Yiliyapinya Indigenous Corporation and Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership are leading a three-year project, bringing together Brain Health and cultural approaches, to support efforts to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families to thrive.

The Growing Deadly Brains project is a collaborative, First Nations-led, family and community- building and systems-shifting initiative. It aims to work with and across services, systems and disciplines.

Over 3 years, our aspiration is to contribute to an eco-system better equipped and working together – to reduce the experience and consequences of inequity and adversity by Queensland First Nations children, and to build on our strengths and resilience – for a great start and journey in life.

The project focuses on fusing cultural knowledge and neuro-knowledge – the understanding of how the nervous system, particularly the brain, functions and how it relates to behaviour and cognitive processes. Brain science tells us a lot about what children and families need to thrive, and our aim is to translate this science into practice with a First Nations lens.

This neuro-knowledge will inform the creation of brain focused learning materials that will be publicly available. These will be used to deliver free professional development and training through regionally based Brain Health Coaches to practitioners and organisations across Queensland. When our caregivers, communities and workforces are informed by neuroscience we can all build healthier brains and bodies and improve learning, wellbeing and resilience.

3 Year Objectives

  • Yarn & Map – Brain Story Work
  • Develop Learning Materials
  • Deliver Growing Deadly Brains Professional Development
  • Create and implement a First Nations Brain Story Campaign
  • Establish a Growing Deadly Brains Community of Practice
  • Shared learning and robust evaluation

Opportunities to be Involved:

  • Tell us about the Neuro-informed work you/your team/organisation is delivering, researching or advocating for
  • Contribute to the development of the neuro-focused learning materials
  • Pilot and evaluate resources within your community, or organisation or team
  • Share your expertise in brain health, communications, advocacy or early childhood development for First Nations children (0-8 yrs)
  • Join the community of practice or participate in events designed to support professional and organisational development.

To stay up to date or be part of the project, please email:
Rhi Parsons, Growing Deadly Brains Project Manager, rhiannon@yiliyapinya.org.au

Find out more about the work of Yiliyapinya Indigenous Corporation.