Each year, Stride proudly marks NAIDOC Week by commissioning a unique artwork competition from a First Nations artist, which is featured on a commemorative shirt worn by our teams across Australia.

More than a uniform, the shirt is a visual expression of our commitment to recognising and celebrating the cultures, histories and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It provides an opportunity for our teams to stand together in support of this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations while proudly wearing a meaningful piece of contemporary Aboriginal art.

This year’s artwork was created by LaToya Kennedy, owner and artist behind Kalari Art, a 100% Aboriginal-owned and operated small business. LaToya is a proud Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri woman whose connections extend across Wiradjuri, Ngunnawal and Dharawal Countries.

Born on Wiradjuri Country in Cowra, raised on Ngunnawal Country in Canberra and now living on Dharawal Country in Wollongong, LaToya’s work is deeply inspired by her connection to Country, community and culture. Through symbolic representation, she tells stories that honour the landscapes around her in the region she calls home, the traditions passed down through generations, and the enduring legacy of her ancestors.

Her artwork reflects the strong relationships Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have with Country and celebrates the continuation of culture through storytelling, connection and shared responsibility.

Inspired by this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, “50 years of Deadly” the artwork tells a powerful story of continuity: an unbroken connection between Elders, community and Country.

At the centre of the design is a large meeting place representing the next generation. From this central gathering place, pathways connect to smaller meeting places symbolising Elders from many walks of life. Together, they reflect the sharing of knowledge, cultural pride and the collective responsibility of nurturing future generations.

Throughout the artwork, traditional Aboriginal symbols add further meaning. People symbols represent parents and carers, children, and the LGBTQIA+ community, recognising the diversity and strength of our communities. Handprints, footprints, animal tracks and waterholes symbolise people, culture and Country, while representing the ongoing journey of keeping song, dance and cultural traditions alive through an enduring connection to ancestors and the Dreaming.

Together, these elements celebrate the deep and continuing relationships Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have with Country, while honouring the legacy of those who came before and the generations who will continue to shape the future.

At Stride, we recognise that NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to listen, learn and celebrate the oldest continuing culture in the world. Wearing this year’s shirt is one small but meaningful way our people acknowledge the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and show their support for this year’s celebrations.

We thank LaToya for sharing her story, culture and creativity through this beautiful artwork, and for helping us celebrate the strength, vision and legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.

The event began with a Welcome to Country from Uncle Graham, who acknowledged the Traditional Custodians of the Dharug Nation, the land on which we were gathered. Uncle Graham Davis King is a Wiradjuri and Ngiyampaa artist and activist.

This was followed by reflections from long-serving staff member Joanne Barbara, who has been with Stride for an incredible 31 years. Stride Board Chair Peter Emery and CEO Luke Lindsay also shared their thoughts on the significance of the move before Councillor Tanya Raffoul officially welcomed Stride to Parramatta on behalf of the Lord Mayor.

In her address, Councillor Raffoul reflected on Stride’s impact across New South Wales and the importance of accessible mental health services, particularly for people who may not know how, or where, to seek support. She thanked our teams for the difference they make every day and recognised the opportunities our new Parramatta home will create for the future.

Peer Support Workers are people who draw on their own experience of mental health challenges to support others in recovery. This shared understanding can create a level of trust and connection that is difficult to achieve through clinical models alone. As Thomasina Lawrence, Operations Manager at Stride, explains,

There was strong support for bringing Peer Support Workers into GP clinics. Participants highlighted the unique value of lived experience, including:

• Stronger connection and trust through shared lived experience
• Reduced stigma and increased hope in recovery
• Practical, day to day support between clinical appointments
• Improved navigation of complex health systems
• Greater advocacy and shared decision making for more person centred care

The research also showed that clear roles, strong teamwork and appropriate support are key to making this model work well.

This work is an important step toward embedding lived experience roles in primary care. By contributing to this research, Stride is helping build the evidence needed to support broader, sustainable integration of peer support across the mental health system.

Stride’s Safe Space Caboolture & our Launceston Medicare Mental Health Centre supported recruitment for this phase and continue to contribute to the broader trial, which has now concluded and is currently in analysis.

We look forward to sharing more as results emerge.

To explore the findings in more detail, you can read the full paper by visiting: 
The Potential Role of Peer Support Workers in General Practice: Perspectives of Consumers, Carers, Peer Support Workers and General Practice Staff, published in Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research.

Culturally Safe and Self-determined Care: Mental Health Across Diverse Communities was presented on Monday 16 March at the 2026 Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference on the Gold Coast, sharing key findings from culturally grounded practices across Stride Mental Health community groups in Cairns and Townsville, within Far North Queensland. The region is home to more than 60 Traditional Owner groups and one of the highest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in Australia (approximately 14% [1]).

