cultural identity desktop topic banner

Cultural identity

Cultural history and family heritage are what make Australians unique and special. Throughout your lifetime, your cultural identity might have varying levels of importance to you. When you're growing up surrounded by a culture that's different from the one at home, cultural beliefs can sometimes cause conflict in families and friendships.

Your cultural identity and pride in your culture can also be an important protective factor for mental health. Find ways to overcome cultural barriers and improve your personal and cultural wellbeing.

kano young man looking at the camera standing in a room

Learning to navigate your cultural identity

You don’t have to choose between your ethnic and Australian identities. Hear how these young people learnt to be proud of their cultural identity.

teenage guy talking to mum

How to talk to your parents about wellbeing

In some cultures, wellbeing and mental health aren't really spoken about. Here are our tips on approaching this conversation.

aboriginal boy looking at camera

What to do if you're experiencing racism

Learn what you can do if you’ve been the target of racism or discrimination. Racism is not okay and you don’t have to deal with it alone.

two young women supporting each other

Support services for culturally and linguistically diverse young people

If you’re going through a tough time, you don’t have to do it alone. You can get support online, through your community or from a professional. Find someone who gets you.

Young Indigenous man standing in a park

Support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

If you’re going through a tough time as an Indigenous person, here’s a list of places where you can talk to someone who will understand what you’re going through.

Close up of girl and guy looking at each other and laughing

Culturally diverse LGBTQIA+ support services and groups

Wondering what support is available for LGBTQI young people from diverse backgrounds?

Anisha, Mia and Alex sitting inside chatting

Blak and forth: Cultural pressure

Doing well in school comes with the usual pressures. But for young mob, it doesn’t always end there. Hear Alex, Anisha and Mia yarn about the pros and cons of cultural pressure at school.

Navigating cultural differences in romantic relationships_thumbnail image

Navigating cultural differences in romantic relationships

Three couples share their experiences of navigating cultural differences in their relationships.

Doctor discussing STIs with boy

Culturally diverse sexual health services

Do you have questions about sexual health but are worried about a language or cultural barrier?

ben stubbs how to find your trusted person

How to find your trusted person when you need support

During tough times, it's important to have someone you can talk to. Wangkatha man Benjamin (Woobilie) Stubbs shares his tips on how you can find your trusted person.

Dad angry with his daughter

Conflict between family and culture

It can be tough to navigate what you want versus your family’s expectations. Get some strategies to help you through this and maintain relationships.

leeza young woman standing in scenery smiling at camera

How Leeza reconnected with her cultural identity

Read about how Leeza reconnected with her Filipino cultural identity and learnt to balance her Australian culture with her heritage.

meissa mason

What to do if you're dealing with a racist teacher at school

Coping with racism at school or dealing with a racist teacher is really tough. Hear from Meissa Mason on how to look after yourself and report racist incidents.

Close-up of an Aboriginal girl's hands as she is preparing threads for weaving baskets and bracelets.

Mob mindfulness: How to care for yourself while honouring your culture

Hear from Darug/Dharawal woman and mental health expert Jenny Holmes on how to practise mob mindfulness and strengthen your connection to Country.

Headshot of Madhuraa woman smiling

Madhuraa’s story: ‘You don’t belong here’

Dealing with racist jokes and casual racism can be hard. Read Madhuraa’s story to learn how she coped and learnt from her experiences with racism.

roseanna thumbnail

What Chinese New Year means to Roseanna

Roseanna shares her story of what Chinese New Year means to her, and how she celebrates.

rebecca hatch girl sitting in chair with recording studio equipment behind her

Becca Hatch on being a role model

Becca Hatch reflects on the two cultures in her life, and what this means for young Australians and the music industry.

where do you feel like you belong

Where do you feel like you belong?

From big community gatherings to hanging out with friends at the beach, these young people chat about where they feel like they belong.

sam stubbs waka dancers

Connecting with your Aboriginal culture through dance

Wangkatha man Samuel (Wirrdapi) Stubbs shares how dance has helped him and his family connect to culture.

sunshine sbs man holding basketball thumbnail

7 shows that *actually* have culturally diverse casts

Sick of not seeing yourself represented in TV shows? Check out our fave diverse shows.

Image of four First Nations men against a background of red, black and yellow oval shapes.

How to cope when you feel like a spokesperson for mob

Four First Nations content creators share how they cope when they feel burdened by cultural load.

Collage image of four First Nations men. The background features dot art and there is a title in the top left corner that reads 'How can mob stay strong?'.

How to stay strong

Four First Nations content creators share what staying strong means to them, and offer some tips for other mob on how to stay strong.

Illustration of four Aboriginal men sitting around a campfire.

Why helping out mob makes us all feel deadly

Your mob is your family and community. Everybody needs a little help sometimes, and the more you help out the stronger mob will be.

Illustration of Wickie looking frustrated while playing AFL.

Wickie's story about dealing with racism

Wickie shares how talking to her coach helped her to deal with racism.

shame job

How to cope with shame job

It’s really common to feel shame job when bad stuff happens. Learn how to cope with these feelings and know that there’s no shame in looking after yourself.

heartbreak high 2022 cast

Why do First Nations characters still need to justify their place on Aussie TV shows?

Sancia shares her take on how Aboriginal characters are portrayed in Australian media and why it’s important to talk about it.

sancia ridgeway thumbnail

Sancia shares what her Aboriginal culture means to her

In this short story named Totem, year 10 student Sancia Ridgeway explores the importance of her family and culture.

yabun

Yabun: celebrating Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander cultures

Hear from people at the 2019 Yabun festival about what their culture means to them.

Related topics

Ask ReachOutCommunication skillsPositive mindsetsSpirituality

Frequently asked questions about cultural identity

Cultural identity is your sense of belonging to a particular cultural group or groups. It can include your heritage, traditions, beliefs, and values. It's a unique and personal part of who you are, and it's something that can evolve and change over time.

Culture shapes how we see ourselves and the world around us. It’s reflected in our family traditions, customs, language, and shared experiences. Your cultural background is something to be proud of, and it can be really empowering to explore and understand how it influences who you are. Read more about navigating your cultural identity.

Cultural identity can be expressed in many ways, such as your language, religious beliefs, food traditions, celebrations, music, and artistic expressions. All these elements make you uniquely you – there's no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to express your cultural identity.

ReachOut home
        Aboriginal flagTorres Strait islander flagRainbow flagAustralian flag

        We acknowledge the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past and present. We recognise connection to Country as integral to health and wellbeing.

        We acknowledge people with lived experience of mental ill-health and recovery and the experience of people who have been carers, families, or supporters.

        ReachOut values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.

              Aboriginal flagTorres Strait islander flagRainbow flagAustralian flag

              We acknowledge the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past and present. We recognise connection to Country as integral to health and wellbeing.

              We acknowledge people with lived experience of mental ill-health and recovery and the experience of people who have been carers, families, or supporters.

              ReachOut values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.

              © ReachOut Australia 2025