Using Art & Yarning Sessions to Understand Wellbeing for First Nations Children
Tracks
Ballroom 1 - In Person & Virtual via OnAIR
| Tuesday, March 25, 2025 |
| 10:40 AM - 11:00 AM |
| Ballroom 1 |
Overview
Associate Professor Kate Anderson, Tasha Jade Cole & Taleah Carson, Australian National University
Presenter
Associate Professor Kate Anderson
Senior Research Fellow
Australian National University
Using Art & Yarning Sessions to Understand Wellbeing for First Nations Children
Abstract
Background: Children today face unprecedented social, environmental, and technological challenges that can significantly impact on their wellbeing. While First Nations Australian children face additional obstacles associated with prevailing social and health inequities, they also possess cultural, spiritual, family and community capital that promotes their wellbeing. To date, little research has focused on understanding what fosters wellbeing for First Nations children. Our team undertook a national qualitative study, which forms part of a larger project to develop a wellbeing measure for First Nations children, using Art and Yarning sessions with children to explore, identify and describe the parts of life that are important to supporting their wellbeing.
Methods: We visited schools and community organisations to conduct Art and Yarning sessions with First Nations children aged 5-11 years. In a relaxed and familiar setting, children were provided with art materials and asked to draw things in their life important to them and then participate in a Yarning Circle led by First Nations facilitators to talk about their drawings and their wellbeing.
Results: During 2023-24, ~180 First Nations children from sites across Australia participated in the study, with field work continuing until December 2024. Our team will present emerging findings from these sessions, in which we are aiming to include the voices of ~250 children from all states and territories. Our First Nations facilitators will discuss their experiences and insights from their work on this study.
Conclusions: Understanding the parts of life that support First Nations children’s wellbeing is critical in informing and guiding effective policy and practice. The findings of this study will be used to develop items for a wellbeing measure for First Nations children, which will increase transparency, responsiveness and relevance of clinical and health policy decision making, ultimately improving mental health and wellbeing of First Nations children.
Presentation Key Learnings
1. What parts of life support the wellbeing of First Nations children.
2. How art-based methods can be used to effectively engage children in research.
3. Insights from First Nations research project team members about conducting respectful and engaging field work with children.
Methods: We visited schools and community organisations to conduct Art and Yarning sessions with First Nations children aged 5-11 years. In a relaxed and familiar setting, children were provided with art materials and asked to draw things in their life important to them and then participate in a Yarning Circle led by First Nations facilitators to talk about their drawings and their wellbeing.
Results: During 2023-24, ~180 First Nations children from sites across Australia participated in the study, with field work continuing until December 2024. Our team will present emerging findings from these sessions, in which we are aiming to include the voices of ~250 children from all states and territories. Our First Nations facilitators will discuss their experiences and insights from their work on this study.
Conclusions: Understanding the parts of life that support First Nations children’s wellbeing is critical in informing and guiding effective policy and practice. The findings of this study will be used to develop items for a wellbeing measure for First Nations children, which will increase transparency, responsiveness and relevance of clinical and health policy decision making, ultimately improving mental health and wellbeing of First Nations children.
Presentation Key Learnings
1. What parts of life support the wellbeing of First Nations children.
2. How art-based methods can be used to effectively engage children in research.
3. Insights from First Nations research project team members about conducting respectful and engaging field work with children.
Biography
Kate Anderson is a non-Indigenous researcher based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. She has worked in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and communities for more than 15 years across the areas of health services, cancer, kidney disease and wellbeing. Her program of research in Yardhura Walani's Culture and Wellbeing Program in the Australian National University is focused on understanding and measuring the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the lifespan.
Ms Taleah Carson
First Nations Project Officer
Australian National University
Using Art & Yarning Sessions to Understand Wellbeing for First Nations Children
Abstract
Background: Children today face unprecedented social, environmental, and technological challenges that can significantly impact on their wellbeing. While First Nations Australian children face additional obstacles associated with prevailing social and health inequities, they also possess cultural, spiritual, family and community capital that promotes their wellbeing. To date, little research has focused on understanding what fosters wellbeing for First Nations children. Our team undertook a national qualitative study, which forms part of a larger project to develop a wellbeing measure for First Nations children, using Art and Yarning sessions with children to explore, identify and describe the parts of life that are important to supporting their wellbeing.
Methods: We visited schools and community organisations to conduct Art and Yarning sessions with First Nations children aged 5-11 years. In a relaxed and familiar setting, children were provided with art materials and asked to draw things in their life important to them and then participate in a Yarning Circle led by First Nations facilitators to talk about their drawings and their wellbeing.
Results: During 2023-24, ~180 First Nations children from sites across Australia participated in the study, with field work continuing until December 2024. Our team will present emerging findings from these sessions, in which we are aiming to include the voices of ~250 children from all states and territories. Our First Nations facilitators will discuss their experiences and insights from their work on this study.
Conclusions: Understanding the parts of life that support First Nations children’s wellbeing is critical in informing and guiding effective policy and practice. The findings of this study will be used to develop items for a wellbeing measure for First Nations children, which will increase transparency, responsiveness and relevance of clinical and health policy decision making, ultimately improving mental health and wellbeing of First Nations children.
