One Fire, Many Flames symposium lighting the way forward for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families

More than 200 researchers, community leaders, service providers and policymakers from across Australia gathered in Adelaide for the inaugural One Fire, Many Flames, a national symposium focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

Co-hosted by SAHMRI's Aboriginal Communities and Families Health Research Alliance (ACRA) alongside national partners, One Fire, Many Flames provided a culturally safe space grounded in community leadership, truth-telling and collective care. The event was a strong success, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, knowledge and innovation while fostering connections across research, healthcare, education, community services and government.

ACRA Principal Research Fellow Karen Glover says it's a unique chance for people working across different sectors to connect, exchange ideas and drive positive change.

"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities hold incredible knowledge, strength and expertise. This symposium is about coming together to celebrate what's working, learn from each other and explore how we can continue making a positive impact for children and families," Ms Glover said.

"There are many people across the country doing remarkable work to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. One Fire, Many Flames provides an opportunity to connect, build relationships and strengthen the collective effort needed to create lasting change."

Across two days, delegates shared experiences from initiatives shaping services and policy, explored ways to better centre community voices in decision-making, and discussed research translating into real-world benefits.

The program featured the launch of the Birthing on Country Roadmap, resources from the Replanting the Birthing Trees Project, and a discussion led by the It's Time to Flourish (ICARE) project on what a national network to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families could look like.

ACRA Principal Research Fellow Associate Professor Yvonne Clark says the strong engagement across the two-day event highlighted the importance of bringing people together with a united purpose.

“The symposium strengthened connections between people and organisations working to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families and highlighted the power of community-led approaches to creating meaningful change in people's lives."