Brief Description:
The Shingal Community Garden is a vibrant, community-led initiative developed in Armidale to create a welcoming, shared and safe space for the Ezidi community to connect, grow culturally significant food, and promote wellbeing through gardening and outdoor activity.

Objectives:

• Foster community connection and belonging
• Promote positive mental health and wellbeing through nature-based and culturally meaningful activities
• Preserve and share traditional agricultural knowledge
• Create a safe, inclusive space for social interaction and cultural exchange

Participants:
The garden was co-created with members of the Ezidi community in Armidale. It particularly engaged individuals with a background or love for farming and those passionate about passing down traditional knowledge. So far, we have 20 registered garden volunteers. Each garden bed (L:2000 cmx W:1000cmx H:60cm) dedicated to two volunteers.

Key Feature:
The garden includes a yarning circle with a fire pit, a space that holds deep cultural significance in Aboriginal, Ezidi, and Australian traditions. This area serves as a gathering place for storytelling, sharing, and building trust—fostering both healing and cross-cultural understanding.

Connections built with the Armidale Community Garden, where volunteers from the Shingal Garden engaged in skill-sharing, resource exchange, and community-building—strengthening ties with the broader Armidale community and fostering mutual support.

Outcomes:

• Successfully established and maintained garden beds with seasonal crops
• Strengthened community ties and intergenerational learning
• Provided a therapeutic and culturally significant space for connection and reflection
• Increased community participation and enhanced wellbeing through engagement with nature and culture.
• Increased participation and confidence among Ezidi community members

Organisational Involvement:

• STARTTS regional team
• Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Australia
• Armidale Community Garden
• Armidale Bunnings
• New England Armidale Men`s Shed

Brief Description:
The Ezidi Radio Program is a ground-breaking, community-led initiative designed to amplify the voices, stories, and culture of the Ezidi community in Armidale. Broadcasting on 2ARM 92.1 FM, this 30-minute weekly show promotes cultural identity, community connection, and positive mental health and wellbeing through storytelling, music, and conversation.

This is the first-ever Ezidi radio program to be established in an English-speaking country, marking a historic milestone for Ezidi media and representation on a global scale.

Broadcast Details:
Every Wednesday at 7:00 PM (starting 7th May 2025)
2ARM 92.1 FM – Armidale’s community radio station
All episodes will be recorded and shared on social media platforms, extending the reach of the program beyond Armidale to Ezidi communities across Australia and internationally.

Objectives:

• Provide a culturally safe platform for Ezidi voices
• Promote positive mental health and wellbeing through culturally relevant discussions
• Share Ezidi stories, traditions, language, and experiences
• Empower Ezidi youth through training and leadership opportunities in media
• Foster cross-cultural understanding and strengthen community connections

Participants:
The program is developed and hosted by members of the Ezidi community, including young people, community leaders, and local volunteers. It features interviews, music, mental health content, and community updates.

Key Features:

• Two Ezidi youth recruited and trained as radio broadcasters
• Weekly supervision and mentoring by an expert broadcaster
• Mental health segments co-designed with Ezidi professionals and supported by STARTTS
• Flexible content through a mix of live and pre-recorded material
• Cultural preservation, including music, stories, language, and intergenerational dialogue
• A consultative, community-based support committee is currently being formed to guide the program’s development and sustainability
• Future expansion planned to a 2-hour weekly show as skills and confidence grow

Community Collaboration:

• Close partnership with 2ARM Community Radio for technical support and broadcasting platform
• Skill-sharing and mentoring with local media professionals
• Strong links with Ezidi community members and STARTTS regional staff
• Broad engagement through social media distribution, helping connect Ezidi diaspora globally and increasing visibility of the community’s voice

Outcomes:

• Empowered Ezidi youth to become storytellers and cultural ambassadors
• Historic creation of the first Ezidi radio platform in the English-speaking world
• Broadened access to Ezidi voices through digital sharing
• Strengthened community identity, connection, and mental wellbeing
• Built a sustainable model for multicultural media and community-led broadcasting

Organisational Involvement:

• STARTTS regional team
• Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Australia
• 2ARM Community Radio, local broadcasters, and Ezidi community leaders

Brief Description:
The Trauma-Informed Pottery Workshops are a creative and therapeutic initiative designed to support healing, self-expression, and community connection for the Ezidi community in Armidale. Delivered in a safe, culturally respectful environment, these workshops combine art, mindfulness, and trauma-informed care to support mental wellbeing and social inclusion.

