The Gaawaadhi Gadudha logo artwork is by Laurance Magick Dennis. It represents the meeting of fresh (Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay) and salt (Yuin-Djirringanj) water. The horseshoe-like shapes are people sitting around a fire. The oval image at the centre is a coolamon (traditional carrying vessel). The dots around the image are ancestors looking on.

While we use the word ‘Aboriginal’ to explain the terminology of ‘the health gap’ in current research and policy, we would like to acknowledge it as a colonised term. We advocate for shifting to the use of cultural group names as identifiers. Where this is not possible, we use ‘Indigenous’.

About Us

Image: Fresh and salt water meeting (photo by Ary Yashadhana)
Our vision

Our Gaawaadhi Gadudha vision is to see strong cultural health in mob, Country and culture. We see health as physical, emotional and spiritual. Cultural health is achieved by practising culture on Country.

Image: Collecting bush food at Dharriwaa, Narran Lakes (photo by Brooke Brady)

Our aim

Relationships with culture and Country have always shaped the physical, mental and spiritual health of Indigenous people. Yet, ongoing colonisation and racism continue to create inequitable health outcomes.

Growing evidence shows that culture is a protective factor for health. Our research aims to contribute to this work in New South Wales. We work on Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay (North-Western NSW) and Yuin-Dirringanj (Far South Coast NSW) Country.