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PRESENTS
16-17 September 2025 | Melbourne/ Naarm
The 2025 Indigenous Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing Forum is now CPD Accredited. Attendees will receive 7 points per day, with a certificate immediately following the event.
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Grounded in Culture, Guided by Mob:
Shaping the Future of Indigenous Youth Mental Health
We are proud to welcome you to the Inaugural Indigenous Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing Forum, hosted in partnership with First Nations Wellbeing and Engagement Division Headspace National, VACCHO and The Balit Durn Durn Centre of Excellence. This gathering comes in the wake of a government commitment to increase accessibility to youth mental health services, whilst culturally safe services for Indigenous young people remain sorely under resourced and largely absent from the political conversation.
Join us in centring grassroots innovation, cultural strength, and First Nations governance in both community led and mainstream mental health services. Together, we honour the vital role of culture in healing and social and emotional wellbeing; while spotlighting pioneering, community-led research that is reshaping how clinicians and early intervention services support our young people.
This forum is a platform for knowledge exchange, led by mob, grounded in culture, and guided by a shared commitment to build a future where all our young people can thrive.
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Cultural Safety
A healing team made up of Indigenous counsellors and psychologists will be on site to provide support throughout the forum. You will always be able to access a healing team member in one of the venue’s counselling rooms, where you can have a confidential chat, get some peace and quiet, or simply rest on a comfy lounge.
On Site Cultural Activities
We understand that discussions around mental health can take an emotional toll, which is why we have set up several on-site cultural activities to allow you to re-centre and recalibrate, engage with some deadly Indigenous cultural practitioners, and connect with your peers from across Australia.
Key Speakers
Daniel Knapp
Executive Director of First Nations Wellbeing and Engagement
Headspace
Meena Singh
Victorian Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People
Jahdai Vigona
Co-Founder and Director
One Percent Program; 2023 NT Young Australian of the Year
Sheree Lowe
Executive Director; Member of the South West Region
The Balit Durn Durn Centre, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO); The First Peoples Treaty Assembly
Dr Michael Doyle
Associate Professor, Sydney Medical School
University of Sydney
Who Should Attend:
Those working to enhance accessibility to social and emotional wellbeing and culturally safe mental health services for young people in Indigenous communities, including:
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Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
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Community Members
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Indigenous Youth Leaders
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NFPs
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PHNs
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Government Health Departments
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Emergency and Correctional Services
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Local Councils
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Universities
Reasons to attend:
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Learn what the future generation of leaders identify as critical to their social and emotional wellbeing
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Take inspiration from numerous case studies of culturally affirming programs happening in communities across Australia
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Increase your capacity to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to heal and build resilience
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Bridge the gaps between research and practice, and between policy and grassroots action
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Understand the critical intersection of justice and youth mental health
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Engage in conversations and solutions to build the capacity and reach of early intervention and prevention methods
Venue
The Events Centre at Collins Square
Address: 727 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3008
Conference Room: Assembly
Accommodation
Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne On Spencer is pleased to offer discounted accommodation rates to delegates. The hotel is conveniently located just a 10-minute walk from the conference venue.
To book, please visit:
Indigenous Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing Forum - Accommodation Link
Location and Transport
Location: Centrally located at 727 Collins Street with the Collins Square Precinct, The Events Centre is easily accessible via vehicle, public transport and integrated walking and cycling routes.
Transport: Collins Square is located directly opposite tram stop D15-Batmans Hill Drive / Collins Street and there are additional tram stops on Flinders Street. Collins Square is just 200 metres from Southern Cross Station where you can access up to 15 different train lines and connections to all V/Line services.
Where to find us: Arrive at Collins Square from Collins Street, entering near Tower 1 & 2 and Bar Nacional. Follow the path along upper plaza, veering left past Longshot Coffee and walk towards
Tower 5 entrance. You’ll find the events centre to your left, just before the Tower 5 revolving doors.