Presentation Key Learnings
1. What parts of life support the wellbeing of First Nations children.
2. How art-based methods can be used to effectively engage children in research.
3. Insights from First Nations research project team members about conducting respectful and engaging field work with children.
Methods: We visited schools and community organisations to conduct Art and Yarning sessions with First Nations children aged 5-11 years. In a relaxed and familiar setting, children were provided with art materials and asked to draw things in their life important to them and then participate in a Yarning Circle led by First Nations facilitators to talk about their drawings and their wellbeing.
Results: During 2023-24, ~180 First Nations children from sites across Australia participated in the study, with field work continuing until December 2024. Our team will present emerging findings from these sessions, in which we are aiming to include the voices of ~250 children from all states and territories. Our First Nations facilitators will discuss their experiences and insights from their work on this study.
Conclusions: Understanding the parts of life that support First Nations children’s wellbeing is critical in informing and guiding effective policy and practice. The findings of this study will be used to develop items for a wellbeing measure for First Nations children, which will increase transparency, responsiveness and relevance of clinical and health policy decision making, ultimately improving mental health and wellbeing of First Nations children.
Presentation Key Learnings
1. What parts of life support the wellbeing of First Nations children.
2. How art-based methods can be used to effectively engage children in research.
3. Insights from First Nations research project team members about conducting respectful and engaging field work with children.
Biography
Taleah is an Indigenous (Wakka Wakka) Research Project Officer, for the What Matters 2 Kids study at the Australian National University. Taleah provides a high level of administrative and research support to the project, including recruitment, community engagement, and community liaison and is involved with the organisation and delivery of community outreach and dissemination activities throughout the duration of the project.
Ms Tasha-Jade Cole
First Nations Project Officer
Australian National University
Using Art & Yarning Sessions to Understand Wellbeing for First Nations Children
Abstract
Background: Children today face unprecedented social, environmental, and technological challenges that can significantly impact on their wellbeing. While First Nations Australian children face additional obstacles associated with prevailing social and health inequities, they also possess cultural, spiritual, family and community capital that promotes their wellbeing. To date, little research has focused on understanding what fosters wellbeing for First Nations children. Our team undertook a national qualitative study, which forms part of a larger project to develop a wellbeing measure for First Nations children, using Art and Yarning sessions with children to explore, identify and describe the parts of life that are important to supporting their wellbeing.
Methods: We visited schools and community organisations to conduct Art and Yarning sessions with First Nations children aged 5-11 years. In a relaxed and familiar setting, children were provided with art materials and asked to draw things in their life important to them and then participate in a Yarning Circle led by First Nations facilitators to talk about their drawings and their wellbeing.
Results: During 2023-24, ~180 First Nations children from sites across Australia participated in the study, with field work continuing until December 2024. Our team will present emerging findings from these sessions, in which we are aiming to include the voices of ~250 children from all states and territories. Our First Nations facilitators will discuss their experiences and insights from their work on this study.
Conclusions: Understanding the parts of life that support First Nations children’s wellbeing is critical in informing and guiding effective policy and practice. The findings of this study will be used to develop items for a wellbeing measure for First Nations children, which will increase transparency, responsiveness and relevance of clinical and health policy decision making, ultimately improving mental health and wellbeing of First Nations children.
Presentation Key Learnings
1. What parts of life support the wellbeing of First Nations children.
2. How art-based methods can be used to effectively engage children in research.
3. Insights from First Nations research project team members about conducting respectful and engaging field work with children.
Methods: We visited schools and community organisations to conduct Art and Yarning sessions with First Nations children aged 5-11 years. In a relaxed and familiar setting, children were provided with art materials and asked to draw things in their life important to them and then participate in a Yarning Circle led by First Nations facilitators to talk about their drawings and their wellbeing.
Results: During 2023-24, ~180 First Nations children from sites across Australia participated in the study, with field work continuing until December 2024. Our team will present emerging findings from these sessions, in which we are aiming to include the voices of ~250 children from all states and territories. Our First Nations facilitators will discuss their experiences and insights from their work on this study.
Conclusions: Understanding the parts of life that support First Nations children’s wellbeing is critical in informing and guiding effective policy and practice. The findings of this study will be used to develop items for a wellbeing measure for First Nations children, which will increase transparency, responsiveness and relevance of clinical and health policy decision making, ultimately improving mental health and wellbeing of First Nations children.
Presentation Key Learnings
1. What parts of life support the wellbeing of First Nations children.
2. How art-based methods can be used to effectively engage children in research.
3. Insights from First Nations research project team members about conducting respectful and engaging field work with children.
Biography
Tasha is an Indigenous (Luritja) Researcher, who is a project officer for the What Matters 2 Kids study. The study aims to identify the wellbeing needs of First Nations kids aged 5-11 years old. Tasha provides assistance with administrative tasks, facilitation of art & yarning workshops, maintaining of research data, field work and travel arrangements. Tasha has been involved in health research for nearly 5 years and is passionate about maintaining the health and wellbeing for young mob.
