Indigenous Social & Emotional Wellbeing Programs

About our Indigenous Outreach Programs

Our Indigenous Outreach team works with remote and regional (school) communities, Indigenous Elders, Aboriginal education staff, mental health experts, local community organisations and Traditional Language Groups to develop culturally-relevant mindful movement resources and activities. Customised Mindful Movement resources can be created for each region, with community needs and language revitalisation as key components. These activities and resources are evidence-based and trauma-informed and mindfully include Indigenous language translations where possible. Collaboration and community consultation is at the forefront of what we do on Country and in the community, to improve the social and emotional wellbeing, Connection to Country and holistic mindfulness for all mob. The team establishes sustainable mindful movement programs that can be used in the classroom, on Country and in the community to improve the mental health and well-being of all mob.

Pilbara Outreach

Youth Involvement Council, South Hedland (YIC)

In October 2022, the Outreach team was invited to empower and educate the team at Youth Involvement Council  with culturally-relevant trauma informed Mindful Movement Education. Following two-way consultation and learning we delivered a three day Immersion.

A two-hour Professional Learning course which included our Indigenous curriculum and Mindful Movement card set. The staff learned to facilitate ‘Brain Breaks’, lesson plans and mindfulness activities whist using our evidence-based resources.

A consultation and two-way learning yarning circle followed, where the YIC team was able to put all their learning into practice. Under guidance of the our Outreach team, YIC practiced breathing activities, relaxation techniques and yoga flows with the local mob. Thanks for having us!

Deadly Minds at Roebourne District High School

Deadly Minds at Roebourne District High School learned how to support emotion regulation, wellbeing and Connection to Country & community with culturally-relevant and collaboratively designed resources.  Following extensive community consultation and strong collaboration with the school leadership team, psychologist, language teachers and Roebourne mob, our team supported the development of a customised Yindjibarndi and Ngarluma curriculum – aligned with the schools’ Health and Wellbeing Plan.

Launching Deadly Minds at Roebourne District High School on Friday evening with a community event, Yogazeit, NYFL and the Roebourne Active Network invited communities to move, breathe and stretch together. Education and training for school staff and community members were followed by school incursions, guidance and consultation on site to maximise learning and outcomes for Roebourne mob.

Thank you for supporting this project:  

Roebourne District High School
NYFL
Horizon Power
Here to Be
Act Belong Commit

In May 2021, grounding their feet in the red dirt, children and teenagers from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands Schools alongside our Outreach team were immersed in two-way learning on Country. To put this into context – over 300 Aboriginal children and school staff learnt about the mental and physical health benefits of Yoga and Mindfulness. This was Australia’s first culturally relevant Yoga and Mindfulness Education project in Australia. It was deliberately intended to be fun and engaging, including two-way learning activities to support breathing, movement and relaxation. This fostered an awareness of mental health and a joy of movement from Kindy to Year 12.

The Outreach Team travelled over 3,500km by car and invested over 1,100 volunteer hours to shape and support their mission. They visited Western Australia’s most remote school campuses including Kiwirkurra, Warakurna, Wingellina, Wanarn, Warburton, Jameson and Blackstone. What makes this program so unique, is the trauma-informed framework of evidence-based Yoga – which was then customised to meet the remote Ngaanyatjarra Lands region. Yoga shapes were named after local animals and translated in Language, the illustrations for the shapes were designed by local children as part of a school art project and together we celebrated connection to Country.

This project was partially funded by Healthway and lululemon’s social impact arm ‘Here to Be’. The team also partnered with Act Belong Commit and Fair Game Australia.

In October 2022, the Outreach Team engaged with YIC to deliver a two-hour trauma-informed Professional Development Mindful Movement session. This was to empower YIC staff to move mindfully using their custom Curriculum and Mindful Movement Card Set. The staff learned how to facilitate ‘Brain Breaks’, lesson plans and mindfulness activities whilst using our carefully crafted resources. A consultation and two-way learning yarning circle followed, where we learned how well this wellness package worked for the YIC team. Following this, the team also led a two-day ‘Brain Breaks’ incursion for children within the YIC community, followed by ‘Mingle Mob’ bus duties to return the children home.

In August 2022, the Outreach Team spent six days in Roebourne and at the Roebourne District High School. This consultation was proudly funded by Horizon Power and lululemon’s social impact arm, ‘Here to Be’. The team were led by the community, empowering them to use their customised Roebourne Mindful Movement Education Curriculum. We had the honour of hosting a community engagement event at the Roebourne Basketball Courts, and a trauma-informed Professional Development and Education incursion for teachers, followed by a mindful movement incursion for the students at the high school. These initiatives were community-led and evidence-based, with a focus on revitalising Yindjibarndi Language and Ngarluma Language whilst aligning with the school’s Social Emotional Wellbeing Plan.

