Kairee Blackwood

My name is Kairee Blackwood. I am a Butchulla, Munanjali-Bundjalung woman living on Butchulla land in Hervey Bay, Queensland.

The Fraser Coast is a regional area with a large Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander population but very little mental health support for mob. There had been several youth suicides over the last few years, which had devastated the community. During my time working for Headspace, I was also saddened to see the large gap in culturally appropriate and safe support for Indigenous youth.

This scholarship will not only assist me in becoming a clinical or forensic psychologist for Indigenous youth, but the mentoring and support from Dr. Westerman will be beyond invaluable for the years to come.