Women's Wellbeing Project

With Steffi Arvanitakas

The Women’s Wellbeing Project was born out of Steffi's work as a pregnancy, birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator and women’s wellbeing consultant (nationally and internationally) over the past 25 years, and in response to the teachings and guidance she has received from Elders across Country, primarily from her adoptive Yolngu family on the homeland community of Mäpuru in North East Arnhem Land, NT over the past 15 years.

At its heart, the project carries the intention to support personal wellbeing and social change through culturally guided, trauma-informed, holistic wellbeing services for First Nations girls, women and gender diverse community members in remote and urban contexts.

Ultimately the project intends to work collaboratively with local communities to co-design wellbeing services so that women across Country are themselves supported to sustainably offer wellbeing work of this nature within their communities and beyond.

The project strives to enhance self-respect, self-esteem and comfort in the bodies and psyches of its recipients and has worked primarily with individuals impacted by sexual and domestic violence, incarceration, disability and substance abuse.

The first implementation of the project took place in 2022 in partnership with The Galiwin’ku Women’s Space Aboriginal Corporation on Yolngu Country, North East Arnhem Land, NT.

Since 2022, the project has worked on Wurundjeri, Boonwurrung, Taungurung, Yolngu, Larrakia, Arrernte, Anangu & Warlpiri country, facilitating close to 300 sessions for staff, clients and community from over 25 different Aboriginal organisations and corporations.

The project facilitates individual and group experiences that incorporate permitted traditional healing modalities such as the gathering and preparation of bush medicine and the use of Healing Song with mindfulness practices, selfcare techniques, wellbeing education and culturally sensitive bodywork and massage. Wherever possible the project also includes hunting, traditional food preparation, painting and weaving and working in outdoor settings, on Country

All images featured are from Steffi's time on Arrernte Country in Mparntwe Alice Springs.

Visit Steffi's instagram @sacred_ways_of_being

for images chronicling Steffi's recent work

Clink the link below for a short video introduction about the Women's Wellbeing Project.

Made with gratitude to The Tangentyere Women’s Family Safety Group on Arrernte Country last year.

Watch Video

50% of all proceeds from Song of the Stones sales on Bandcamp go to support this project

If you would like to get in touch with Steffi about her work or donate to this project directly.

Please contact Steffi

Listen to the Song of the Stones