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THE JOURNEY SO FAR
From community need to national change
OFMH emerged from First Nations LGBTIQA+SB communities calling for culturally safe services. Led by Dameyon Bonson and funded by NIAA, we're transforming how services support people at the intersection of Indigenous and LGBTIQA+SB identities.
THE ROAD AHEAD
stage 1:
Deep community engagement across NT (June - September 2025)
stage 2:
Develop VET training & resources (September 2025 - December 2025)
stage 3:
Implementation & sustainability (2026 - Onwards) Goal: Create lasting change with new national standards for culturally safe care.
WHAT WE AIM TO DO
From community need to national change
- VET-accredited training for Aboriginal and Torres strait iIslander Health Workers and Practitioners (Priority Group One)
- Community yarning materials & wellbeing resources
- Organisational cultural safety framework
- Living Knowledge Hub preserving community wisdom
- Sustainable systems ensuring Indigenous ownership
Our Approach
The OFMH Process
The OFMH approach is unique in its deep commitment to community-led, culturally grounded methodologies:
Community INFORMED Design
Every aspect of OFMH is shaped by First Nations LGBTIQA+SB voices. We don't impose external solutions - we listen, learn, and co-create with communities. The three-visit engagement model ensures genuine relationships and community ownership:
- Visit 1: Building trust and understanding
- Visit 2: Deepening dialogue and exploring needs
- Visit 3: Co-creating and validating solutions
Cultural Safety at the Core
We recognise that true safety comes from honouring all aspects of identity. Our approach:
- Centres Indigenous knowledge systems
- Engages with compassion and understanding
Trauma-Informed Practice
Understanding the impacts of settlement, we ensure all our work is:
- Sensitive to historical and ongoing trauma
- Focused on strengths and resilience
- Supportive of healing journeys
- Respectful of individual and community readiness
MEETING AT THE CROSSROADS
We work at the crossroads of:
- First Nations' sovereignty and self-determination
- LGBTIQA+SB rights and inclusion
- Social and emotional wellbeing
- Community development and capacity building
Evidence-Based Innovation
While grounded in community knowledge, we also:
- Draw on best practices from First Nations' people, as well as others in Australia and internationally
- Use rigorous evaluation methods
- Build a strong evidence base for policy change
- Share learnings to benefit all First Nations communities
MEET THE TEAM - Experts with experience
Dameyon Bonson
An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Darwin-born local and the project lead of the One Fire, Many Hearts initiative. The project is the culmination of over 20 years in First Nations (FN) health and 12 of those as remote community independent suicide prevention practitioner. His work can be found at Shadow Black and is located in Darwin.
Dr. Andrew Farrell - Specialist in First Nations Queer Cultural Integration
Dr. Farrell brings expertise in the intersection of Indigenous identity and LGBTIQA+SB experience, contributing crucial insights into cultural integration and healing approaches.
Dr. Lorraine Sheridan - Lead Forensic Psychologist
Ensuring our work is evidence-based and trauma-informed, Dr. Sheridan helps capture the right information, and informs our frameworks underpinning training and resources.
Jimmy B4MBLE - Digital Creative
An an artist from the streets and passionate advocate in youth mental health, suicide prevention, and artistic expression. B4MBLE's work spans youth workshops, painting, murals, and mixed media, using bold visuals to spark conversation. B4MBLE assists with digital and creative components product/resource development.
HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE
MOB: SHARE STORIES, SHAPE RESOURCES
Yarn with Dameyon. Help create training materials that reflect real experiences. Your voice shapes safer spaces for all mob.
ACCHO & SERVICE PROVIDERS: PARTICIPATE IN OFMH SURVEY IN AUGUST
ACCHO: Dedicated yarn-up; dates to come.
SERVICE PROVIDERS: Complete our August comprehensive survey to map current practices and experiences. Your insights identify gaps and guide training development. Help us understand what support you need to improve services; opportunities may arise during the road trips.
Friends: Amplify message, advocate for change
Share OFMH's mission through your networks. Support policy change for culturally safe services. Learn respectfully about our journeys. Stand with us as we transform healthcare together.
COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL BROKERS & TRANSLATOR OPPORTUNITIES
paid opportunities for local community members
The One Fire Many Hearts project has paid opportunities for local community members to strengthen our engagement across the Northern Territory. Cultural brokers and translators who can help bridge connections between the OFMH team and Aboriginal communities of the NT. Please get in touch below, if this sounds like you.
how to get in touch
We’re a very small team and travelling out bush for most of the time. While we’ll do our best to respond to messages, that may not always be possible—the FAQ will be there to help.
