WellMob and SANE are excited to announce a new collaboration to provide culturally safe online wellbeing spaces. The partnership will initially look at the design of culturally governed and safe online Yarning Spaces for First Nations health workers.
The WellMob website links to over 500 online health and wellbeing resources that can be used by First Nations community members and workers. These include apps, videos, podcasts, printables and other websites on a range of wellbeing issues beyond the usual mental health topics. These include resources that are strengths-based and culturally embedded, including topics such as cultural identity, parenting, anxiety, strong minds, alcohol and other drugs amongst many others.
The first phase of this partnership will focus on designing and delivering a new online 'Yarning Space.' This platform will enhance support, foster connection, and promote self-care for the rapidly growing Social & Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) workforce. Many of these frontline workers are employed in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health and medical services throughout the country.
In addition, WellMob will join as a founding member of a new SANE Indigenous Governance Group, collaborating with Thirrili, 13YARN and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and peak leadership bodies to guide the creation of Indigenous-specific spaces on SANE’s digital service platform.
Nathan Deaves, SANE’s Manager for Social & Emotional Wellbeing Strategy and Partnerships, emphasised that this partnership acknowledges the expertise of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in determining what works best for their own wellbeing.
“This partnership recognizes the increasing need for safe digital spaces, particularly in light of the ongoing impacts of the recent Referendum on the wellbeing of the Indigenous community,” Deaves said. “SANE’s established digital mental health platform will enable us to develop culturally tailored and governed programs to meet this demand.”
By leveraging SANE’s infrastructure alongside WellMob’s extensive resources and understanding of the digital SEWB space, the collaboration will help create more inclusive and accessible support systems for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
“This partnership will also help guide broader SANE programs, allowing us to integrate the SEWB framework into existing services and contribute to Closing the Gap objectives and reforms,” Deaves continued. “We’re thrilled to work with WellMob to support the delivery of programs tailored to local needs.”
David Edwards, Director of WellMob, added “working with online mental health providers is important given the digital space provides an anonymous and 24-7 accessible space for our First Nations peoples to get support. It’s important that these online spaces are culturally safe and responsive and embed a strengths-based and holistic framework to wellbeing that is provided by the SEWB model.”
The WellMob website has a Training Resources portal that was created to make it easier for the non-Indigenous and First Nations health and wellbeing workforce to better respond to their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander client needs. The website is part of the national e-Mental Health in Practice project that is funded by the Commonwealth Government to upskill practitioners and peer workforce to integrate digital tools into practices.
“The training resources webpage on WellMob has nearly 200 online resources for the professional development and self-care of our diverse wellbeing workforce. The new Yarning Space we are co-developing with SANE will provide a forum to share these tools and other knowledge to improve outcomes for First Nations peoples accessing mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and other health services.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People can access the Yarning Space by visiting https://saneforums.org/ and request to sign up. The Yarning Space is in the design phase, we welcome people to sign up, test the usability, engage in discussions, and provide feedback. SANE and our partners are aiming to launch this space in early 2025.
About Wellmob
WellMob (www.wellmob.org.au ) is a national digital resource hub for frontline health and wellbeing workers, offering online SEWB resources specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The WellMob Project is managed by e-Mental Health in Practice at the University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney, with funding from the Queensland University of Technology.
About SANE
SANE is a leader in digital mental health, providing innovative and effective support services nationally for adults living with complex mental health needs, and the family and friends that care for them. Led by the voices of the Lived Experience community, SANE is working to bridge gaps in support, reduce burden on the health and disability systems, and most importantly, improve health outcomes and quality of life. Find out more at www.sane.org