Strong Communities Strong Children Kelar Ged Kelar Omaskerem
The Healing Foundation is a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that partners with communities to address the ongoing trauma caused by actions like the forced removal of children from their families. Our work helps people create a different future.
In 7 short years the Healing Foundation has: • Provided funding to over 160 community organisations to lead and develop healing projects • Established an impressive body of evidence with over 30 evaluations and publications in partnership with over 8 research institutions and policy bodies • Developed and led in partnership with our communities the establishment of community healing forums and gatherings, assisting our people to create the template for healing in their region • Assisted over 45,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members to be supported on a healing journey
IAHA 2015 National Conference
Healing requires • Cultural wounds need cultural medicine • Restoration • Harmony and balance • Safe spaces • Renewal of self, family and community • Reconnecting to value systems • Building positive identity 7
“Trauma disrupts and restructures relationships between people” Judy Atkinson, 2002
Healing Forums • Reinstating and reconnecting communities to their cultural value systems • supporting communities to be empowered to lead healing • assisting communities to assume responsibility for their future - developing healing plans • Creating supportive environments for children and families to thrive - addressing trauma at a community level • Creating a shared language and vision 11
Healing in the Torres Strait • Kaurareg People’s healing forum in 2012 • Building block for creating Torres Strait Healing Forum • Over 600 people consulted • Knowledge circle formed with Healing Leadership from across Torres Strait • Provided significant cultural leadership • Iling Siduan held in 2014 13
Healing in the Torres Strait Key Themes identified and solutions identified in the forum : • child safety • Community safety • Spiritual healing • Self determination • Leadership and governance 15
Healing in the Torres Strait • Healing Strategy • Inclusion of healing in the Integrated Service Delivery Plan • Healing Foundation supported - emergence of men’s work - supporting our women’s leadership - investigating the development of community healing teams 17
What Change has occurred? • Greater collaboration • More people taking the initiative to address many of the key themes identified in the healing forum • Our community getting stronger in reclaiming our role in supporting our families • Greater focus on teaching our children our cultural values as a means to guide them
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