Since New Year’s Day, at least five Aboriginal young people have tragically taken their own lives. It was so distressing there was extensive media coverage for a change. Yet week in and week out, self-harm and suicide have grown into an epidemic among First Nations young people.
Our kids could soon comprise half of all youth suicides in Australia. This is horrific.
Hearing about these tragedies fills me with a heart-sickening shame for our country. This grows directly out of the environments our children are immersed in – our communities, schools, sporting clubs, universities and workplaces.
Culture is Life, the organisation I work for, backs First Nations led solutions to deepen connection and belonging to prevent youth suicide and to support young people to thrive.
‘Solutions that work: What the evidence and our people tell us’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Evaluation Project report, published in November 2016 highlights the complexities and critical success factors fundamental to change. Elements include supporting First Nations led solutions, cultural programming and youth participation models.
Professor Pat Dudgeon, one of the report authors shared with our young people in Culture is Life’s recent LOVE and HOPE Campaign:
“This is happening as the end result of colonisation. We were put into missions and reserves, there was genocide, we were taken from our families. You can’t wipe out a history like that, it is transmitted inter-generationally.”
Press reports quote a child of 14, telling friends via social media, “Once I’m gone the bullying and racism will stop”.
What are we as a nation doing to end racism? What must this young girl have seen, heard and felt in such a short life to destroy all hope?
And what message does Australia Day celebrations send to our young people, their families and communities around the country? January 26 marks the day Sir Arthur Phillip landed at Sydney Cove and claimed the land in the name of King George III, commencing more than two centuries of genocide and attempts at cultural destruction. First peoples have mourned this day since settlement and officially recognised this in 1938.
This country is littered with the graves of murdered and massacred families at the hands of settlers. How does this show our young people and their families that they are valued? Dismissing our voices, it affirms the apathy, learned racism and ignorance.
Like most First Peoples, I endure the barrage of questions about January 26. Why are we answerable for a decision to create a celebration around a date we in fact mourn?
Through all this, I’ve witnessed the strength and patience of my people – it has lifted me. The emotion expressed reminds me that our people have love and hope in their hearts and connection to this country like no other.
Young people, our emerging leaders, breathe life into the future and fill me with hope. The care, love and consideration they show each other tells me we can be a bolder, healthier and an emotionally richer country.
As Culture Squad Youth Ambassador Will Austin has recently said: “This time last year Culture is Life’s campaign heard the authentic voices of our young people in expressing to the nation why IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE. A year has passed, and we are asking ourselves what has changed and is anyone listening? Just recently we have seen far too many youth suicides. We’ve got to ask what is happening in the lives of our young people? Are we listening to and feeling their cries for help?”
The foundations of this country and the relationship with Australia’s First Peoples, needs to change. We must let young people know we are listening, that they ARE valued, and that we will do everything possible to turn the horrific rates of Aboriginal youth suicide around. Changing the date is one step that could make a difference to how young people see their place in Australia.
We all have a part to play in this change.
Culture is Life’s #loveandhope and #itstimeforchange campaigns can be found at https://cultureislife.org/campaigns/
For help or support contact: Lifeline 13 11 14, beyondblue 1300 22 4636, Q Life 1800 184 527 https://qlife.org.au/ or your local Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisation https://www.naccho.org.au/member-services/naccho-member-services/
2019 This article was originally published on New Matilda
Sign up for our newsletter
The 2025 Fellows just wrapped an incredible week in Garramilla on Larrakia Country, a week of reflection, storytelling, healing and deep connection with community and Country.
From Uncle Dr Richard Fejo’s Saltwater Ceremony, to SEWB learnings with Mark Nannup, values grounding with Aunty Steff, storytelling with Gen Grieves, visits to Children’s Ground and Minramana Community, and a beautiful bush medicine workshop with Aunty Cheryl, every day was packed with culture, growth and purpose.
We closed with a powerful circle led by Dr Carmen Cubillo and heartfelt ‘Who You?’ presentations that brought the cohort even closer.
Huge love to all our First Nations hosts and facilitators for welcoming us so generously.
