2. Personal Journey and Identity Formation

• Kate Webber
• 's Aboriginal heritage and connection to multiple nations
• Influence of family (grandmother, mother, and father's service) on identity and generosity
• Childhood experiences facing discrimination and racism
• Navigating conflict between pride in Aboriginal identity and external negativity
• Carrying forward family legacy and sense of service

3. Identity Challenges Growing Up

• Impact of racism during primary school
• Lack of Aboriginal perspective in education (focus on colonization, Captain Cook projects)
• Struggles with shame and belonging
• Code-switching and hiding identity in unsupportive environments
• Importance of family and community in fostering pride

4. Mental Health and Wellbeing

• Early experiences of racism, bullying (relating to Aboriginal and Chinese heritage)
• The role of family and community support in building confidence
• Connection between lived experience and academic/professional interest in psychology
• Mental health struggles in family history (grandmother’s depression, intergenerational impacts)
• Personal battles: low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, recovery from trauma

5. Journey of Healing

• Power and importance of connection during crisis
• Steps toward regaining autonomy and control
• Building supportive relationships outside toxic environments
• Advances in self-care: regaining interests, healthier routines, addressing eating disorders
• Gradual process of building resilience and confidence

6. The Role of Systems and Structures

• Impact of systemic racism and poverty (housing, education, social support)
• Inequity in government responses, resources, and societal structures
• Racism embedded in systems affecting Aboriginal families
• The importance (and gap) of culturally informed systems

7. Racial Empathy Gap and Assessment

• Definition and examples of the racial empathy gap
• Media’s role in perpetuating disparity in empathy and reporting
• Importance of accurate assessment for effective treatment
• Critiques of mainstream frameworks and need for culture-bound syndromes
• Negative consequences of misassessment in child protection and mental health

8. Decolonization and Systemic Change

• Critique of “West is Best” and “White is Right” mentalities
• Misguided attempts at tokenistic inclusion of Aboriginal perspectives
• Need for systemic overhaul, genuine power-sharing, and cultural equity
• Challenges of addressing siloes vs interconnected systems in Aboriginal policy (e.g., Close the Gap)

9. Professional Highlights and Systemic Advocacy

• Positive outcomes when First Nations people lead program design
• Importance of safe spaces and empowerment in professional and community development
• Leading leadership and development programs with successful results
• Advocacy for elevating Aboriginal voices, genuine co-design, and decision-making power

10. Creative Expression and Storytelling

• Artistic influences and background (family of artists and musicians)
• Role of art and creative writing/music in processing trauma and emotions
• Interest in art therapy as a modality for healing
• Healing power of storytelling, slam poetry, and creative arts in Indigenous and marginalized communities

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