Guunu-maana

Guunu-maana Guunu-maana (Heal) Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health program is part of the George Institute

National Reconciliation Week 2026 calls on all Australians to be All In for reconciliation.Creating meaningful change fo...
28/05/2026

National Reconciliation Week 2026 calls on all Australians to be All In for reconciliation.

Creating meaningful change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples requires all of us to listen, learn, advocate, and take action every day.

Guunu - maana (Heal), are committed to walking this journey together, because reconciliation will not happen by itself. It happens when we are all in.

May 26th marks across Australia. This year’s theme, “From Sorry to Action”, reminds us that acknowledgment must be fo...
26/05/2026

May 26th marks across Australia.

This year’s theme, “From Sorry to Action”, reminds us that acknowledgment must be followed by meaningful change through listening, learning, understanding and action.

Today is a day to reflect and commit to learning more about our history as a nation and how we will commit to doing better for future generations.

Guunu-maana (Heal) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program stand in solidarity, walking alongside communities on the journey of healing.

We’re proud to be contributing to regional work that’s grounded in community and driven by local knowledge 🤎 Swipe thr...
06/05/2026

We’re proud to be contributing to regional work that’s grounded in community and driven by local knowledge 🤎

Swipe through →

Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

We’re proud to share a new Open Access paper in the International Journal of Housing Policy For a long time, Indigenous ...
04/05/2026

We’re proud to share a new Open Access paper in the International Journal of Housing Policy

For a long time, Indigenous housing research in Australia has been shaped by deficit-based narratives. This paper calls for a shift, towards strengths-based, Indigenous-led housing research that centres what’s strong in our communities.

Grounded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander public health knowledge, it highlights how research can help shape more just, effective policy and real change on the ground.

Take a read 👇
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19491247.2026.2659250

We recently delivered our Community Coorinated Burn Care (CCBC) program with the team at Walhallow Aboriginal Corporatio...
29/04/2026

We recently delivered our Community Coorinated Burn Care (CCBC) program with the team at Walhallow Aboriginal Corporation - Walhealth with neighbouring Quirrindi and Coledale also joining in!

It was a great day of both hands-on learning and visual learning, with staff building their skills and confidence in burn first aid, wound care and dressing techniques. Everyone brought such positive energy and willingness to learn.

Programs like CCBC support Aboriginal Medical Services across NSW to provide culturally safe burn care for mob.

Thank you to the Walhallow, Qurrindi and Coledale team for the warm welcome and for making the day such a success.

A few weeks ago, Associate Professor Julieann, Research Associates Melissa and Ty travelled to the North Coast, visiting...
22/04/2026

A few weeks ago, Associate Professor Julieann, Research Associates Melissa and Ty travelled to the North Coast, visiting Dunghutti Country, Kempsey and Gumbayngirr Country, Coffs Harbour.

Over two days, they had the privilege of yarning with Elders and community members, young and old, listening to their experiences using the Health Direct Line (formerly Health Connect Line).

These conversations provided valuable insights and powerful stories that will contribute to the evaluation of the Health Direct Line service delivered by North Coast Primary Health Network.

We thank everyone who shared their time, knowledge and experiences. Community voices are central to improving services and ensuring they meet the needs of mob.

Learning On Country: Walking Together 🌿💧The recent Connecting Hearts and Minds workshop held on Darkinjung Country concl...
26/03/2026

Learning On Country: Walking Together 🌿💧

The recent Connecting Hearts and Minds workshop held on Darkinjung Country concluded with a deeply meaningful ‘On Country’ day, grounding our conversations in place, story and connection.

We walked together at Somersby Falls, listening, reflecting and allowing Country to guide the learning. We visited Bulgandry Aboriginal Site, acknowledging the deep and continuing cultural knowledge held within the landscape. The day closed with shared conversation and laughter over lunch in Terrigal, strengthening the relationships formed over the previous days.

Being on Country reminded us that knowledge is not only spoken. It is felt, seen, walked and held in relationship with land, water and each other. These moments offered space to slow down, listen deeply and reconnect our work with the responsibilities we carry.

Thank you to everyone who joined us with respect and openness. May the connections made on Country continue to guide our shared future.

Connecting Hearts & Minds: Wisdom in Action 💛🖤❤️Recently members of the team were honoured to gather on Darkinjung Count...
25/03/2026

Connecting Hearts & Minds: Wisdom in Action 💛🖤❤️

Recently members of the team were honoured to gather on Darkinjung Country to host a workshop for the Connecting Hearts and Minds Network- Wisdom in Action: First Nations Knowledge Shaping Our Shared Future. What unfolded was a powerful and generous space of learning, reflection and connection.

Across the workshop, participants came together with open hearts and minds to share knowledge, ask brave questions and explore how First Nations leadership continues to shape cardiovascular research, health, data sovereignty, genomics, co-design and systems change. From the opening Smoking Ceremony through to deep yarning and rich discussions, the energy in the room was grounded, thoughtful and full of purpose.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all presenters and facilitators who so generously shared their wisdom, experience and leadership, and to every attendee who leaned in with respect, curiosity and care.

This National Close the Gap Day, we’re reflecting on the role data plays in shaping health outcomes for Aboriginal and T...
19/03/2026

This National Close the Gap Day, we’re reflecting on the role data plays in shaping health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Close the Gap Day was created to galvanise action on health inequity. But over time, the language of “the gap” has come to dominate public conversation, often at the expense of recognising strength, sovereignty and survival. When inequity is all we measure, it becomes all we plan for.

We call on researchers, policymakers, funders, clinicians and data custodians to step up and to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in data governance and to genuinely commit to data sovereignty.

Read the full article here: https://www.croakey.org/beyond-the-gap-from-surveillance-to-sovereignty-in-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-health-data/

A great day spent with second -year Dietetics students at University of Sydney, connecting through clinical yarning. �It...
16/03/2026

A great day spent with second -year Dietetics students at University of Sydney, connecting through clinical yarning.
�It’s always a pleasure to support the students as they build their cultural understanding and develop respectful communication skills when engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in clinical practice.
�We wish the second-year students all the best in their future studies
�Pictured left to right: Dr Mariam Mandoh, Melissa McDonnell, Ty Madden, Tyra Levison and Merryl Ireland.

A big welcome to the team, Tyra!Tyra is a Torres Strait Islander woman, and a Research Assistant for Guunu-maana(Heal).W...
16/02/2026

A big welcome to the team, Tyra!

Tyra is a Torres Strait Islander woman, and a Research Assistant for Guunu-maana(Heal).

We’re looking forward to the knowledge, passion and energy she will bring to the team.

Get to know Tyra a little better through her answers below:

📺 What’s your favourite tv show?

I don’t really have favourites but at the moment I am watching a Swedish TV show called “Barracuda Queens.”

🤍 What are your loves outside of work?

I love oil painting and riding my motorbike with friends on the weekend!

👀 What is one thing you are really good at and one thing you struggle with?

I would like to say I am really good at getting really passionate about things and advocating for what I believe in, and I tend to struggle with asking questions early on in a process.

🏆 What is your biggest achievement so far?

My biggest achievement so far would be finishing my degree even though there were plenty of times I felt like giving up!

💻 What made you want to join the Guunu-maana team?

I wanted to join the Guunu-maana team to work in a group of like-minded people and make a real difference within our community and for our mob. The Guunu-maana team are the most amazing and kind people who truly love what we do – and this feeds into the quality of work that is produced by us. Our passion and lived experience is what guides us to make a difference in the lives of others.

Address

1 King Street
Sydney, NSW
2042

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Guunu-maana posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category