back to LearnEpisode 6: Uncle Dave Bell | Aboriginal activist on culture, mentoring and healing through connection
For more than 20 years, Wiradjuri Elder and Aboriginal activist, Uncle Dave Bell has dedicated his life to helping young people find strength through culture, mentoring and connection. In this episode of Mental Fitness Conversations in partnership with Black Magic Woman Podcasts, he joins host Mundanara Bayles to share the story behind Young Spirit Mentoring – a grassroots program that’s changed the lives of hundreds of youth, families and communities across Campbelltown and beyond.
Uncle Dave’s work is grounded in simple but powerful truth: when we connect to Country, we reconnect to ourselves. He shares the importance of taking “young people back to Country to heal. When they connect to the river, the animals, the land – that’s when the ancestors guide us.”
Uncle Dave uses this program to bring young people together with Elders, Aunties and Uncles so that cultural wisdom can be taught, shared and passed down. His principle is grounded in the practice of mentoring: “the mentor trains the mentee, and the mentee becomes the mentor.” It’s a full-circle model that blends the sharing of cultural wisdom and the importance of passing that wisdom on to the next generation, helping young people build confidence, identity and emotional strength.
In this conversation, Uncle Dave and Mundanara reflect on the challenges faced by young people today, the importance of space spaces to talk and how deep connection can break cycles of disconnection and pain.
Why this episode matters
Mental Fitness Conversations is part of Gotcha4Life’s commitment to a suicide-free world, through connections, cultural understanding and meaningful storytelling. In partnership with Black Magic Woman, this series reflects the diversity and strength of First Nations voices, and the importance of culture and community in building mental fitness.
Listen to Episode 5 with Uncle Dave Bell
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or inside the Mental Fitness Gym app. Subscribe and be the first to know when new episodes drop.
Find out more about Young Spirit Mentoring here.
Content in this podcast covers topics related to mental health, including suicide which can be confronting and distressing. Please consider your needs when listening. Click here for support services you can contact 24/7.
