Walkern Katatdjin | Rainbow Knowledge | Indigenous LGBTQA+ youth

Art showing 7 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ young people. They are all wearing or carrying Aboriginal flags or Torres Strait Islander flags. The are all wearing or carrying the pride flag, asexual flag, non-binary flag, trans flag, pansexual flag, lesbian flag or bisexual flag. This art was done by Kaeya Milton (@kaeangelwings).

There is very little locally-specific information and guidance available for services that work with young people on how best to support someone who is both Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and identifies as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or Asexual (LGBTQA+).

This means that young people (14-25 years) who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and LGBTQA+ may not receive the same level of social support and health care as other members of the community.

This project has 3 phases:

A young person is sitting on a bench. They are wearing a Torres Strait Islander flag pin and their clothes are the colours of the asexual flag. They are talking to a person with long hair who is wearing a pink shirt. This are was done by Kaeya Milton (@kaeangelwings).

We have decided to use the acronym LGBTQA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Asexual, plus), but we acknowledge and welcome all members of the community.

Wanju (Welcome)

Walkern Katatdjin is a national research project that aims to understand and promote the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Asexual +) young people, and to work with services to develop appropriate interventions.

'Walkern Katatdjin' roughly translates to 'Rainbow Knowledge' in the Noongar language.

News

Phase 3 Community Roadmap Forum

We brought together members of the community to co-design ideas based on the National Survey

WA Youth Awards 2023 Finalists

Shak, MJ & Spiider representing the Pride Yarns with Mob project

Bridging gap for LGBTQIA+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait young people

Phase 3 Community Roadmap Forum

We brought together members of the community to co-design ideas based on the National Survey

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This year our team collabed with Youth Pride Network, along with young LGBTQA+ mob and Elders to produce Tiktok resources for the community

This year our team collabed with Youth Pride Network, along with young LGBTQA+ mob and local Elders to produce Tiktok resources for the community

We are looking for people who are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ mob to join our Governance Committee and Youth Advisory Group.

Members of the Youth Advisory Group will guide the research design, recruitment, data analysis, reports and publications and data management.

To join the Youth Advisory Group, you must be:

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
LGBTQA+
14-25 years old.

See here for more information about joining the Youth Advisory Group.

The Governance Committee will oversee the Walkern Katatdjin project design, procedures, data management, and translation of findings to ensure meaningful impacts from the project.

Applicants should be:

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
LGBTQA+
Experienced in healthcare, community work, activism or other related fields.

To find out more about the role of the Governance Committee click here.

A young person is sitting in a brown armchair. They look enthusiastic. The are wearing a blue shirt, a Torres Strait Islander pin, and pink, blue and white flowers in their hair (the colours of the trans flag). They are talking to a person with long hair who is wearing a pink shirt. This art was done by Kaeya Milton (@kaeangelwings).

A young person sighs and looks sad. They are wearing a white t-shirt, red overalls and a green, white and blue flower crown (the colours of the Torres Strait Islander flag). This art was done by Kaeya Milton (@kaeangelwings).

If you're feeling distressed or overwhelmed, we encourage you seek help and support.

We've put together this handy list of places you can go for support for your mental health and social emotional wellbeing.

Our team has been working hard to produce these resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ young people, their families, friends, and service providers.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ community groups across Australia offer support and belonging. We've put together a list of community groups across Australia.