Supports for First Nations peoples

First Nations peoples
Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander flags blowing in wind on a background of blue sky.

 

First Nations peoples are the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Person working on a computer

For more information about First Nations peoples go to

https://www.idmhconnect.health/first-nations-peoples/ER

One aboriginal youth and a young man. The youth has his tongue out of his mouth while smiling. The young man is smiling next to the youth.

Below are services and supports for First Nations peoples.

Mental health words

There is a lot of information.

 

Some words can be hard to understand.

Talking to someone you trust

You can ask someone to read this information with you.

Translation and interpreter services
Interpreter

An interpreter is a person who changes words from your language to a language someone else understands.

Talking on the phone and looking happy

The Translating and Interpreting Service provides onsite and on phone interpreting.

 

To contact the service

  • Call 131 450

 

Communication

The National Interpreting and Communication Services provides interpretation for some of the different First Nations sign languages.

 

The hours can be paid under NDIS interpreting hours.

 

For more information go to https://www.nicss.org.au/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander.html

 

ndis logo

NDIS is short for National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Video call

2M Language Services can provide interpreters for some of the First Nations languages.

 

These interpreters cost money.

 

For more information about the service go to https://www.2m.com.au/interpreting-services/indigenous-language-interpreting/

Talking on the phone with a professional

Lifeline Australia provides crisis support in different languages.

 

You can ask to speak to someone in your language.

Supporting someone with mental illness

A crisis is when you are in danger or are very upset.

 

You are in danger if you could be hurt or injured.

 

 

To contact Lifeline

  • Call 13 11 14

 

Mental health supports
Person pointing to themself

Mental health is about 

  • How you think

 

  • How you feel
Mobile phone apps

iBobbly is an app designed for First Nations peoples to support their mental health.

 

For more information go to https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/ resources-support/digital-tools-apps/ibobbly/

Person using a computer

WellMob is an online tool for First Nations peoples to support their mental health.

 

For more information about WellMob go to https://wellmob.org.au/

Support group

Proppa Deadly is a talk show where First Nations people tell their stories about mental health problems.

 

For more information about Proppa Deadly go to https://triplea.org.au/listen/programs/lets-talk/proppa-deadly-napsia-vin-thal/

Supporting person with mental illness

A mental health problem is when your feelings start to worry you.

Person who is very upset

Trauma and Grief Network has helpful information and tips about dealing with trauma and grief for First Nations peoples.

 

Trauma is when something has happened to you that made you very frightened or upset.

Three men sitting at a round table. They all look upset. Two of the men have a hand on their heads. And the other man has his head down on the table.

Grief is when you have lots of different feelings when someone dies.

Person using the internet

For more information about the Trauma and Grief Network go to https://tgn.anu.edu.au/resource/
indigenous/

Beyond Blue logo and contact information

Beyond Blue gives information about mental health problems for First Nations peoples.

 

Go to https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
who-does-it-affect/aboriginal-and-
torres-strait-islander-people

Person reading

Beyond Blue also provides information about dealing with discrimination because of your First Nations background.

 

For more information go to

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/who-does-it-affect/the-invisible-discriminator

Other services and supports
Speaking up

First Nations Disability Network provides advocacy and support for First Nations peoples with disability.

 

Advocacy is having your voice heard so your rights and needs are met.

 

You can have needs in many areas of your life. 

Book with the word Rules printed in black text. Under the word are two boxes. In the left box is a green tick, in the right box is a red cross.

Rights are rules about how everybody should be treated fairly.

 

A right is something everyone has.

Person using the internet

For more information about the First Nations Disability Network go to https://fpdn.org.au/lets-have-a-yarn-about-advocacy/

Talking on the phone and looking upset

National Indigenous Postvention Service provides support for First Nations people and communities affected by suicide. 

 

To contact this service call 1800 805 801.

Talking on the phone and looking upset

Suicide is when you kill yourself on purpose.

 

If you want to kill yourself call 000 now to talk to someone who can help you.

Two people arguing

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mediation provides free mediation.

 

Mediation is when a person comes to support people after they have big arguments or fights.

Group of people all looking at one person

All Together Now provides information for people who want to report racism.

 

Racism is when people discriminate against you because of your culture or background.

 

Discrimination is when someone is treated badly because of something about them they cannot control.

Person using the internet

For information about All Together Now go to

https://alltogethernow.org.au/
racism/reporting-racism/

 

Playing cards

Wuuwi Gambling can provide counselling services for First Nations peoples with gambling issues.

 

Gambling is when you play games for the chance to win money.

Two people communicating with each other

Counselling therapy is when you chat with mental health workers about

  • Issues in your life

 

  • Ways you can fix these issues
Two people sitting on different sides of a desk. One is a doctor and the other is a patient. Both look happy.

Mental health workers are people who work to help you with your mental health.

Person using the internet

For more information about Wuuwi Gambling go to https://aboriginalsafegambling.com.au/

A can of beer and small packet of pink pills. On top of both is a red cross on top.

Your Room provides information on services that support First Nations peoples to reduce the harm caused by alcohol and drugs.

 

They also provide culturally safe phone counselling and referral.

A doctor is sitting across a table from a person. The doctor is holding a book in his left hand and writing on a note pad with his other hand.

A referral is when someone suggests you see a worker who can support you.

For more information about Your Room go to

https://yourroom.health.nsw.gov.au/
Pages/home.aspx

 

Search tools for health services and supports
Man with magnifying glass

Ask Izzy can help you search for the right services and supports for you.

 

For more information about Ask Izzy go to https://askizzy.org.au/

Group of health workers

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet has a search tool to find First Nations health workers near you.

 

To use the search tool go to https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/key-resources/health-professionals/health-workers/map-of-aboriginal-and-islander-healthmedical-services/

List

Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council provides a list of First Nations health services across NSW.

 

For more information go to https://www.ahmrc.org.au/member-services/

Team

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation provides a list of Aboriginal community health centres in NSW.

 

For more information about the community health centres go to https://www.naccho.org.au/naccho-members/

Screen capture of the Wordlist on the Intellectual Disability Mental Health Connect website.

There are some tricky words on this Easy Read page.

 

For more information about these words go to https://www.idmhconnect.health/word-list