Introduction

Culture is an important factor in social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Gee et al., 2014; Smallwood et al., 2023). The importance of connection to culture among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is recognised in various Australian government policies and frameworks (e.g. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan 2023–2025 (part of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children) and the Closing the Gap Implementation Plan 2023).

However, awareness and understanding of culture and its connection to SEWB for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples among non-Indigenous practitioners and services could be improved. It is also important to recognise that the cultural and SEWB experiences of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia are highly variable due to differences in culture, experiences of colonisation, geographic location (e.g. urban, regional, remote), economic conditions and levels of access to services.

This short article summarises the findings from a qualitative study examining the experiences and perceptions of culture and wellbeing among young urban Aboriginal people living in Naarm (Melbourne) (Murrup-Stewart et al., 2021a, 2021b). The findings provide insight into ways that young Aboriginal people living in urban environments can be supported to engage with culture, and how urban service responses can more effectively foster young people’s connections to culture and support positive SEWB. Though localisation is necessary for any service response, these findings demonstrate valuable considerations for urban and metropolitan service provision across Australia. (A list of key Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led organisations around Australia (including other urban areas) that support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is provided at the end.)

Why culture matters

Connection to culture is particularly important for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are developing their identity, moving to independence and taking on responsibilities. Connection to culture refers to young people’s ability and opportunity to keep and strengthen their ties to their heritage, and includes the knowledge, laws and customs of their culture. Cultural connection and participation in cultural activities, experiences and events is therefore an important part of identity development and an essential component of positive SEWB among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (Gee et al., 2014; Murrup-Stewart et al., 2018).

However, connection to culture for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has been severely disrupted by ongoing colonisation. The experiences and trauma associated with colonisation continues to negatively impact the SEWB of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with compounding effects of intergenerational trauma and present-day challenges of colonisation impacting children and young people, in particular (Murrup-Stewart et al., 2021b).

Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience greater social, economic and health inequality than other population groups (Azzopardi et al., 2018; Murrup-Stewart et al., 2021b). They are also at higher risk of mental illness and suicide-related behaviours than non-Indigenous young people (Holland et al., 2012). Supporting young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to foster connections to culture is an important factor in promoting positive SEWB and addressing health inequalities.

Current research has mostly focused on Aboriginal people living in rural or remote locations, despite population data indicating that most Aboriginal people live in urban areas (Jennings et al., 2021). Among young urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, experiences of connection to culture are diverse and varied, as they are influenced by different elements such as history, place,¹ family and community (Smallwood et al., 2023). They may also have to face and navigate a social, emotional and political environment that includes inaccurate and negative depictions of Aboriginal culture.

Understanding what culture means to young urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today, and how they experience it, is vital. This is especially important because there have often been misunderstandings about what 'culture' is in programs, services and policies designed for Aboriginal wellbeing. This can result in ineffective, unsafe and unsustainable supports. A deeper understanding can help inform the provision of holistic and culturally safe service responses that can more effectively foster young people’s connections to culture and support positive SEWB.

Understandings and experiences of culture

The term ‘culture’ commonly refers to ‘shared, learned behaviour and meanings’ (Marsella & Yamada, 2007, p 801) among certain groups of people and provides a framework through which individuals can make sense of their world. Murrup-Stewart and colleagues (2021a) found that young Aboriginal² people’s understandings and experiences of Aboriginal culture were varied and complex and related to 4 themes:

• relationships
• connection to Country
• shared beliefs and values
• identity.

Relationships

Culture was often understood as being a part of family and community relationships. These relationships provided a sense of connectedness and ‘staying together’ that also gave young people an opportunity to learn about cultural practices, dreamtime stories and history from family and other community members such as Elders. Young Aboriginal people also valued sharing spaces and experiences with their peers, which gave them a sense of belonging and safety. Relationships were a mutual thing, where young people had responsibility to nurture relationships and gained great benefits to their wellbeing from these relationships.

Connection to Country

Connection to Country (e.g. spending time on Country, around the bush and rivers) provided young Aboriginal people an opportunity to further connect with culture in a way that also fostered spiritual connection and connection to ancestors. Connecting with Country, which may be as simple as ‘scrunching up a eucalyptus leaf and smelling it’, gave them a sense of wellbeing, peace and belonging. This was especially important for young people living away from their traditional lands and those in highly colonised urban cities.

Shared beliefs and values

Young Aboriginal people in the study also noted the importance of shared beliefs and values, which included knowledge on ways of living, learning and dreaming and creation stories. Having a common understanding of what is important in one’s life enabled young people to develop a sense of understanding about culture, belonging and community.

Identity

Culture was described as an essential part of identity that provided a lens through which young people understood themselves and their place in the world. Culture was also viewed by some as a way of being or ‘this thing that’s inside’.

While culture was described by some young people as a strength that provided a buffer against challenges they experienced, access to culture was not always easy. This is because traditional methods of sharing culture have been disrupted, resulting in young people having to re-establish knowledge-sharing pathways or develop new approaches to creating cultural spaces (Murrup-Stewart et al., 2021a).

