Decolonising psychology in Australia requires a sustained commitment to reshaping research and practice through genuine partnerships with First Nations peoples. Central to this shift is recognition of Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) as a holistic, culturally grounded framework reflecting First Nations ways of knowing, being, and doing. This presentation examines how psychologists can centre First Nations voices and SEWB frameworks to deliver youth-focused services that are impactful and sustainable, while highlighting the role of allyship in research and service delivery.


This presentation will outline strategies for embedding First Nations leadership and governance across the research-practice continuum. Specifically, we present the development of a culturally sensitive scoping review protocol and literature search. This approach was informed by Indigenous research principles and grounded in the experiences of a regional community-led initiative: the Whaddup Youth Group of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. For over 20 years, Whaddup fostered SEWB among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth - providing a safe, activity-based space for cultural learning and leadership, community connectedness, and developing cultural identity. Despite its community value, Whaddup closed in its previous form due to systemic and organisational constraints. Its closure represents a profound loss for the community and highlights the ongoing need to understand how SEWB programs impact First Nations youth. Findings from the scoping review will be mapped onto Whaddup's impacts and success factors from the community perspective in this presentation, creating a framework to inform future research and practice.


This presentation builds on foundations laid by leading First Nations scholars and the Australian Indigenous Education and Psychology Project (AIEPP), led by Professor Pat Dudgeon. Together, the Whaddup case study and scoping review highlight the importance of privileging Indigenous methodologies, fostering relational accountability, allyship, and resisting deficit-based narratives. This presentation offers a call to move beyond inclusion toward transformation in psychology research and practice.