Objectives:

• Promote mental health and emotional wellbeing through hands-on creative expression
• Offer a safe and trauma-informed space for participants to explore identity, cultural narrative, and healing through grounding
• Strengthen social connection and trust among community members
• Encourage intergenerational participation and cultural storytelling through art
• Build skills, confidence, and a sense of achievement in participants

Participants:
Workshops engaged Ezidi community members of all ages, with a particular focus on women and youth. Many participants had limited prior experience with art but were drawn to the therapeutic and community-building nature of the workshops.

Key Features:

• Led by a professional pottery facilitator trained in trauma-informed practice
• Designed with support from STARTTS counsellors and community development staff
• Activities tailored to be gentle, culturally safe, and non-verbal, making them accessible to participants regardless of language ability
• Participants created meaningful pieces reflecting personal journeys, cultural symbols, and emotional themes
• Integrated wellbeing practices such as mindfulness and grounding exercises
• Culminated in a community display/exhibition, celebrating participants’ work and stories

Community Collaboration:

• Held in a welcoming community space at STARTTS office in Armidale with consistent facilitators to foster trust
• Strong engagement and feedback from Ezidi women, who expressed interest in continuing the workshops
• Supported by local volunteers and interpreters when needed
• Plans to connect with local arts organisations and explore opportunities for ongoing creative programs

Outcomes:

• Provided a healing and empowering experience for participants impacted by trauma and displacement
• Strengthened social bonds and reduced isolation
• Increased confidence, emotional expression, and sense of purpose through creative practice
• Inspired interest in continuing art-based wellbeing activities
• Demonstrated the value of trauma-informed, culturally responsive approaches in community development

Organisational Involvement:

• STARTTS regional team
• Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Australia
• Delivered in partnership with a trauma-informed pottery instructor and supported by STARTTS Counselling team.

Brief Description:
The Ezidi Music & Choir Group is a culturally rich, healing-focused initiative that brings Ezidi community members in Armidale together through music, traditional instruments, and group singing. Rooted in Ezidi heritage and supported by a trauma-informed approach, the group promotes wellbeing, cultural pride, and social connection through the joy of making music.

Objectives:

• Promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing through music and creative expression
• Revive, preserve, and share traditional Ezidi music, instruments, and singing
• Strengthen community identity, cultural connection, and pride
• Encourage intergenerational participation and community leadership
• Build bridges between the Ezidi and broader Armidale community through shared musical experiences

Participants:
Open to Ezidi community members of all ages and musical backgrounds, with strong involvement from youth, women, and elders. The program is inclusive and welcoming, requiring no prior music experience.

Key Features:

• Held every Tuesday for 2 hours in a community setting at STARTTS office in Armidale
• Facilitated by a STARTTS Ezidi counsellor (and musician), alongside Ezidi master musicians
• Incorporates traditional Ezidi instruments, including:
  6 Tanbours
  6 Guitars
  6 Dafs (frame drums)
• Repertoire includes traditional Ezidi songs, spiritual chants, and collaboratively created pieces
• Sessions are both structured and improvisational, allowing for creativity and cultural storytelling
• Opportunities for performances and recordings to share Ezidi music with wider audiences

Community Collaboration:

• Co-facilitated by Ezidi community musicians, ensuring cultural integrity and relevance
• Supported by local Armidalian musicians, fostering cross-cultural exchange and artistic collaboration
• Accessible and inclusive, with STARTTS staff and interpreters involved as needed
• Future plans include potential community concerts, joint events, and music exchanges with other local groups

Outcomes:

• Strengthened mental wellbeing, confidence, and cultural connection among participants
• Revitalised and preserved traditional Ezidi musical practices
• Built community pride, joy, and shared identity through regular group music-making
• Fostered cross-cultural understanding and friendships within the broader Armidale community
• Empowered Ezidi youth and adults to explore leadership through creative expression

Organisational Involvement:

• STARTTS regional team
• Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Australia
• Delivered in collaboration with Ezidi musicians, local Armidalian artists, and supported by a trauma-informed counsellor

Brief Description:
The Suicide Prevention Trainings are culturally adapted workshops designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of the Ezidi community in Armidale. Based on the Wesley Mission LifeForce model, these trainings aim to build community capacity in recognising and responding to suicidal distress, while addressing cultural stigma and creating safe spaces for open conversations around mental health.

