This document provides the keynote presentation abstracts for three speakers, highlighting key issues affecting Asian communities in Aotearoa and what they mean for the workforce, services, and policy.

Keynote 1 (Dr Ying Wang) explores the “invisible and hyper-visible” reality for Asian young people, how they can be seen as “different” while their emotional, cultural, and wellbeing needs are often overlooked, and highlights strengths and protective practices that help young people and those who support them to flourish.

Keynote 2 (Dr Simone Rodda) examines how people experiencing gambling harm (and their families) define “help” and “treatment,” how readiness and barriers shape pathways into support over time, and why workforce capability is crucial, especially when gambling harm shows up through related issues like mental health, finances, or family stress.

Keynote 3 (Dr Andrew Zhu) outlines an evidence-to-advocacy approach that amplifies Asian community voices through research and policy engagement, summarising key findings since 2019 (including mental health, gambling harm, discrimination, and bullying) and setting practical priorities for culturally capable workforce planning and equitable outcomes.