Culture is key for Aboriginal youth

Suicide rates in Australia's Indigenous youth are among the highest in the world. In the Sydney suburb of La Perouse, charity organisation First Hand Solutions is convinced it has part of the answer.

(File: AAP)

Nestled on the headland of Botany Bay, the La Perouse community has not been protected from the issues plaguing much of Indigenous Australia.

Peter Cooley of charity organisation First Hand Solutions said the community had a lot to tackle.

"We've seen our youth in and out of juvenile detention centres and sadly we've experienced our young people committing suicide," he said.

"I'm a big believer, through my experience of working with youth, that it's this dispossession of culture that is playing a part there somewhere."

A new report by the University of New South Wales supported Mr Cooley's theory.

Professor Melissa Haswell, co-author of the report, said discovering their cultural identity could provide "an incredible boost" for young Aboriginal people with little prior knowledge of their heritage.

Through community programs, First Hand Solutions aims to reconnect young Aboriginal people with their Elders, land and traditions.

From spear-making and shell-work, the volunteer-driven charity is bringing an ancient culture to a new generation.

Watch the full report in the vide player above.

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 or follow @LifelineAust @OntheLineAus @kidshelp @beyondblue @headspace_aus @ReachOut_AUS on Twitter.