Objectives:

• Increase awareness and understanding of suicide prevention
• Equip participants with practical tools to support individuals at risk
• Create culturally safe environments for open dialogue and support
• Directly address stigma surrounding mental health and suicide within the Ezidi community
• Strengthen community networks and empower individuals as part of the Your Life Matters campaign

Participants:
Four culturally tailored training sessions were delivered to different groups within the Ezidi community to ensure comfort and relevance:

2 workshops for young people

1 workshop for men

1 workshop for women

Key Features:

• Based on the trusted Wesley Mission LifeForce Suicide Prevention model
• Facilitated by two accredited senior STARTTS staff with expertise in trauma-informed, cross-cultural mental health
• Each workshop ran for 4–5 hours, with interpreter support and cultural guidance available throughout
• Content was tailored to acknowledge and respect cultural norms, while gently challenging stigma and promoting help-seeking behaviours
• Included discussion, role plays, and real-life examples relevant to community experience
• All participants became part of the “Your Life Matters” campaign, receiving campaign merchandise and resources to continue the message within their circles

Community Collaboration:

• Designed with input from community members to ensure cultural appropriateness and safety
• Sessions delivered in gender- and age-specific groups to enhance openness and trust
• Built a foundation for peer support networks and community-based mental health leadership
• Linked with other wellbeing initiatives like the Ezidi Radio Program, Youth Empowerment projects, and community garden activities

Outcomes:

• Increased mental health literacy and understanding of suicide prevention strategies
• Empowered Ezidi community members to act as connectors and supporters in times of distress
• Reduced stigma around mental health conversations and suicide within families and peer groups
• Built a growing network of trained community champions promoting hope, connection, and resilience
• Strengthened the community’s ability to respond to mental health needs in a culturally appropriate way

Organisational Involvement:

• STARTTS regional team Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Australia
• Facilitated by two seniors accredited STARTTS staff trained in the LifeForce model

Brief Description:
The Culturally Tailored Merchandise initiative was developed to strengthen cultural identity, mental health awareness, and community pride among the Ezidi community in Armidale. Created as part of the Your Life Matters campaign and wider wellbeing initiatives, the merchandise features messages of hope, empowerment, and belonging—presented in Ezidi language (Kurmanji) and English, with culturally relevant designs that reflect Ezidi values and symbolism.

Objectives:

• Promote positive mental health messages in culturally appropriate ways
• Reduce stigma around mental health and suicide by encouraging open, everyday conversations
• Reinforce community pride, resilience, and belonging through visible, meaningful items
• Support the Your Life Matters campaign by increasing visibility and engagement
• Provide participants of workshops and activities with a tangible connection to their learning and community role

Participants & Community Involvement:
The merchandise was developed in consultation with Ezidi community members, particularly youth, women, Ezidi staff members and local leaders who helped shape the visual identity and messaging. Distributed across multiple community activities including:

• Suicide Prevention Trainings
• Radio Program team members
• Pottery and Music group participants
• Community events and wellbeing campaigns

Key Features:

All messages translated and presented in Ezidi language (Kurmanji) and English

Designs reflect Ezidi cultural elements, colours, and symbols of peace, light, and unity

Items include:
T-shirts
bags
Wristbands
Caps
Posters and banners

Merchandise used to reinforce wellbeing messages, support group identity, and create visibility for ongoing initiatives

Participants wear or use items proudly at events, workshops, and in daily life, spreading messages of strength, hope, and connection

Community Collaboration:

• Co-designed with Ezidi community, Ezidi STARTTS staff and none Ezidi staff members
• Used as a tool for community outreach, engagement, and education
• Integrated into wider campaigns such as Your Life Matters, Ezidi Radio, and community development programs
• Builds ownership and visibility for Ezidi-led initiatives in the Armidale region

Outcomes:

• Enhanced community engagement and visibility of mental health initiatives
• Reinforced a positive and empowering narrative around Ezidi identity and wellbeing
• Helped reduce stigma by normalising conversations around mental health through everyday items
• Created a strong sense of unity and pride across all age groups and community spaces
• Supported the sustainability and momentum of local programs through brand recognition and cultural affirmation

Organisational Involvement:

• STARTTS regional team
• Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Australia
• Ezidi community members and youth leaders

Brief Description:
The Wellbeing Ambassadors – Your Life Matters Campaign is a grassroots initiative developed to empower Ezidi community members in Armidale to lead mental health and suicide prevention conversations within their own circles. It builds on the momentum of the Suicide Prevention Trainings and other community-based wellbeing programs by identifying and supporting local ambassadors to spread messages of hope, resilience, and support in culturally meaningful ways.

