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Protocols Before Practice - Cultural Safety in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Tracks
Bilby Room: In-Person Only
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
2:30 PM - 2:50 PM
Bilby Room (M1&2)

Overview

Kirt Mallie, Jem Stone & Bianca Sebben, Indigenous Psychedelic Assisted Therapies


Presenter

Agenda Item Image
Mr Kirt Mallie
Co-Founder
Indigenous Psychedelic Assisted Therapies

Protocols Before Practice - Cultural Safety in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Presentation Overview

Currently, the majority of protocols provide psychedelic-assisted therapy on an individual basis, with a focus on the individual’s history and intentions. This contrasts Indigenous worldviews that have a community well being focus where healing is a collective experience that happens within the context of being held and witnessed by one’s community. Likewise, most training programs and protocols require therapists to have specific qualifications, such as in psychology, and registration with a governing body. This excludes Indigenous Peoples who may be trained in culturally-informed healing practices and have expertise in creating safe, contained spaces when working with botanical medicines, from participating in treating teams.

This session will explore Indigenous Psychedelic Assisted Therapy (IPAT)’s journey towards creating a voice to advocate for the decolonisation of the psychedelic assisted therapy space in Australia, and provide an Indigenous perspective to the development of psychedelic-assisted therapy protocols. We will discuss our experience of advocating for the training of the first two credentialed Indigenous PAT therapists in Australia, one whom has also participated as a therapist on a clinical trial.. We will also share about the psychedelic-assisted therapy model developed by IPAT,which has a foundation in Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, and provides an alternative framework for healing not just for Indigenous peoples in Australia, but for all people.

Speakers:
Jem Stone- Cultural Consultant, Trainer, Educator- Indigenous Psychedelic Assisted Therapies; We Al-Li
Kirt Mallie- Counsellor, Trainer, Educator- Indigenous Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies, Soul Evolution Therapy
Dr Bianca Sebben- Clinical Psychologist- Indigenous Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies; Conscious Insights

Three Key Learnings:
1. Understanding the Importance of Indigenous Engagement: Recognize the critical role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities play in the development and implementation of psychedelic science in Australia.

2. Exploring Indigenous Models of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Gain insights into how Indigenous knowledge systems and cultural practices can inform and enhance psychedelic-assisted therapy models, such as those developed by IPAT (Indigenous Psychedelic Assisted Therapies).

3. Identifying Strategies for Inclusive Research Practices: Learn about approaches to ensure that psychedelic research and therapy are conducted in a culturally sensitive and inclusive manner, respecting the traditions and perspectives of Indigenous populations.

Biography

Kirt Mallie is a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man, a descendant of the Mualgal and Kaurareg people. He is an Indigenous Therapist, Cultural Educator and Spiritual Teacher, and co- Founder of IPAT He is a We-Al-Li facilitator, Culturally Informed Trauma Integrated Healing, Wayapa Wuurrk - Earth Connection Trainer and was one of the therapists on the Psilocybin-Assisted suppoRtive Therapy IN the treatment of prolonged Grief Trial. Founder of Soul Evolution, Kirt also leads yoga and meditation trainings, provides spiritual counselling, breathwork, sound therapy, men’s circles and sacred ceremonies. Born and raised on Guringai Country, the Central Coast NSW and is now based on Gumbaynggirr Country on the Mid North Coast. Kirt listens deeply, treads lightly and speaks kindly, with the deepest reverence and gratitude for all elders, masters, teachers/ students and Country which is the lead facilitator that he continues to learn from. Understanding that connection is the cure, Kirt is passionate about creating safe and sacred spaces to do the deepest work possible. He assists people to develop self-awareness, activate their capacity to heal, align with their truth and step into their power.
Agenda Item Image
Dr Bianca Sebben
Co-founder
Indigenous Psychedelic Assisted Therapies

Protocols Before Practice - Cultural Safety in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Presentation Overview

Currently, the majority of protocols provide psychedelic-assisted therapy on an individual basis, with a focus on the individual’s history and intentions. This contrasts Indigenous worldviews that have a community well being focus where healing is a collective experience that happens within the context of being held and witnessed by one’s community. Likewise, most training programs and protocols require therapists to have specific qualifications, such as in psychology, and registration with a governing body. This excludes Indigenous Peoples who may be trained in culturally-informed healing practices and have expertise in creating safe, contained spaces when working with botanical medicines, from participating in treating teams.

