For years, public discussions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people have been shaped by statistics on health, education and contact with government systems.

A new national study turns that lens around and asks a different question - what does wellbeing look like to First Nations youth themselves?

The answer, according to researchers, has less to do with clinical checklists and more to do with belonging.

Published this year, Understanding wellbeing from the perspectives of First Nations Australian youth draws on the voices of 172 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people aged between 12 and 17, from communities across the country.

Instead of surveys or diagnostic tools, the study used a method called PhotoYarning — giving young people cameras and space to talk about what matters to them.

Participants took photographs of their everyday lives and then came together in yarning circles to explain why those images mattered.

The result is a youth-driven picture of wellbeing that challenges how institutions define it.

Across the photos and yarns, six themes consistently emerged.

First was belonging — feeling connected to family, culture, Country and community.

Young people spoke about places where they felt known, supported and safe, and about the importance of being around people who understood who they were.

Closely tied to that was connection with others, including friends and extended family.

Many images focused on shared moments, such as spending time together on Country and outings at community events.

Wellbeing, the young people said, was not something you experienced alone.

The third theme was care and self-care.

This included being cared for by family and community, but also learning how to look after themselves — through rest, routine, creativity and time away from stress.

Several young people described wellbeing as having space to breathe.

Another recurring theme was doing things they enjoy.

Sport, art, music, caring for animals and being outdoors featured heavily in the photos.

These activities were not framed as distractions, but as essential parts of feeling grounded and strong.

Young people also spoke about working towards goals and achievements — academically and hitting personal milestones.

Achievement, they said, mattered most when it was supported and recognised by others.

Finally, there was a strong emphasis on safe spaces.

This included physical safety, but also emotional and cultural safety — places where young people could be themselves without fear of racism or harm.

Researchers say the findings expose a gap between how wellbeing is measured by systems, and how it is experienced by young people on the ground.

Current national indicators often rely on Western clinical frameworks, which can miss the relational and cultural foundations of First Nations wellbeing.

The study is intended to inform the development of a national wellbeing measure for First Nations youth, one that could be used across health, education and community services.

Researchers stressed without culturally relevant measures, governments risk continuing to invest in programs that fail to reflect young people's realities.

For the young people involved, the process itself was meaningful.

Many spoke about the importance of being listened to, and of having their experiences taken seriously.