“I am strong in culture was made as part of the SNAICC Resource Service Child Rearing Stories project, managed by Jane Harrison. Ten participants from Aboriginal Early Childhood services took part in a Children’s Self Publishing ‘train the trainer’ workshop, creating these words and images.” – Copyright SNAICC 2009
Click on the link below to see full version:
>>I am Strong<<
“I found the training to be culturally specific for our clients and useful in that it encouraged us to explore the specific factors that may be affecting our clients, including cultural bound syndromes and acculturative stress.We were also given opportunities to workshop case studies and strategies to address minimization and observe the Westerman Aboriginal Symptom Checklist for youth and adults to determine risk levels.Overall one of the best workshops I have attended.”Malinda Flynn, Gallang Place, Practice Manager
Dr Noritta Morseu-Diop Gallang Place’s Chairperson, has been awarded the Indigenous Community Impact Award by the University of Queensland Alumni.
The award acknowledges Norita as “an advocate for social justice and reform with extensive experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities throughout Queensland, and the first Torres Strait Islander awarded a PhD from the University of Queensland.”
Gallang Place proudly congratulates Norita on her recognition and achievement.
The urgent need for successful initiatives to reduce the high rates of Indigenous suicide and self-harm among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia is widely acknowledged by governments and Aboriginal communities.
The Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP) has been funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health to focus on Indigenous suicide prevention with particular emphasis on high-risk groups, the identification and adaption of best practice in Indigenous suicide prevention, postvention innovation and activity.
In June 2016 the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Evaluation Project (ATSISPEP) Solutions that Works: What the Evidence and Our People Tell Us Report was launched in Canberra. The Report summarises the evidence base for what works in Indigenous suicide prevention, including responses to the social determinants of health that are `upstream’ risk factors for suicide.
A common success factor in community-based interventions or responses to Indigenous suicide is their development and implementation through Indigenous leadership and in partnership with Indigenous communities. This is due to the need for responses to address cultural and ‘lived experience’ elements as well as enable Indigenous people to exercise their right to self-determination and be involved in service design and delivery as mental health consumers.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide rates remain high in Australia, with Indigenous Australians being more than twice as likely to die by suicide than non-Indigenous Australians (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016). Young Indigenous people (aged 15-24) are particularly vulnerable, being over five times more likely to die by suicide than their non-Indigenous peers (Dudgeon et al., 2016).
We welcome all services, projects and programs that are working in Indigenous suicide prevention, social and emotional wellbeing and Indigenous mental health. We encourage you to submitting an abstract, to attend, to share learnings and experiences, to develop networks and to take home examples of what works.
A fantastic Day at the Mununjali NAIDOC Family Fun Day.
Gallang Place – Beaudesert
Gallang Place recently invited eight Partners In Recovery (PIR) participants to attend a three-day cultural camp on Minjerrabah, North Stradbroke Island.
The camp, held in May 2017, connected participants with the country to increase social and community participation through cultural activities. Participants had the rare opportunity to engage with 2017 NAIDOC award-winning Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders who happily shared their Quandamooka culture and traditions at Terra Bulla, the Old Aboriginal Mission.
Traditional land owner Mathew Burns delivered an artefact and cultural talk on the hidden yet very well-documented histories of Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island) and Moorgumpin (Moreton Island). The group also went on the Gorriemooka 4WD Tour with traditional land owner Brian Coghill across the island to appreciate the natural flora and fauna plus the Aboriginal connection to land and sea.
Participants also learnt how to make fire, weave grass skirts, fillet mullet fish and prepare traditional food.
Feedback from participants was amazing. Here is what a few had to say:
“They have all helped me have an understanding about other cultures, and [it] was good to get away and enjoy what others loved to do. The birds’ singing helped me with my healing or so I believe.”
“Thank you for all your help and support. Thanks for understanding and the time your staff has helped our group to enjoy something new. I had a great time and would like to do it again. Thank you for asking me to join your group, I will never forget the great time [we had].”
“I liked the first activity the most ’cause we sat down as a group and listened to the Elders, and you could hear in their voices what the land/place of home meant to them and their people.”
Gallang Place has provided culturally appropriate counselling and healing services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in South East Queensland for 20 years. After 17 years in their old Queenslander in West End they are now setting up a new Community Hub in Cannon Hill.
Noeleen Lopes, Gallang Place’s CEO said:
“This is more than just an exciting new office, it’s a place where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations can share their ideas, culture and deliver programs to educate, support and heal our communities.”
This Community Hub will accommodate:
Mundanara Bayles, CEO of BlackCard, added:
“This is a great new space that not only lets us work closely with other like-minded organisations, but gives our Elders a base to build community networks and supports.”
Marja Elizabeth, CEO of Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service, added:
“We are fortunate and happy to be working in partnership with Gallang in providing legal and support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children. The new facility demonstrates how Indigenous organisations from different sectors can work together collaboratively for the benefit of the community.”
The Hub is at 57 Southgate Ave, Cannon Hill and will hold an ‘open house’ Friday 4 July from 9:30 with the official launch at 10:00 am.
Funded by Greater Metro South Brisbane Medicare Local BlackCard and Gallang Place undertook a research project into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health services in Brisbane South. The project consulted with Elders and community members to find ways of improving services to the community.
The launch was held at the QAIHC Offices in South Brisbane on June 4 2014 and was well attended by Elders, community members and a large number of representatives of NGOs and agencies involved in delivering mental health services.
Mundanar Bales, Managing Director of BlackCard said:
“This report will provide a cultural blueprint for everyone delivering any health or support services to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people – it’s a ‘must read'”
She went on to say:
“What makes this report unique is that it examines community issues from an ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Frame of Reference.”
BlackCard and Gallang Place praised their insight and support of Greater Metro South Brisbane Medicare Local for making this research possible.
Check out BlackCard’s Website here