Connection to culture and its impacts on SEWB

Connection has positive impacts

The young Aboriginal people in Murrup-Stewart’s study discussed several ways that connection to culture positively impacted their SEWB (Murrup-Stewart et al., 2021b).

1. Being connected to culture gave feelings of safety, happiness, calmness and clarity. This was enhanced through sharing cultural connections with other Aboriginal people whereby they received acceptance, recognition and acknowledgement of their cultural identity. This acknowledgment and recognition strengthened their sense of belonging, confidence and pride.
2. Relationships and interactions with family and community had a positive impact on SEWB; for example, young people obtaining guidance and advice from Elders.
3. Time ‘on Country’ was described as having positive impacts on SEWB, including feelings of calmness, safety, a sense of connection with ancestors, resetting of one’s spirit and a peacefulness that grounded and nourished the young people.

Disconnection and its negative impacts

On the other hand, experiences of feeling disconnected from culture or expectations of them as an Aboriginal young person can have negative impacts on SEWB. This includes:

• Experiences of not feeling Aboriginal enough. A perceived lack of knowledge about familial connections to their community, traditional language or practice can lead to young people having feelings of being less connected to culture, which, in turn, can affect their confidence and lead to feelings of shame and fear.
• Social disconnection. Experiences of stigma, disruption to traditional social structures and subsequent poor coping behaviours arising from the impacts of colonisation can contribute to challenges within Aboriginal communities. This can damage young people’s connections to family and community members, and this can then negatively impact their SEWB. Further, in addition to the challenges that this can create for young people’s sense of identity and belonging, disruptions to family connections (including relocation for work/study/health care, the effects of parents’ or grandparents’ trauma contributing to family disconnection, forced removal from family and community or growing up in out-of-home care) can result in young people being mistrusted by established communities and leave them feeling isolated and disconnected.
• Likewise, the destruction of healthy community structures, separation of families and lack of control over their own lives can lead to situations of lateral violence. This is when oppressed groups direct their anger and frustrations towards their own communities due to a sense of powerlessness and isolation and can result in negative coping behaviours such as violence or alcoholism (Charles, 2023; Whyman et al., 2023).
• Emotional labour. Young people may be negatively impacted by the high level of emotional labour it takes when participating in activities and events such as social justice rallies, protests and even NAIDOC week celebrations. This is due to the often negative and harmful conversations that happen in society around these events, such as when Invasion/Australia Day rallies receive negative attention in the media. A constant stream of activities and media coverage that draw attention to injustices, inequities and racism can result in engagement fatigue, despair and loss of hope, particularly when there is little change or progress. These issues are often very personal for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and are linked to family losses and intergenerational trauma. The emotional labour experienced in these situations can contribute to ongoing trauma and negatively impact SEWB.
• Challenges to Aboriginality. Young people may have their Aboriginality challenged by others, First Nations and non-Indigenous people alike. This is particularly an issue when young people’s identities are challenged as ‘not being Blak enough’ by Aboriginal people but as ‘too Aboriginal’ by non-Indigenous people. This can leave young people lacking a sense of belonging. In particular, young people who do not meet stereotypical visual imagery of Aboriginal people can be left ‘feeling isolated and having difficulty justifying' who they are (Murrup-Stewart et al., 2021b, p 1840).

It is important that practitioners understand these issues and work to support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people navigate and overcome barriers to connecting with culture when appropriate.

Implications for practice

Practitioners and services can increase their awareness and understanding of the importance of culture to SEWB among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Additional resources on this topic are provided in the Further reading and resources section.

These practice considerations are based on the perspectives of young people interviewed in the study by Murrup-Stewart and colleagues (2021b) and a review of studies examining Aboriginal young people’s views on their health and wellbeing (Smallwood et al., 2023). The considerations focus on what practitioners and services can do to support young Aboriginal people to strengthen their connections and to promote positive SEWB. It is essential to acknowledge that these principles, though broadly applicable to other urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, need to be adapted to local settings. This localisation ensures that the strategies remain culturally responsive to the unique characteristics and needs of local peoples.

Services and programs should take a holistic approach to social and wellbeing supports, including consideration of what culture means to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and focus on providing programs aimed at fostering relevant connections to culture and building resilience and emotional strengths.

Approaches for practitioners and services

• Seek and provide opportunities for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to:
  • develop and maintain family connections
  • have experiences on Country
  • participate in activities and events where they can learn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
• Avoid using deficit-based language, stereotypes and views about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, and shift towards strengths-based approaches that recognise the positive aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
• Do not blame or shame young people for any lack of knowledge about their culture, family or community.
• Prioritise building trusting relationships through which to engage young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on matters that affect them, including how supports and services are planned and delivered, to ensure their needs are met.
• Programs and services aimed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be co-designed and, ideally, led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Conclusion

Culture and social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are interlinked. Understanding young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s knowledge and experiences of connection to culture and SEWB can help practitioners and program developers be more culturally safe and responsive. Practitioners and services, led by or guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, can encourage and support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to foster connections to culture by providing opportunities for spending time on Country, connecting with Elders, family and community, and promoting and recognising the strengths and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Further reading and resources

• National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing 2017–2023. This framework is designed to guide and inform mental health and wellbeing reforms (policies, practice and programs) affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This flyer is a summary of the SEWB model from the framework.
• Gee et al. (2014) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing. This book chapter discusses understandings of social and emotional wellbeing and its relationship with mental health from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective.
• Videos on: Aboriginal perspectives on wellbeing, Connecting to culture and identity.

