Moorditj Kaat Kadadjiny - Good Mind Learning - saw more than 200 attendees in person and online from across Australia, who were able to hear from some of WA's most respected First Nations leaders in the social and emotional wellbeing and research space.

It was a powerful event and a rare opportunity for the sector to engage with thought leaders, frontline practitioners and people with lived experience all in one place.

Among the speakers were Professor Pat Dudgeon and Professor Braden Hill, both recipients of Murdoch University’s Distinguished Alumni Award, whose contributions to Indigenous mental health and higher education continue to shape national conversations. 

"If, when supporting First Nations people, we are not thinking about Queer people, then we are not doing the work." Professor Hill said in his address.

"When we support First Nations people, we support everyone."

Through keynote addresses and audience dialogue, the forum explored the current landscape of social and emotional wellbeing, highlighting the importance of embedding cultural knowledge in mental health practice, and ensuring culturally responsive practices and community-led, strengths-based approaches remain central. 

Professor Pat Dudgeon from the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention, shared reflections from her decades of research in Indigenous mental health, including her pivotal role in the development of the Social and Emotional Wellbeing model; a framework that has become a cornerstone of national mental health strategies.  

As one of its original architects, Professor Dudgeon spoke to the model’s deep roots in cultural, spiritual, and community strength, and how it continues to be adapted by organisations across the country to guide more holistic and culturally responsive approaches to wellbeing. 

A standout moment was the sharing of a lived experience story that powerfully illustrated the realities faced by many, and the strength coming from connection to culture, community, and care.  

Willhemina Farmer and her daughter Candy shared a powerful and deeply personal story of survival, healing, and reconnection. With 38 years of experience in the holistic health space, Willhemina’s presentation traced a journey that began with experiences of suicidal ideation as a teenager, early motherhood, separation from her children, and the long road back to wholeness.

Her story amplified the knowledge that behind every policy, framework, or service is a person, a family, and a community navigating complex systems, often while carrying the burden of intergenerational trauma and systemic exclusion. 

Shakara Liddelow-Hunt, Research Assistant on the on Walkern Katatdjin Rainbow Knowledge project, shared insights into the upcoming launch of a national roadmap focused on improving support for LGBTIQA+ First Nations young people, highlighting the importance of culturally safe, inclusive care.  

Moorditj Koort Aboriginal Corporation’s Culture Care Connect Program was recently recognised with the Best Practice in Workplace award at the National Suicide Prevention LiFE Awards, honouring outstanding contributions to suicide prevention across Australia.

During the forum, the team, including Travis Humphries and Alex Little, shared the impactful work they are leading in the areas of prevention and support, highlighting how culturally grounded, community-led approaches are making a tangible difference in the lives of Aboriginal people and communities.