Supporting the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people through early intervention is central to Stride’s work in Far North Queensland, with culturally safe, community-led programs placing identity, connection and belonging at the heart of everything they do.

The team has found their impact is improved when grounded in a holistic understanding of cultural safety and emotional wellbeing. In the context of their local region, cultural safety is shaped by connection to land, culture, family, community and spirituality.

Reflecting on this, Doug Wong, Vibrant Futures Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Support Officer, highlighted for us that:

To showcase the impact of their work in North Queensland, the team shared three key learnings from their presentation below:

Strengthening pride and connection to culture improves resilience, self-esteem, and overall wellbeing among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Mental health interventions are most effective when they validate and embed cultural identity. Programs that foster belonging reduce isolation, support emotional regulation, and provide a foundation for healthy decision-making.

Programs guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, co-designed with communities, build trust, relevance, and sustained participation. When young people and their communities are empowered to shape services, interventions respect self-determination, reduce systemic barriers, and improve uptake of mental health and support services.

Our experience shows that culturally safe environments, whether in schools or community groups, create supportive spaces where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can strengthen identity, build connections, and engage positively with mental health supports. By prioritising respect and cultural safety, young people feel valued and understood, fostering wellbeing, resilience, and the confidence to express themselves without fear of stigma.

Jason Von Roehl is the founder of Our Cultural Conversations, an initiative delivering Indigenous cultural education and engagement across Cairns and the surrounding region. With cultural ties to the Ngen’giwumirri language group of the Northern Territory, Jason brings extensive experience working across diverse communities to strengthen cultural understanding, connection, and wellbeing.

Rosaline (Rosie) Adidi, our Vibrant Futures Service Leader in Townsville, is a mental health nurse with over 20 years’ experience. She has worked extencively across the Mental Health Service Group at Townsville University Hospital, as well as in private and community settings, and volunteers as a youth leader. Rosie is a proud mother of seven, and her husband, a Torres Strait Islander, also serves the community.

When mental health challenges disrupt a young person’s life, it’s common that the path to recovery can feel overwhelming for the individual. Stride Mental Health’s Youth Step Up Step Down (YSUSD) service in Cairns provides that balance, offering crucial support for those aged 16-21 experiencing severe and complex mental health issues.

Youth Step Up Step Down is a service that provides short-term residential support for those who are in need of intensive clinical treatment and psychosocial support. It’s designed to prevent further deterioration in mental health, reduce the likelihood of hospital admissions (“step up”), and support young people in their transition back into the community (“step down”).

The service provides options for young people when they need more support than community services can offer, but doesn’t require the intensity of a hospital setting.    Step Up Step Down provides options for young people when they need more support than community services can offer but don’t require a hospital stay, empowering them to take control of their mental health with recovery-focused care.

At Stride, we have partnered with the Queensland Health Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service to connect young people to this essential service.

The YSUSD facility, purpose-built in Manoora, Cairns, offers a safe and supportive environment located just 10 minutes from the CBD.  This six-bed service is one of only three in Queensland, highlighting its importance in the region. If you’d like to find out more about Cairns’ Youth Step Up Step Down service, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.

The primary goals of YSUSD are to prevent hospital admissions and support community reintegration.

Individuals are admitted on a voluntary basis, and the program is not designed for alcohol or drug detoxification, respite, or long-term accommodation for homelessness.

Young people who will be accessing the service can expect a structured program with a range of support services and therapeutic interventions, including:

• Psychosocial support
• Group therapy
• Skill development
• Medication support

The program also incorporates a strong emphasis on personal recovery, with activities and support designed to foster:

• Wellbeing and goal planning
• Functional recovery, including employment/study options, time management, and cooking
• Clinical recovery, with psychoeducation and coping strategies
• Social recovery, focusing on community engagement, building resilience, and social development

A typical week includes a variety of activities, from fitness classes and outings to life skills training and sessions focused on recovery.

The YSUSD program aims to provide short-term support with planned discharge to ensure a smooth transition back to the community.

For mental health professionals and families seeking support for young people, it’s important to understand the referral process. This involves an initial referral, assessment of eligibility criteria, referral review, and acceptance and intake.

Stride Mental Health’s Youth Step Up Step Down service in Cairns is making a real difference in the lives of young people, helping them live fulfilling lives. By providing the right support at the right time, Stride is helping to build a stronger, healthier communities, from fitness classes and outings to life skills training and sessions focused on recovery.