Conversations Encore: the Nyamal woman from the Pilbara transforming how we think about trauma
Feb 19, 2026
Dr Tracey Westerman, Nyamal psychologist and Indigenous mental health leader from the Pilbara, founder of the Westerman Gillia Institute and author of Jilya. She talks about growing up remote, adapting to city life, cultural differences in diagnosing distress, tailoring suicide prevention with community-led tools and training Indigenous psychologists. Short, compelling stories and practical approaches shape the conversation.
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A Father's Rescue Changed Generations
- Tracey recounts her mother's forced removal near Marble Bar and the father who rescued her from the dormitory in Port Hedland.
- That rescue shaped family anxiety, strict household routines and a deep fear of child removal across generations.
Mainstream Training Often Erases Indigenous Needs
- Tracey noted mainstream psychology training omitted Aboriginal issues entirely for years, leaving Indigenous needs invisible to practitioners.
- That invisibility undermines culturally competent assessment and contributes to system failures for Indigenous clients.
Assess Cultural Experiences Before Labeling Psychosis
- Assess visions, voices or spiritual experiences by listing similarities and differences with psychosis before diagnosing.
- Prioritise cultural triggers and cultural grieving processes over immediate clinical medication when appropriate.
