Integrating Ngardi Guwanda (thinking, feeling, listening strongly) into community-led, locally driven women's empowerment projects – Bianca Stawiarski
Research, particularly health research on topics of First Nations health and wellbeing have a less than positive, and in some cases destructive impact on our families and communities. As a mental health therapist and Indigenous Healing practitioner, I have long advocated that we all have our own innate healing within us, and solutions to health and wellbeing approaches are stronger when we incorporate local-driven approaches that involve culture and connection to Country.

This presentation will explore the early stages of a current culturally-integrated holistic community-led women’s empowerment project occurring on Kaurna Country as part of the speakers practice-based PhD research with Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education. It will highlight the importance of locally-led, First Nations solutions to individual and community health and wellbeing, taking a strength-based approach while linking this to economic empowerment opportunities through entrepreneurship. This will also highlight the importance of undertaking detailed community ethics approaches, exploring the process that was utilised.