Walkern Katatdjin | Rainbow Knowledge | Indigenous LGBTQA+ youth

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

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:

Interviews and yarning groups

Yarning with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ young people about their needs and experiences.

National survey

An online national survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ young people's mental health and social emotional wellbeing.

Co-design

Developing interventions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ young people and services.

'Walkern Katatdjin' means 'Rainbow Knowledge' in Noongar language.

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.

Take part in our National Survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ young people's mental health and social emotional wellbeing.

The Walkern Katatdjin Phase 2 National Survey is now closed.

This survey was for people who are:

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
LGBTQA+ (you don’t have to be ‘out’)
14 – 25 years old

Read our Participant Study Information Letter or have a look at some of the important information here.

The final results of the Phase 1 qualitative interviews and yarning groups are available in our Community Report.

Download the Walkern Katatdjin (Rainbow Knowledge) Phase 1 Community Report here.

Liddelow-Hunt, S., Uink, B., Hill, B., Perry, Y., Munns, S., Talbott, T., Lin, A. (2021) Walkern Katatdjin (Rainbow Knowledge) Phase 1 Community Report, Perth, Western Australia

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.

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.

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.

Find Support

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.

Resources

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.

Community Organisations

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.

The research team: