Strategic Indigenous Solutions

23/12/2025

✨Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from SIS! ✨

We would like to thank each and everyone one of you for such a great year. 2025 for SIS was a blast. It was a year of growth and the year where the name SIS became known. We were engaged to work across many projects, some long term, and decided to take the plunge to go full time - woo hoo 🥳

We want to thank the organisations below for trusting us this year to complete such important and ongoing bodies of work:
🌺 Queensland Aboriginal & Islander Health Council
🌺 Wuchopperen Health Service
🌺 Gindaja Treatment & Healing Indigenous Corporation
🌺 James Cook University
🌺 Beacon Strategies

So let the festive season begin, rest, recover and embrace those closest to you. We will see you again in 2026 ✨

Tonya & Tiana
SIS

18/12/2025

It’s been an honour to be trusted by QAIHC to facilitate the Eyez on Ice Training across the state.

AOD has been something that affects many people, families and communities - even my own. I am passionate about not only building organisational capacity, but also the community members themselves. We as community are the health workers, the police officers, education staff, but outside of these titles, we are mums, dads, aunties, uncles, elders. Most times, it’s our yarns outside of our workplaces that make the most impact on people, supporting without the organisational limitations. So well done QAIHC for adapting the program for people within the communities to have the same knowledge as the professionals.

Esso to everyone who invited us into their communities, joined in on the conversations and continue to support their people. It’s been an adventure I’ll always cherish.

Tonya

QAIHC’s Social and Emotional Wellbeing team has delivered Eyez on Ice sessions across Zenadth Kes, working with families and local health staff to share practical information on responding to methamphetamine use. The program, built around 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, was delivered in Waiben, Saibai, Badu and Ngurupai.

QAIHC staff joined Torres Health workers and facilitator Tonya Fuschtei to present information on recognising concerning behaviours and supporting people with care. The sessions drew on local insight and reinforced the strength of community-led approaches.

Full article at SectorLeader.au: https://buff.ly/mJjpnpL

04/12/2025

✨ Gindaja Treatment & Healing Indigenous Corporation ✨

SIS have been contracted by Gindaja to review and refresh their Workforce Development Strategy. On Wednesday, SIS went out to Yarrabah to Gindajas Wellbeing Centre to facilitate a workshop with the leadership group.

The workshop was a space where the team shared the challenges and enablers for a strong workforce from all areas of business. It was amazing to hear the growth within the organisation, and the commitment from all staff.

Thank you again Gindaja, keep up the great work!

07/11/2025

And that’s a wrap for EYEZ ON ICE 2025!

SIS and QAIHC are making the trek home after a week of community engagement and education across the Torres Strait.

Thank you to all who welcomed us, it has truely been a week to remember.

To learn more about EYEZ on ICE, you can watch the video by following the link below, and by contacting:

Tiana Lea
Social Health Programs Manager
Queensland Aboriginal & Islander Health Council (QAIHC)
[email protected]

https://youtu.be/YrVgmjnfY94?si=czgOIXGYGi0EDXaZ

06/11/2025

This week, Tonya Fuschtei from SIS, Tiana Lea and Bo Dela Cruz from QAIHC, Thomas Fuji and Joanne Dorante are facilitating EYEZ on ICE across the Torres Strait region!

Torres Health engaged QAIHC to deliver EOI to community members, following a successful delivery by SIS in Feb, 2025.

Tuesday was our first session on Badu Island. We were welcomed to the island and hosted by Aunty Nancy Nona, who took us on a tour, a swim at the beautiful Alup Healing. We had a great turnout with over 30 community members attending the evening workshop.

Wednesday, we heading over to Thursday Island for the second community session. Wednesday had a steady turnout with 20 people attending from the community.

Today, Thursday, we are in Saibai Island. This evening we will be having a dinner with the community, followed by the third session for the week.

Tomorrow, Friday, we will be over on Horn Island for our final session in the evening.

SIS are so appreciative of this opportunity, not many people get to travel to these remote locations and experience island life. We’re thankful for the locals, who have made us feel welcome, and I can’t wait to come back.

31/10/2025

Last week, Tonya Fuschtei & Tiana Thomas from SIS had the privilege of facilitating the First Nations Collaborative workshop in partnership with Beacon Strategies.

The day brought together passionate community leaders from across Far North Queensland to yarn, reflect, and design better ways to support life promotion and su***de prevention in our communities.

We created a safe and respectful space to talk honestly about what’s working and what’s not, from strengthening workforce capacity and cultural leadership to ensuring services are relational, not just transactional.