❤️🤎🖤
Join award-winning filmmaker Rachel Perkins and esteemed historian Henry Reynolds at the launch of The Australian Wars book tomorrow night. After sold out launch events in Sydney and Melbourne, the conversation now heads to The Australian War Memorial on Ngunnawal Country in Canberra.
Rachel has long called for First Nations people who died in Frontier Wars conflicts – as well as colonists who were killed – to be officially recognised by this institution ❤️🖤🤎
Co-edited with Stephen Gapps, Mina Murray, and Henry Reynolds, this ground breaking book was conceived by Rachel Perkins following her award-winning documentary series of the same name, produced by Blackfella Films for SBS. 🎥✨
Image credit: Dylan River
@rachelperkinsau @allenandunwin @stephen.gapps @_mina.murray
📚 Launching The Australian Wars Book!
Huge congratulations to everyone involved in creating The Australian Wars book, being launched around the country this week!
Co-edited with Stephen Gapps, Mina Murray, and Henry Reynolds, the book was conceived by the incredible Rachel Perkins following her award-winning documentary series produced by Blackfella Films for SBS. 🎥✨
The book builds on the meticulous research conducted for the documentary series, and covers Frontier Wars battles across all the states and territories. It’s a hugely valuable resource for history teachers, and essential reading for all Australians to progress truth-telling in this country. ❤️🖤🤎
Look out for launch events happening in:
Gadigal Country (Sydney)
Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung Country (Melbourne)
Ngunnawal Country (Canberra) ... and hopefully more to come!
🔍Look it up! Don’t miss this important work.
@rachelperkinsau @allenandunwin @stephen.gapps @_mina.murray Henry Reynolds
Don’t miss this! Tomorrow night in Naarm!
We’re so proud that our Education Consultant and Fullaship Elder, Aunty Stephanie Armstrong OAM, will be in conversation with Mervyn Bishop and Tim Dobbyn to launch the illustrated biography; Black, White + Colour!
Mervyn Bishop took one of the most significant photos in Australian history: Gough Whitlam pouring a handfull of sand into the hands of Vincent Lingiari. As Australia’s first Aboriginal press photographer, his story is a must-hear.
Still a few tickets left - book via trybooking!
Avenue Bookstore, Elsternwick. It’s FREE!
Leyla is a proud Noongar woman who works to amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in Victoria. From advocating for strength-based mentoring programs to representing young mob in key policy forums, her work is deeply rooted in community and cultural strength.
She is a graduate of the 2022 Fullaship Program, a three-time Melbourne Fashion Week model, and has represented Australia at the World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference. Having overcome immense adversity, Leyla is committed to breaking cycles and creating spaces for young people to see their worth, pursue their dreams, and step into opportunities that were never designed for them. Above all, she carries forward the values of love, care, and integrity instilled in her by her Nan, whose legacy she continues to honor in all that she does.
📣The school year is flying, but there’s still time to bring our 2025 NAIDOC Education Resources into your classroom!
Here’s a peak at some engaging activities for Early Learning to Year 10, aligned with this year’s theme, ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.’ Designed to be used all year round!
❤️💛🖤
Download Now: Find the official resources (developed by Culture is Life, National NAIDOC Committee, and ABC Education) on our website.
Share Your Voice: Used them already? We want to hear your experience! Complete our quick feedback survey.
🔗 Links in bio!
Professional development webinars for teaching The Australian Wars are now live on our YouTube channel! 📺
Access some of our best discussions anytime and share these essential resources with your colleagues ✨
Deepen your understanding and boost your confidence with Rachel Perkins and our team of Aboriginal educators! 🫶🏽
🔗 Link in bio!
Bek is a proud Wakaya woman, born and raised on Wadawurrung Country in Geelong. In recent years, she has lived and worked across Darwin, Brisbane, and now the Gold Coast.
At the heart of Bek’s work is a deep commitment to using her voice to empower others—especially young people—to embrace their power, identity, and creativity through the mediums that speak to them.
Fullaship Expressions of Interest Now Open!
👉🏽Link in bio
