About Social and Emotional Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) refers to the holistic concept of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health that encompasses physical, mental/emotional, family, community, cultural and spiritual dimensions of a person's life as well as connection to Country.
The SEWB framework acknowledges the impact of historical and social determinants, emphasizing the importance of connection to land, culture, spirituality, ancestry, family, and community in maintaining overall health and wellbeing. SEWB supports the empowerment of people and communities by fostering resilience, promoting positive relationships, and enhancing a sense of belonging and identity. The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet has a wealth of information in its Social and Emotional Wellbeing Portal if you would like to know more.
SEWB and Eating Disorders
In 2024, NEDC launched the Eating Disorder Safe principles, including 'First Nations Perspectives: Strengthening the Eating Disorder Safe Principles.' These documents set out a number of ways to uphold Social and Emotional Wellbeing and cultural safety in the context of eating disorder prevention, care and healing.
Importantly, the First Nations Perspectives document sets out a definition for cultural safety in the context of eating disorder work. It says:
Cultural safety is determined by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities, who are the experts in their unique and collective experiences of factors that affect their relationships with health, food, mind and body.
Cultural safety upholds the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, their ways of knowing, being and doing, and their holistic understanding of the interconnectedness of all things. It recognises and seeks to redress power imbalances. It is about how care is provided.
Cultural safety is inherently relational, respectful and creates spaces where people can be comfortable being themselves. Everyone has a role to play.
There is a substantial research and evidence gap regarding eating disorders and First Nations peoples, which have a flow-on effect to policy and practice, where practical guidance on delivering culturally aligned care is very limited (Gall et al, 2025). More research attention, led by First Nations peoples and their communities' priorities, is needed to close the eating disorder prevention and management gap. While this work is emerging and evolving, the resources below may provide support or general guidance.
Supporting Social and Emotional Wellbeing
Everyone has a role in supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This is true all year round, but is particularly the case during periods of heightened tension and increased incidence of racism, such as in the time surrounding political events such as elections and referendums, or in the lead up to January 26 each year.
Non-indigenous people can take steps to raise awareness, reduce the burden on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, provide support, and call out racism. Key tips include:
- Be aware that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are experiencing added stress, mental load and racism in relation to the ongoing effects of colonisation, dispossession and intergenerational trauma. These experiences may be heightened during periods when Indigenous Affairs are prominent in the media.
- Educate yourself, to reduce the burden on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to provide this education. The links below suggest some avenues for this.
- Provide support to your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander friends, family and colleagues.
- Take responsibility for reporting racism via the Call It Out First Nations Racism Register and other relevant avenues.
For more information, support and resources, click or tap to expand the boxes below.
If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person and need help now, contact 13YARN (13 92 76). 13YARN offers confidential, one-on-one yarning with an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 13YARN provides the opportunity to yarn without judgement and provides a culturally safe space to speak about your needs, worries or concerns.
Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Healing Foundation's resources on Having Challenging Conversations, Racial Stress and Trauma and Dealing with Misinformation
NACCHO's Find an ACCHO Near You directory
eSafety Commission's First Nations resources to help be deadly online
RUOK's Stronger Together resource kit for having conversations in community
Helplines
13 YARN - 13 9276 (24 hours)
Brother to Brother - 1800 435 799 (24 hours)
Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800 or webchat (24 hours)
Resources for non-Indigenous people
Waminda's videos of Aboriginal women and non-Indigenous people discussing January 26.
Clothing the Gaps' blog post on the range of conversations about January 26.
Australian Human Rights Commission's information about responding to racism
ANU's video on Ending Racism and how non-Indigenous people can help
Evolve Communities' guide to Reconciliation Beyond the Referendum
Resources for organisations
The Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership across all parts of the Australian mental health system
WellMob's resources on understanding the impact of colonisation when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
ANU's referendum mental health and wellbeing factsheet for organisations
ANU's referendum mental health and wellbeing factsheet for the education sector
ANU's organisational self-assessment tool on responding to racism
References
Gall, Z., Smith, H., Grant, G. et al. Culturally responsive recommendations for eating disorder prevention and management for First Nations peoples in Australia: a policy scoping review. J Eat Disord 13, 75 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01243-9