural and Emotional Wellbeing
Culturally safe environments—whether in schools, community programs, or standalone groups—create a supportive space where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can strengthen identity, build connections,
and engage positively with mental health supports. By prioritising safe, culturally respectful spaces, programs enable children to feel valued and understood, which fosters emotional wellbeing, resilience, and engagement.
Safe spaces are critical for translating cultural identity into practical mental health outcomes, providing environments where young people can express themselves, explore identity, and access support without fear of
stigma or exclusion.
Biography
Doug Wong has been employed with Stride Mental Health since the organisation assumed responsibility from the previous lead organisation in September 2022. He currently works as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Support Worker. Doug’s Indigenous heritage spans Western Australia through to the Northern Territory (Larrakia), as well as North Queensland and Thursday Island.
Doug is passionate about working alongside young people and families to create better outcomes, ensuring programs are responsive, culturally safe, and tailored to the needs of families and young people.
Prior to joining Stride Mental Health, Doug worked for over twenty years with the Queensland Government across Youth Justice within Youth Detention Centres, Child Protection, and policy development. Through this
extensive experience, he reflects deeply on history and the future direction of his mob, acknowledging societal change while striving to keep culture and spirituality central as communities walk forward together.
Doug’s primary focus is empowering mob and fostering positive change within the family circle. He believes that while everyone’s life journey is unique, strong, culturally grounded practices within service frameworks can lead to meaningful and lasting outcomes.
