Drawing Wellbeing: findings from an art-based exploration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

TL;DR

This study explores wellbeing from the perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children using art and cultural methods, revealing culture as central to their wellbeing.

Contribution

The study introduces the 'Wellbeing Stones' framework, the first culturally grounded wellbeing model developed directly from children's voices.

Findings

Culture is foundational to wellbeing, connecting all aspects of children's lives.

Seven themes emerged as central to wellbeing: caring relationships, connection to Country, safety, hopes, strong mind/body, interests, and identity.

Indigenist methods ensured authentic engagement and cultural safety in data collection.

Abstract

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are custodians of the world's oldest living cultures yet experience systemic inequities that infringe upon their rights to health, education, safety, and cultural identity due to ongoing colonisation. Despite these persistent disparities, few studies have explored wellbeing from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children's own perspectives and lived experiences. This study addresses this gap by privileging children's voices in a large-scale, culturally grounded qualitative investigation.

This study represents the first phase of the What Matters 2Kids (WM2K) project, which aims to develop a culturally relevant wellbeing measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 5–11 years. Using an Indigenist methodology and culturally responsive Art and Yarning method, 219 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children across 15 sites in urban, regional, and remote Australia participated in creative sessions to express what supports their wellbeing. Data was analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis and a Collaborative Yarning approach.

Culture emerged as a foundational element underpinning and connecting all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children's wellbeing. Within this cultural foundation, seven interconnected themes were identified: caring relationships, connection to Country and nature, feeling safe, hopes and dreams, strong mind and body, interests and activities, and strong identity. A culturally resonant visual analogy, the “Wellbeing Stones”, was developed to conceptualise these findings.

This study provides critical insights into the holistic, relational, and culturally embedded nature of wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, offering essential groundwork for developing culturally appropriate measurement tools and interventions with important implications for research, policy, and service provision.

First large-scale qualitative study privileging voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 5−11 years to explore wellbeing from their own perspectives and lived experiences (n = 219 children across 15 sites).Culture emerged as foundational to wellbeing rather than a separate domain, underpinning and connecting all other aspects through the novel “Wellbeing Stones” conceptual framework.Seven interconnected themes identified as central to children's wellbeing: caring relationships, connection to Country and nature, feeling safe, hopes and dreams, strong mind and body, interests and activities, and strong identity.Indigenist methodology with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Researchers leading all data collection using culturally responsive Art and Yarning methods, ensuring authentic engagement and cultural safety.Findings challenge deficit-based models and demonstrate children's holistic, relational understanding of wellbeing, providing essential groundwork for developing culturally appropriate measurement tools.Critical policy implications: wellbeing initiatives must be culturally grounded rather than simply adapted, with integrated whole-of-child approaches that recognize interdependencies between identity, relationships, safety, and cultural connection.

First large-scale qualitative study privileging voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 5−11 years to explore wellbeing from their own perspectives and lived experiences (n = 219 children across 15 sites).

Culture emerged as foundational to wellbeing rather than a separate domain, underpinning and connecting all other aspects through the novel “Wellbeing Stones” conceptual framework.

Seven interconnected themes identified as central to children's wellbeing: caring relationships, connection to Country and nature, feeling safe, hopes and dreams, strong mind and body, interests and activities, and strong identity.

Indigenist methodology with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Researchers leading all data collection using culturally responsive Art and Yarning methods, ensuring authentic engagement and cultural safety.

Findings challenge deficit-based models and demonstrate children's holistic, relational understanding of wellbeing, providing essential groundwork for developing culturally appropriate measurement tools.

Critical policy implications: wellbeing initiatives must be culturally grounded rather than simply adapted, with integrated whole-of-child approaches that recognize interdependencies between identity, relationships, safety, and cultural connection.

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