Wakai Waian Healing, a proudly Torres Strait Islander-owned and led mental health service, recently celebrated ten years of walking alongside community - providing culturally safe, trauma-informed care across Queensland's regional, remote, and island communities.
Founded by Masig man Ed Mosby in 2014, Wakai Waian Healing began with just one man, one laptop, and "a belief that our stories, our ways, and our healing journey must be led by our own people".
Now, Wakai Waian Healing has grown into a organisation with over 40 staff, proudly standing on both the mainland and in the Torres Strait.
A major milestone came with the establishment of the Torres Strait Island office on Thursday Island – "a true homecoming". The Thursday Island team now plays a central role in delivering services across Zenadth Kes, ensuring Islander voices, leadership, and cultural knowledge are at the heart of healing.
Wakai Waian Healing said their key achievements over the past decade include: Building Queensland's first Indigenous-led FIFO psychology service to remote communities; launching a First Nations workforce development program, with psychology trainees progressing through their degrees; achieving ISO9001 Quality Management Systems Certification and National Standards for Mental Health Services Certification; securing NDIS Provider Registration - enabling culturally safe disability and psychosocial supports; and expanding operations to Rockhampton, Cairns, Nambour, Thursday Island, and remote service sites.
Wakai Waian Healing's foundation is "cultural integrity - honouring Elders, Law, and Stories - and walking gently but firmly in two worlds".
"Even back then, Ed was talking about building a strong First Nations workforce," said Julyess Jarvis, Wakai Waian's longest-serving staff member and now Practice Service Manager.
"Today, seeing young mob coming through the system, it's living proof of what's possible."
At the heart of Wakai Waian Healing is family. Mr Mosby and his wife Julie Mosby, the organisation's Finance Officer, have "nurtured every team member like kin - believing in people, lifting them up, and embedding cultural ways of working into everyday practice", the organisation said.
The entry into the NDIS space has been "a significant step forward", particularly for Torres Strait families, ensuring support services are delivered by mob, for mob.
Looking ahead, Wakai Waian Healing is focused on building sustainability, strengthening Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal leadership teams, and deepening its connection to Country, Culture, and Community.
"This next chapter is about succession, sustainability, and spirit," Mr Mosby said. "Our role now is to walk together - stronger, wiser, and always connected to where we come from."
