Dr. Michelle Dickson and Research Team Workshop

Culture and collaboration : supporting Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing.

Abstract: Members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health team of the University of Sydney School of Public Health will be visiting the University of Toronto to deliver a half day workshop exploring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, health, and wellbeing. Focused on the important concept of Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB), a culturally specific concept of health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, presentations will share knowledge and experiences of SEWB education, research, and innovative programs that are helping to improve health and SEWB outcomes across the nation. During the Yarning Circle workshop, participants will be invited to engage in a two-way learning process where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contexts can be considered alongside First Nations contexts. Yarning Circles provide opportunities to discuss important matters in culturally safe ways, where all people can equally contribute to discussions. The Yarning Circle session will create space to discuss what is working well, could be improved, and how First Nations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collaborations have the potential to enhance our collective efforts to improve cultural, health, and wellbeing experiences of our communities.

Bio's

Dr. Michelle Dickson: Associate Professor Michelle Dickson, Darkinjung/Ngarigu academic in the Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney. She lives and works on Gadigal land (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia). A/Prof. Dickson has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing service delivery and health professions education for 27 years. She is Deputy Head of School and former Academic Program Director of the Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health Promotion. In 2021 the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) awarded her for contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Public Health. A/Prof. Dickson focuses on privileging First Nations ways of knowing, being and doing in education, research, health and wellness.

Jasper Garay is a proud Darkinjung/Ngarigo Aboriginal Lecturer living and working on Gadigal Country of the Eora Nation. In The University of Sydney School of Public Health, Jasper is the Course Coordinator of the Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Health Promotion and teaches in the Master of Public Health degree. Jasper’s research focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people’s Social and Emotional Wellbeing, aiming to better include lived experiences and grass roots perspectives as evidence that informs meaningful and relevant Social and Emotional Wellbeing service and system reforms for our young peoples.

Candace Angelo is proud Yuin woman from New South Wales, Australia. Candace is the Academic Program Director for the Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health Promotion and proud alumni of the degree within the Sydney School of Public Health part of the wider faculty of Medicine and Health at The University of Sydney. Candace holds several qualifications including degrees in Nursing, child and family health, paediatrics, Indigenous health promotion, rural and remote health and a Master of Philosophy (medicine). In addition to academia, Candace has held clinical and management positions in infection prevention and control, acute nursing, critical care, paediatric nursing, occupational screening and vaccination and cultural awareness. Candace is involved in many research projects including the CRE-STRIDE social and emotional wellbeing, collaborative projects looking at systems integration and mental health in Aboriginal Children and her thesis was focused on the impacts of Mentoring on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing professional workforce.

Karina Clarkson is a proud Gamillaroi/Dunghutti woman from NSW, she has more than 12 years’ experience in the alcohol and other drug and social and emotional wellbeing/mental health sectors in various roles. Primarily, Karina has been teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the area of health and wellbeing with a passion for building the capacity and capability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities through strengths-based teaching approaches. Karina is also an early career academic and researcher.

Joel Dixon is a Warumungu and Kaytej man. He was born in Darwin and raised in Adelaide. he has a background in health and education and a passion for change in society towards equity for all. After a string of jobs between government and non-profit sectors focusing on various fields of Aboriginal health he has now settled into the University of Sydney. Joel’s aim is to help society see the changes it needs to make to reach a point where everyone is free and safe to do what they want which is why He decided to follow this pathway via the Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Health Promotion team here at USyd.

Matilde Breth Petersen migrated from Denmark to Australia as a child and is now living and working on beautiful Gadigal Country of the Eora Nation. She is honoured to be a part of the academic teaching team for the Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Health Promotion at the Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney. Matilde is an early career academic and researcher involved in research projects and teaching mainly in the areas of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, climate change and health, and improving the sustainability of Australian healthcare. Her thesis focused on the social and emotional wellbeing impacts of prolonged extreme heat, using community engagement and qualitative research methods to give voice to community members. With a background in Public Health and Psychology, she has a strong passion for improving community mental health and wellbeing.