Participants shared incredible ideas for the future, including:
- Safe yarning houses in community
- 24-hour wellbeing hubs
- Family-led safety planning
- Culturally grounded healing programs
- Elevating lived-experience voices in decision-making

The energy and connection in the room were inspiring.
We’re proud to walk alongside Beacon Strategies and all the Collaborative members as we continue this journey — centering culture, strengthening connection, and driving real systems change.

See you all again at the second workshop!

23/10/2025

First Nations Collaborative Gathering - Tomorrow 24/10

We’re bringing together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, service providers, and community members with lived experience to share what’s working, name the gaps, and strengthen partnerships for community-led change.
If your organisation is working in su***de prevention, life promotion or related systems work, we’d love you there.

Interested in attending? It’s not too late! Contact Tiana to register.
📅 Tomorrow, 1:00 pm
📍 Nintiringanyi Cultural Training Centre
👉 Contact: Tiana Thomas — [email protected]

***dePrevention

11/09/2025

✨ SIS Quarterly Newsletter is here! ✨

Over the past few months, we’ve been busy strengthening governance, delivering workshops, and supporting organisations to achieve their goals across Far North Queensland. From cultural and clinical governance frameworks with Wuchopperen Health Service, to the ongoing implementation of FNQ Connect with James Cook University, to community-led training and mentoring with Beacon Strategies — it’s been a powerful quarter of impact and collaboration.

We’re also proud to introduce our Workplace Culture & Clinical Safety Package — helping organisations embed safety, accountability, and strong values into everyday practice.

📩 Read the full newsletter here: https://strategicindigenoussolutions.com.au/so/bbPatZGtd?languageTag=en

💬 We’d love to hear from you — what strategic priorities are front of mind for your organisation this year?

Read about our news and latest updates.

04/09/2025

Day 2 - Done ✅

Today, SIS supported the second session of Participatory Community Development with Agora, as part of the partnership with Beacon Strategies.

This session was adapted to the audience, with many healthy and robust discussions on what community development looked like in their respective communities, and initiatives.

It really reinforced the importance of relationship building. How we must build relationships, trust and buy in with our communities, especially in this line of work. Without it, we’re left with an idea.

We truely appreciate all those who shared their experiences, and knowledge in this space.

03/09/2025

Day 1 - Done ✅

Today, SIS supported the delivery of Participatory Community Development with Agora, as part of the partnership with Beacon Strategies.

This session was an introductory to PCD, and we, as well as the participants were able to learn and understand what this model is, as well as reflect on our practice, and plan ways to implement in the work we do.

Tomorrow we will do it all again with new participants from across Cairns, Cape York and the Torres Strait Islands.

02/09/2025

Strategic Indigenous Solutions is proud to announce another partnership with the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC)! This time, we will be facilitating Eyez on Ice Community Workshops across the Torres Strait Islands.

The Eyez on Ice workshops are designed to empower community members with the skills and knowledge to effectively respond to alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, particularly methamphetamines. This resource focuses on supporting professionals to work with families and young people, ensuring a culturally safe, informed, and effective approach.

These workshops are an opportunity to:
✅ Gain deeper insights into AOD use and its impacts.
✅ Learn practical tools to support families and young people.
✅ Build confidence in responding to methamphetamine-related challenges.

✨ Together, we’re building safer, stronger, and healthier communities.

Stay tuned for more details on locations and venues.

28/08/2025

Strategic Indigenous Solutions is proud to announce our partnership with Beacon Strategies to deliver on two exciting initiatives in Far North Queensland.

The Life Promotion and Su***de Prevention FNQ initiative is funded by NQPHN and delivered by Beacon Strategies to change the narrative on su***de and build a movement for change.

✨ First Nations Collaborative Events – SIS will deliver four Collaborative events by June 2026, each structured around topics such as First Nations leadership, cultural safety, collective impact, and community co-design. The First Nations Collaborative is a dedicated, First Nations-only space within the FNQ Collaborative. It was established in response to the priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations working in su***de prevention.
✨ Community Development Training – Strategic Indigenous Solutions has been engaged to provide cultural guidance, coaching, and mentoring, strengthening local capacity in life promotion and su***de prevention, ensuring communities are equipped with culturally grounded and sustainable tools. Community Development Training and mentoring builds local capacity, enabling First Nations leaders and community members to design and deliver locally led initiatives. This work supports self-determination, strengthens local leadership, and reflects Beacon Strategies’ commitment to allyship and ethical partnering.

This collaboration builds on our shared commitment to community-led solutions, cultural integrity, and creating safe spaces for meaningful dialogue and action.

We’re honoured to walk alongside Beacon Strategies, communities, and stakeholders across FNQ as we continue building strong systems of support, leadership, and governance.

Together, we are shaping strategies that are not just projects, but movements for lasting change.