The following list outlines some key Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led organisations around Australia that support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This list is not exhaustive. You can also find local Aboriginal Gathering Places or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.

• Koori Youth Council is based on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation in Naarm (Melbourne) and conducts various projects that support the rights and representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people living in Victoria.
• NASCA is based in Redfern, NSW, and run programs with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people that focus on sport and youth development and mentoring.
• Weave Youth and Community Services is based on Gadigal and Bidjigal Lands in Sydney and provides counselling, crisis intervention and therapeutic programs.
• Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation operates programs that help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth in Northern NSW get connected to culture and education.
• NextGen Aboriginal Youth Services helps young people in South Australia by providing advocacy and mentoring support.
• Kurbingui Youth and Family Development is an organisation that provides family, cultural, education, training and social wellbeing services across the Greater Brisbane, Moreton Bay and Southeast regions.
• Darumbal Community Youth Service provides a range of Aboriginal youth services across Central Queensland.
• Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council provides youth services and other family-oriented services covering the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara region (cross-border regions of WA, SA and NT).
• Youth Mob is a youth network for Aboriginal people living in southern Tasmania. Activities are directed by its members and include leadership, mentoring and enterprise related activities.
• 13Yarn provides free and confidential support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia. It is run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Black Rainbow is a national volunteer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBQTIA+SB organisation that supports positive health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Asexual, Sistergirl and Brotherboys (LGBQTIA+SB).

References

Azzopardi, P. S., Sawyer, S. M., Carlin, J. B., Degenhardt, L., Brown, N., Brown, A. D. et al. (2018). Health and wellbeing of Indigenous adolescents in Australia: A systematic synthesis of population data. The Lancet, 391(10122), 766–782.

Charles, B. (2023). What is lateral violence and how do we deal with its many forms? NITV. Retrieved from www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/lateral-violence-explained-how-to-deal-with-its-many-forms/f6s54whcp

Gee, G., Dudgeon, P., Shultz, C., Hart, A., & Kelly, K. (2014). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing. In Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice. Second edition, Chapter 4, pages 55–68. www.indigenousjustice.gov.au/resources/working-together-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-mental-health-and-wellbeing-principles-and-practice

Holland C., Dudgeon P., & Milroy H. (2013). The Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Families and Communities. Supplementary Paper to A Contributing Life: the 2012 National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention for the National Mental Health Commission, May 2013.

Jennings, W., Spurling, G., Shannon, B., Hayman, N., & Askew, D. (2021). Rapid review of five years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research in Australia – persisting under‐representation of urban populations. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 45(1), 53–58.

Marsella, A. J., & Yamada, A. M. (2007). Culture and psychopathology: Foundations, issues, and directions. In S. Kitayama & D. Cohen (Eds), Handbook of cultural psychology, New York: Guilford Press, pp. 797–818.

Murrup‐Stewart, C., Searle, A. K., Jobson, L., & Adams, K. (2018). Aboriginal perceptions of social and emotional wellbeing programs: A systematic review of literature assessing social and emotional wellbeing programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians perspectives. Australian Psychologist, 54(3), 171–186.

Murrup-Stewart, C., Whyman, T., Jobson, L., & Adams, K. (2021a). Understanding culture: The voices of urban Aboriginal young people. Journal of Youth Studies, 24(10), 1308–1325.

Murrup-Stewart, C., Whyman, T., Jobson, L., & Adams, K. (2021b). ‘Connection to culture is like a massive lifeline’: Yarning with Aboriginal young people about culture and social and emotional wellbeing. Qualitative Health Research, 31(10), 1833–1846.

Smallwood, R., Usher, K., Woods, C., Sampson, N., & Jackson, D. (2023). De‐problematising Aboriginal young peoples’ health and well‐being through their voice: An Indigenous scoping review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(9–10), 2086–2101.

Whyman, T., Murrup-Stewart, C., Young, M., Carter, A., & Jobson, L. (2023). ‘Lateral violence stems from the colonial system’: Settler-colonialism and lateral violence in Aboriginal Australians. Postcolonial Studies, 26(2), 183–201.

¹The Aboriginal Australian definition of place is deeply interconnected with their cultural identity, spiritual beliefs and ancestral heritage. Sometimes referred to as Country, it refers to the physical and cultural environment in which they live and have a connection to, as well as a profound spiritual, emotional and cultural connection to the land. This concept of place is integral to their understanding of the world and their place within it, emphasising a sense of belonging, responsibility and continuity with past and future generations.

² This study was open to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; however, only Aboriginal people were recruited and included in the findings. Although there are many similarities, we respectfully acknowledge that there are likely differences between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences and understandings of culture.