Objectives:

• Promote mental health and suicide prevention awareness within the Ezidi community
• Address and challenge stigma surrounding mental health and help-seeking
• Empower trained individuals to become Wellbeing Ambassadors who carry the campaign message
• Strengthen community connection, leadership, and resilience
• Make wellbeing a visible, everyday part of community life through shared values and storytelling

Participants & Community Involvement:
Ambassadors are Ezidi community members who have completed key workshops such as:

Suicide Prevention Training

Participants include youth, women, elders, and men, ensuring diverse voices and leadership across generations.

Key Features:

• Each ambassador receives culturally tailored merchandise (t-shirts, wristbands, resource kits) with “Your Life Matters” messaging in Ezidi language (Kurmanji) and English
• Ambassadors are encouraged to:
  Start conversations about mental health in safe and respectful ways
  Share campaign messages at events, schools, or informal gatherings
  Participate in media initiatives like the Ezidi Radio Program
  Connect peers to support services when needed
• Supported through regular contact with STARTTS staff, who provide resources, check-ins, and ongoing mentoring
• Messaging reflects the Ezidi community’s unique culture, history, and strengths, and is delivered through trusted community members

Community Collaboration:

Closely tied to other initiatives including:

• Suicide Prevention Trainings
• Ezidi Radio Program
• Music & Choir Group
• Pottery and creative workshops

Builds a peer-to-peer support model that complements clinical and community services

Helps sustain the impact of wellbeing education beyond one-off training sessions

Outcomes:

• Created a visible and trusted network of wellbeing advocates within the Ezidi community
• Reduced mental health stigma through culturally safe dialogue
• Promoted early help-seeking and peer support
• Increased community capacity to respond to emotional distress
• Strengthened the overall impact of the Your Life Matters campaign across all activities

Organisational Involvement:

• STARTTS regional team
• Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Australia
• Supported by Ezidi leaders, youth, interpreters, and Ezidi and non-Ezidi community development workers

Brief Description:
The Mental Health-Based QR Codes initiative is a culturally inclusive digital strategy created to increase access to mental health support for the Ezidi community in Armidale. By embedding QR codes into everyday items and community spaces, this initiative offers quick, discreet, and stigma-free access to wellbeing resources tailored to Ezidi culture, language, and lived experience.

Objectives:

• Provide accessible and private pathways to mental health support and information
• Overcome language and literacy barriers through bilingual and audio-based content
• Support inclusive, culturally safe engagement with mental health information
• Reduce stigma and promote help-seeking behaviours in everyday life
• Strengthen the digital reach of the Your Life Matters campaign and other community programs

Participants & Community Involvement:
These QR codes are being shared widely across key Ezidi-led programs and events, including:

• Suicide Prevention Trainings
• Ezidi Youth, Women’s, and Men’s groups
• Ezidi Radio Program & Music/Choir Group
• Cultural events and health promotion activities
• Local schools, hospital and mental health services

Key Features:

• All QR codes are presented in both English and Ezidi language (Kurmanji) to ensure language inclusivity
• Content is culturally tailored, featuring familiar themes, music, voices, and concepts
• Special attention to illiterate users:
  Audio-based QR codes link to spoken wellbeing messages and guidance
  One QR code links to a collection of Ezidi-specific relaxing music to promote calm and emotional regulation
• QR code content includes:
  Bilingual wellbeing information and support contacts
  Podcasts and recorded Ezidi Radio wellbeing segments
  Short videos by trusted community voices
  Links to STARTTS services and local supports
• QR codes are placed on:
  Culturally tailored merchandise (e.g. fridge magnets)
  Posters at community hubs, schools, health centres
  Distributed through campaign kits and group workshops

Community Collaboration:

• Developed in consultation with Ezidi community members, youth, and local leaders
• Designed with support from STARTTS counsellors, interpreters, and media facilitators
• Directly aligned with other initiatives such as the Ezidi Radio Program, Wellbeing Ambassadors, and the Your Life Matters Campaign
• Created to respect cultural nuances and meet community members where they are—whether tech-savvy youth or older adults with limited literacy

Outcomes:

• Increased inclusive access to mental health resources across age, gender, and literacy levels
• Reduced stigma by offering private, self-directed access to support
• Reinforced mental health promotion through culturally familiar tools and formats
• Fostered ongoing digital engagement that complements in-person community activities
• Empowered individuals to access support confidentially and in their own time

Organisational Involvement:

• STARTTS regional team Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Australia
• Collaboration with Ezidi youth leaders, community members, interpreters, and creative media professionals and STARTTS counsellors and Ezidi and non-Ezidi community development workers.