Written by Elise Dettmann: I attended day one and day three of the Symposium. Day one was focused on an update of the ALIVE National Centre activities including work by Children’s Ground in Alice Springs and surrounds. Day three focused on the Bigaagarri project, and work by the NPY Women’s group. A highlight of the Symposium included learning about the Safe Havens work. These are places in NSW you can go to if you’re struggling emotionally, and instead of “Do you feel safe” as the first question, they ask “Would you like a cuppa?” They are run by peers and sound like a wonderful space to sit and chat or enjoy some peaceful quiet time. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/towardszerosuicides/Pages/safe-haven.aspx has more information about them. I hope they are rolled out around Australia and beyond. We learnt about the Children’s Ground work, which is a 25-year commitment to the young children in Alice Springs and surrounds. It is a culturally safe, culturally empowered programme bringing children from disempowerment to empowerment, to believe in themselves. William, Felicity, Veronica and Mel spoke about the work. We were challenged by the statement, “Change cannot be led by the system that was made to marginalise us.” They shared some words with us from their Arrernte language. ‘Werte’ means ‘What’s up’. On the way back to the airport, I saw a sign with the word Werte on it. The highlight of the ALIVE roadmap presentation was that lived experience is central to all we do at the ALIVE centre. Day three included a discussion about the conversation aide known as BigaagARri encouraging people to think about

• What’s important to you
• What’s needed to prosper
• What threatens

I loved the session about the aide where people raised some thoughtful questions and explored the augmented reality of BigaagARri. The final highlight was listening and learning from the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women who are elders who shared about their Blue Tree. Over a year or more they have developed the ideas. I understood it as fire might come and burn and destroy the tree, but the roots stay alive. In time, the roots regrow – there is always hope. What amazing and memorable days.   Written by Gregor McDonald: Location: Mparntwe (Alice Springs) Host: Ampe-kenhe Ahelhe (Children’s Ground) I was honoured to attend the ALIVE centre’s Symposium 2025 being held in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) earlier this year. As usual the Symposium was jammed packed with conversation revolving around mental health research. Although there is a First Nations component of the ALIVE National symposia, this year was of particular interest, being hosted by Ampe-kenhe Ahelhe (Children’s Ground). First Nations philosophies has long been an untapped source of well-being potential. The focus being community and individual mental health well-being. It was interesting to observe some examples in which new ways of providing support could be achieved. I believe that these new ways have the potential to benefit not only First Nations people but also non-First Nations people. The unveiling of BigaagARri, presented by Phillip Orcher and which has the potential to individualised service delivery. Another feature of the Symposium was conversation between attendees on the side lines. Much of the conversational content of the Lived Experience and researcher contingent related to power and hierarchies. The main premise being how individuals present themselves and the power they utilise in doing so. It was concluded that this may be an idea to be further debated particularly within co-design research.   Written by Julia Palfreyman: There is a moment when a plane takes off, beyond the roaring of engines; a thrill and terror that drops the stomach- and it is the miracle and impossibility of suspension. How can something this heavy lift itself into the sky?  We are on the ascent home from Mparntwe where we have been exploring similar ideas. Holistic transitions- moving from one state to another: how do we transcend weighty, intractable systems?  How we can we continue to raise and embed lived experience, mob wisdom and co-design to heal communities? From my cloudy window seat, I look down at patchwork Country, First Nations words in my ears:  we don’t own the land, the land owns us and Uncle William- it’s absurd to make our executioner our healer- the Uti Kulintjaku women offering songs of sorrow and hope. Yes! I think, exhausted and renewed. I think we might be on our way.