Dhandhigu Yimbana explores wellbeing, research and connection
As Cairns marks 150 years since European settlement, researchers, community partners and knowledge holders gathered on Gimuy Country last month to explore a practice that has connected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country for countless generations: listening.
Hosted by CQUniversity Australia's Jawun Research Institute, the Dhandhigu Yimbana Gimuy Gathering brought together investigators and partners from across Australia, New Zealand and Canada to share knowledge, strengthen collaborations and examine how listening practices can support social and emotional wellbeing, environmental understanding and community-led research.
The gathering forms part of the Australian Research Council-funded Dhandhigu Yimbana: Listening on Country for Social and Emotional Wellbeing project, led by Gunggari woman and CQUniversity Senior Research Fellow Dr Vicki Saunders. The five-year project explores the relationship between the wellbeing of Country and the wellbeing of people through Arts-informed Indigenous Research (AIIR) approaches.
A phrase from Gunggari language meaning “to know, listen to and respect Country”, Dhandhigu Yimbana brings together researchers, artists, community organisations and knowledge holders to better understand how listening practices can support wellbeing and strengthen Indigenous-led research. The project spans diverse fields including youth wellbeing, climate and housing research, Indigenous methodologies, creative practice and acoustic ecology.
Over two days in Cairns, participants took part in yarning circles, story mapping, creative practice activities and collaborative planning sessions, sharing lessons from five interconnected community projects and exploring future opportunities for research, education and knowledge exchange.
"Dhandhigu Yimbana provided an opportunity to recognise the knowledge systems, stories and listening practices that have existed on these Countries for countless generations," Dr Vicki Saunders said.
"Bringing researchers and community partners together on Gimuy Country creates space to share knowledge, build relationships and learn from one another through listening. Whether the focus is housing, climate change, youth wellbeing or environmental health, listening remains central to understanding what matters to communities and creating research that is meaningful, responsive and grounded in place."
A highlight of the week was the Listening on Country Masterclass held on Gunggandji Country at Paperbark Arts in Yarrabah. Led by Dr Leah Barclay from the University of the Sunshine Coast in collaboration with CQUniversity researchers Dr Fiona Wirrer-George and Dr Vicki Saunders, the masterclass brought together community-based and university-based scholars to explore ecoacoustics and acoustic ecology, examining how sound and listening can contribute to environmental and Indigenous wellbeing research. Elverina Johnson’s Paperbark Cultural Tours hosted the backdrop for the Masterclass providing an array of organic and environmentally produced sounds to listen, record and contextualise into the process.
Participants were introduced to ethical field recording practices and took part in hands-on listening activities designed to deepen their understanding of soundscapes and the relationship between people, place and wellbeing. The masterclass built on one of Dhandhigu Yimbana's community projects, which explores how listening to the sounds of Country can support wellbeing and strengthen connections to place.
CQUniversity researcher, Project Manager and Arnya Songline Methodology Founder Dr Fiona Wirrer-George said the gathering reinforced the value of Indigenous-led approaches to research and knowledge sharing.
"Listening is more than hearing words. It involves listening to Country, listening to community and listening to the relationships that shape who we are and how we understand the world around us," Dr Fiona Wirrer-George said.
"The gathering highlighted the strength of Arts-informed Indigenous Research and the value of creating space for Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing within research.
"When we listen deeply, we create opportunities for stronger partnerships, new understandings and research outcomes that are shaped by community priorities and aspirations."
The artwork featured as part of Dhandhigu Yimbana, Idiwirra nung cak ulamai, was created by Dr Wirrer-George to bring forward the new story emerging through the project and the voice and visual language that ties participants' work together. The title of the painting translates ‘let us do ceremony together – let us dance together’ in the Alngith language.
Dr Wirrer-George and fellow Research Investigator Dr Jan Cattoni will be furthering the listening to sounds of Country in their September connection on Alngith and Wik Country in Western Cape York. In this space they will be connecting and interacting with participants and associated community members associated with the Arnya Songline methodology projects as they kick-start the doing aspects of project execution.
The gathering also provided an opportunity to reflect on the project's progress and consider future collaborations as the research moves into its next phase. Through storytelling, creative practice, deep listening and community engagement, Dhandhigu Yimbana aims to contribute new knowledge about the role of Arts-informed Indigenous Research in promoting wellbeing and supporting positive change.
Funded through the Australian Research Council Discovery Indigenous scheme, Dhandhigu Yimbana is based at CQUniversity's Jawun Research Institute and brings together researchers and community partners from across Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Project partners include the University of the Sunshine Coast, Lakehead University, Adelaide University, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, Arnya Songline Methodology, Wilya Janta and Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good (DIYDG). Together, the partnership is advancing Arts-informed Indigenous Research approaches that strengthen wellbeing, connection to Country and community-led knowledge creation.
Want to learn more? Discover how Dhandhigu Yimbana is advancing Indigenous-led research and learn more about CQUniversity's Jawun Research Institute.
