Young people today face numerous stressors, from school and work to relationships and global concerns like climate change. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, these challenges are compounded by the impacts of racism, intergenerational trauma, and marginalisation, adding significant and often invisible pressures to their lives.

 Over the next 12 months, Sportsgirl’s support will help headspace:

Expand yarnspace: A culturally safe platform for First Nations youth to connect and access peer-led support.
Community projects and events: Building strong, local connections and bridging gaps to critical support services.
Empower First Nations young women: Through grants and sponsorships, fostering leadership, sport, and wellbeing.
 

Together, we aim to foster inclusivity, resilience, and hope for the future, with a focus on supporting young Australians from First Nations communities.

Sportsgirl raise funds for headspace by donating a percentage of sales of tote bags in their stores throughout Australia. Recently, we collaborated with four young First Nations artists on the design of the reusable canvas totes bags. The artists, Holly, Siena, Stefanie and Tanaya participated in workshops where they were mentored by the headspace team and up and coming Arabana and Kokatha artist Mali Isabel. The workshops explored themes of mental health and social and emotional wellbeing and formed the basis of the inspiration behind their artwork. Each piece was brought to life in the artist’s own individual artistic style and reflects their personal journey.

A note from our mentor, Mali Isabel:
“I feel very proud of the collection of artworks we’ve created together. We became a little family in such a short time and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to be a mentor and pass my knowledge onto the next generation”.