Background
Evidence-based understandings are necessary to implement holistic responses to social and emotional wellbeing addressing a range of cultural, historical, political, and social factors that shape health and wellbeing. This presentation outlines a PhD program of work which aimed to build foundational understandings on approaches to address social determinants of health and promote action on social and emotional wellbeing.

Approach
An Indigenous methodology underpinned the mixed methods, iterative research design which included prioritising Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, insider approaches and Indigenous governance and leadership. Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledges were integrated to describe community level outcomes for mental health and the social determinants of health. An enhanced scoping review methodology identified health programs addressing one or more social determinants. Practice-based evidence was generated from a developmental evaluation of an initiative addressing unmet social and cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander South Australians.

Results
Community-level outcomes emphasised significant unmet mental health and social needs for South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Review findings highlight that few programs specifically addressed or provided coordinated action on the social determinants of health. A focus on emerging themes, complexity and reflective practice generated practice-evidence for implementing strengths-based case management to identify unmet needs, engage in goal setting and broker connections with social and health services.

Conclusion
This presentation outlines a range of innovative practice, methodological, and research considerations for promoting social and emotional wellbeing. Approaches need to consider system-level factors and measure the impact of holistic responses to expand the existing evidence base on action that integrates the social determinants of health.