Kimberley Outreach – Mindful Hearts

Building resilience and reducing vulnerability for remote regional areas in the Kimberley

From January 2022 – June 2023 the Mindful Hearts Outreach team consulted, collaborated, listened and learned while engaging with remote schools, Elders and community Organisations in the Kimberley.  Following an extensive EOI process, we were able to partner with Biyadanga Remote Community SchoolFitzroy Valley District High School, Purnululu Aboriginal Independent Community School and Wangkatjungka Remote Community School.
 
We delivered school-specific, trauma-informed mindful movement education programs, based on each communities individual need and focus. Strong collaboration with school leadership teams, Language teachers and community organisations were on the forefront of this program to deliver engaging, relevant and accessible physical activities embedded in our Yoga and Mindfulness programs.  

Aboriginal Islander Education Officers (AIEOs), school administrative staff and teachers learned to independently facilitate easy-to-use mindful movement sessions. School leaders and staff also learnt the skills to help regulate themselves in their professional and personal lives, as we recognise the impact of teacher burnout and overload.

As part of Project Mindful Hearts, we have begun ground-breaking academic research to measure the impact of our programs. With university-trained psychologists, we gathered qualitative and quantitative data to examine changes in both student and teacher well-being centred around our unique programs. We saw the impact of mindfulness and movement on children’s engagement, holistic well-being and physical health. When we focussed the children’s attention on movement alongside learning about the power of their breath, we could see immediate changes in their behaviour and well-being. 

Aboriginal Islander Education Officers (AIEOs), school administrative staff and teachers learned to independently facilitate easy-to-use mindful movement sessions. School leaders and staff also learnt the skills to help regulate themselves in their professional and personal lives, as we recognise the impact of teacher burnout and overload.

As part of Project Mindful Hearts, we have begun ground-breaking academic research to measure the impact of our programs. With university-trained psychologists, we gathered qualitative and quantitative data to examine changes in both student and teacher well-being centred around our unique programs. We saw the impact of mindfulness and movement on children’s engagement, holistic well-being and physical health. When we focussed the children’s attention on movement alongside learning about the power of their breath, we could see immediate changes in their behaviour and well-being.  

With gratitude to:

In late 2022, and thanks to The Heart Foundation, Healthway and Lotterywest, we travelled to the Kimberley to deliver school-specific, trauma-informed mindful movement incursions. Every community had different wishes for our visits and so we delivered different programs and resources customised to the region, with local Language translations in collaboration with Elders and Language Holders.

Research has suggested young people in the Kimberley region aren’t doing enough physical activity. We provide engaging, relevant and accessible physical activities embedded in our mindfulness programs. Our programs also address stress and self-regulation, aiming to improve suicide prevention in vulnerable populations. With the Mindful Hearts initiative, we aimed to empower young communities in the Kimberley to include mindfulness and movement in their daily lives and at school and so our education programs and classes were deliberately hosted by local schools. Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers (AIEOs), school administrative staff and teachers learned to independently facilitate easy-to-use mindful movement sessions. Furthermore, school staff learned skills to help regulate themselves in their professional and personal lives, as we recognise the impact of teacher burnout and overload.

We have begun groundbreaking academic research to measure the impact of our programs. With university-trained psychologists, we gathered qualitative and quantitative data to examine changes in both student and teacher wellbeing centred around our unique programs. We were delighted to witness the impact of the winning combination of mindfulness and movement for children’s engagement, holistic wellbeing and physical health in these remote schools. When we focussed the children’s attention on movement alongside learning the power of their breath, we could see immediate changes in their behaviour and well-being. The classroom dynamic can be changed with just three deep breaths. We cannot wait to revisit our Kimberley friends in 2023.

Lotterywest
Healthway
Australian Heart Foundation
Act Belong Commit

Indigenous Yoga Teacher Training

Deadly Minds

World’s First Indigenous Yoga Teacher Training

This innovative, two-way learning course was our newest social impact project focusing on the social and emotional well-being of Indigenous youth. ‘Deadly Minds’ has generously been supported by Lululemon’s philanthropic ‘Here to Be’ giving program. 

Since 2018, Yogazeit has consulted with Indigenous Elders, Leaders and community stakeholders from language groups across Western Australia. Further collaborative efforts lead to a customised, culturally relevant and trauma-informed program, co-developed specifically for Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander peoples, providing the opportunity to train as Certified Youth Yoga teachers.

Language Revitalisation

‘Deadly Minds’ mindfulness activities are adaptable – we invite students to feel empowered to adjust the names and activities to suit their country and community. Successful applicants learn breathing techniques, mindful movement adapted from Yoga, guided relaxation, mindfulness activities and partner and group work over an all-inclusive, four-day training immersion.