This session will explore Indigenous Psychedelic Assisted Therapy (IPAT)’s journey towards creating a voice to advocate for the decolonisation of the psychedelic assisted therapy space in Australia, and provide an Indigenous perspective to the development of psychedelic-assisted therapy protocols. We will discuss our experience of advocating for the training of the first two credentialed Indigenous PAT therapists in Australia, one whom has also participated as a therapist on a clinical trial.. We will also share about the psychedelic-assisted therapy model developed by IPAT,which has a foundation in Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, and provides an alternative framework for healing not just for Indigenous peoples in Australia, but for all people.

Speakers:
Jem Stone- Cultural Consultant, Trainer, Educator- Indigenous Psychedelic Assisted Therapies; We Al-Li
Kirt Mallie- Counsellor, Trainer, Educator- Indigenous Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies, Soul Evolution Therapy
Dr Bianca Sebben- Clinical Psychologist- Indigenous Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies; Conscious Insights

Three Key Learnings:
1. Understanding the Importance of Indigenous Engagement: Recognize the critical role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities play in the development and implementation of psychedelic science in Australia.

2. Exploring Indigenous Models of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Gain insights into how Indigenous knowledge systems and cultural practices can inform and enhance psychedelic-assisted therapy models, such as those developed by IPAT (Indigenous Psychedelic Assisted Therapies).

3. Identifying Strategies for Inclusive Research Practices: Learn about approaches to ensure that psychedelic research and therapy are conducted in a culturally sensitive and inclusive manner, respecting the traditions and perspectives of Indigenous populations.

Biography

Dr Bianca Sebben is a Clinical Psychologist working in private practice primarily with complex trauma and dissociative disorders, and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Bianca completed her PhD in Indigenous Psychology, looking at barriers to service use and access in Australia and Mexico, traditional methods of healing and increasing cultural safety and accessibility in Western medical systems. Bianca was a therapist on a psilocybin-assisted therapy trial for prolonged grief, and runs training and supervision for therapists working in the psychedelic space. Bianca runs training and workshops in providing psychedelic integration, particularly working with post-psychedelic difficulties.
Agenda Item Image
Ms Jem Stone
Founder
On Country Connections

Protocols Before Practice - Cultural Safety in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapyp

Presentation Overview

Currently, the majority of protocols provide psychedelic-assisted therapy on an individual basis, with a focus on the individual’s history and intentions. This contrasts Indigenous worldviews that have a community well being focus where healing is a collective experience that happens within the context of being held and witnessed by one’s community. Likewise, most training programs and protocols require therapists to have specific qualifications, such as in psychology, and registration with a governing body. This excludes Indigenous Peoples who may be trained in culturally-informed healing practices and have expertise in creating safe, contained spaces when working with botanical medicines, from participating in treating teams.

This session will explore Indigenous Psychedelic Assisted Therapy (IPAT)’s journey towards creating a voice to advocate for the decolonisation of the psychedelic assisted therapy space in Australia, and provide an Indigenous perspective to the development of psychedelic-assisted therapy protocols. We will discuss our experience of advocating for the training of the first two credentialed Indigenous PAT therapists in Australia, one whom has also participated as a therapist on a clinical trial.. We will also share about the psychedelic-assisted therapy model developed by IPAT,which has a foundation in Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, and provides an alternative framework for healing not just for Indigenous peoples in Australia, but for all people.

Speakers:
Jem Stone- Cultural Consultant, Trainer, Educator- Indigenous Psychedelic Assisted Therapies; We Al-Li
Kirt Mallie- Counsellor, Trainer, Educator- Indigenous Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies, Soul Evolution Therapy
Dr Bianca Sebben- Clinical Psychologist- Indigenous Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies; Conscious Insights

Three Key Learnings:
1. Understanding the Importance of Indigenous Engagement: Recognize the critical role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities play in the development and implementation of psychedelic science in Australia.

2. Exploring Indigenous Models of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Gain insights into how Indigenous knowledge systems and cultural practices can inform and enhance psychedelic-assisted therapy models, such as those developed by IPAT (Indigenous Psychedelic Assisted Therapies).

3. Identifying Strategies for Inclusive Research Practices: Learn about approaches to ensure that psychedelic research and therapy are conducted in a culturally sensitive and inclusive manner, respecting the traditions and perspectives of Indigenous populations.

Biography

Jem Stone is a Bundjalung woman, Educator, Wellness Practitioner and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist who is passionately integrating Indigenous knowledge systems into education and wellness spaces through Earth connection, culturally informed trauma integrated healing and decolonised learning methods. Working and training in the wellness industry for over twenty years, Jem is now lead trainer of Wayapa Wuurrk, a We Al-li Facilitator, and co-founder of IPAT, working to ensure cultural inclusivity, safety and the honouring of original knowledge holders as clinical psychedelic assisted therapies emerge in Australia. Jem is also a trainer on Onaya’s Psychedelic Mentorship Program.
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