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Guunu-maana

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Guunu-maana

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

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.

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.

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/

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.

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.

13/02/2026

13th February marks the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.

We honour Stolen Generations Survivors and recognise the ongoing strength of children, families and communities. The impacts of past policies are not just historical, they continue to shape experiences today.

Through our work with children and families, we are committed to supporting culturally safe care, strong connections to community and better outcomes for the next generation.

Today is a time to acknowledge, reflect and recommit to walking alongside community.

10/02/2026

A proud moment last week at the launch of the NSW Aboriginal Cancer Strategy. Intergenerational Care: “Caring for Kin and Country”, held last Wednesday the 6th of February to mark World Cancer Day.

The Strategy has been developed in partnership with the Cancer Institute NSW and AH&MRC of NSW and sets a strong roadmap for change across the cancer space. Led by Aboriginal voices, community needs and culturally safe care.

Associate Professor, Julieann Coombes and Research Associate, Melissa McDonnell were there to present our Culturally Safe Cancer Care Model for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. It was deadly to see such strong interest in the ‘Building Cultural Safety and Capabilities’ training program and the role it can play in strengthening cultural safety across the health system.

We’re grateful to be part of this important work and to continue walking alongside partners and communities to improve cancer care for our mob.

We’d love for you to take a moment to have a read through the Strategy and see the important work happening across NSW: https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/nsw-aboriginal-cancer-strategy

29/01/2026

We can’t wait to see our Dance2Kinnect mob back! 🫶🏾

A space to dance, connect, make friends, share snacks and learn deadly moves.

See you soon for a deadly time. 🖤

23/12/2025

The Guunu-maana office will be taking a short break over the festive season.

We’ll close from Wednesday 24 December, reopening on Monday 5 January 2026.

We want to wish all mob a safe, connected and joyful Christmas and New Year.

This time of year can bring up many feelings, so let’s remember to check in on one another, especially community members who may not have family or support around them.

Stay safe, stay kind, enjoy the time with loved ones and we’ll see you in the new year!

If you need support, you’re never alone. Free and confidential services are available 24/7:

13YARN: 13 92 76

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

Emergency: 000

Thank you to our communities and partners for walking alongside us this year and all the work that you do keeping our communities safe and strong.

We’re looking forward to a deadly 2026 together.

22/12/2025

A full year of Dance2Kinnect, come and see what our Central Coast D2K mob have to say about it! ⭐️

18/12/2025

🎉 We’re celebrating an incredible achievement! 🎉

The Guunu-maana(Heal) team has received the Community Engagement Award for our innovative and ethical approach to working alongside communities.

Our efforts, from championing food and water security in Walgett, to designing culturally safe care models, to delivering creative initiatives like Dance2Kinnect – reflect our commitment to genuine, impactful and engagement that strengthens and empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We also congratulate Associate Professor Julieann Coombes, who has been honoured with the Bridging the Gap Award for her outstanding work in reducing health inequities.

Her leadership in creating culturally safe models of care, including the Safe Pathways Model, and her pioneering education programs continue to reshape how cultural integrity and equity are embedded across health and academic systems.

We’re incredibly proud of the team and inspired by the communities we walk alongside.

17/12/2025

Deadly work by Orange Aboriginal Medical Service completing the Community Coordinated Burn Care Project.

Always powerful to see community-led services strengthening care for mob.

Find out more about the project here: https://www.georgeinstitute.org/our-research/research-projects/community-coordinated-burn-care

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

https://linktr.ee/guunu_maana_heal

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