Deadly Minds Immersion in Community

Once an Invitation to Country has been extended, the ‘Deadly Minds’ camp is intentionally set in community to inspire a sense of Connection to Self and Country. 

Facilitated under Indigenous Leadership, this training guides through a comprehensive 400-page workbook and all practical lessons and planning. The training explores ways to manage physical and mental health, sessions on body anatomy and safe stretching to prevent injury, and yarning circles that encourage trainees to reflect and find their unique style of teaching.

For further information and details on our next Deadly Minds immersion, please contact Sharnell Avery at: admin@yogazeit.com.au

Deadly Minds, Australia’s first Indigenous Yoga Teacher Training program, launched in November 2022 at Nanga Bush Camp, Dwellingup. It was co-developed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander peoples, providing the opportunity to train as certified youth yoga teachers with a 30 hour immersive training camp. Our course recognises that Indigenous cultures across the world have already been practising what we call ‘mindfulness’ for thousands of years: healing and medicinal, hunting, Songlines, communicating with Country and ways to connect to culture and spirit. We collaborated and consulted with Indigenous Elders, leaders and communities from Aboriginal Language Groups across Western Australia. This program empowers Australia’s First Nations peoples to use mindfulness tools in their everyday lives to improve well-being, mental resilience and overall fitness for themselves and their mob. Deadly Minds primarily focuses on Indigenous youth’s social and emotional well-being and gives Indigenous mindful leaders the skills to start teaching their accessible and relevant skills to combat stress, improve their social-emotional skills, support learning and improve mental, cultural, physical and holistic spiritual health.

The training explores ways to manage physical and mental health, sessions on body anatomy and safe stretching to prevent injury and yarning circles that helped trainees find their unique way of teaching. We focus on cultural safety and Indigenous self-determination, training emerging cultural leaders to become proficient in leading their communities in mindfulness activities.

Deadly Minds is an inclusive and accessible program; participants don’t need special materials or tools or equipment. Students are encouraged to translate activities into their local language or dialect with the program hoping to spark language revitalisation and connection to Country, alongside widespread improved health outcomes.

We are grateful that our Deadly Minds program and our Aboriginal Outreach staff are funded by lululemon’s social impact arm, ‘Here to Be’.

For further information and details on our next Deadly Minds immersion, please contact Sharnell Avery at: sharnell@yogazeit.com.au

The Ngaanyatjarra Lands School Project

Strength-based Approach: Customised Curriculum

In May 2021 over 300 Aboriginal children, teenagers and school staff from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands Schools joined our Outreach team to learn about the mental and physical health benefits of Yoga and Mindfulness. The team visited Western Australia’s most remote schools in Kiwirkurra, Warakurna, Wingellina, Wanarn, Warburton, Jameson and Blackstone.  

A 2020 report revealed that Aboriginal people experience depression (52%) and anxiety (59%) at much higher levels than non-Aboriginal Australians (32% and 47%)*.

Indigenous People in Australia (and elsewhere) experience a disproportionate burden of disease and mortality – an inequity that is rooted in centuries of colonisation by European settlers – which is ongoing and not just a historical process (Smith et al 2020).

This situation has resulted in a loss of traditional ways of living, creating situations that promote poorer dietary and lifestyle choices and reduced health for Indigenous People (Murdoch and Flowers 2019).

Thus, in acknowledging these inequities, it is important for the Yogazeit Team to adopt a strength-based approach of examining and enquiring, rather than a deficit or problem-based approach (Ryder et al 2020: 10; Drawson 2017).

Following in-depth consultations with Daisy Tjuparntarri Ward – a respected elder of the Warakurna community, the Ngaanyatjarra people of Western Australia and the Ngaanyatjarra school staff and community, Yogazeit has developed a customised curriculum that reinforces mindfulness in young people and facilitates the promotion of mental health and physical wellbeing.

Due to the remoteness of the communities and the people moving between schools over the school year, it was important to create a curriculum that could be introduced and maintained across all campuses.

“We’re very honoured to have been invited to visit the Ngaanyatjarra Lands School and to share our knowledge about Mindfulness and Yoga for school communities. We’ve spent the past few months to develop a culturally relevant curriculum that includes traditional language and respects the traditional owners, customs, and the land on which we walk. It’s the combination of body, mind, breath and country and really very unique in its approach.”

~ Regina Cruickshank, Founder and Executive Director of Yogazeit

Inquire About a Program

You work with Indigenous young people and communities and you’re passionate about empowering Social & Emotional Wellbeing and Connection to Country? Get in touch and let us know how we can best support you. One breath at a time. 

Bring Mindful Movement To Your Region