FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES
OUR APPROACH
Prior to the colonisation of First Nations People here in Australia, it is believed that suicide was not known. This suggests that the roots of the crisis impacting our Aboriginal Population can be traced back to “Terra Nullius - Land Belonging To No One” and the displacement, disempowerment, disconnection and destruction of their communities, cultures, lands, souls and spirits ever since.
The truth is, colonisation was not a once-off historic event. It is a deeply entrenched system in our society programmed to disadvantage and discriminate against Aboriginal People, Families and Communities across every social, emotional and economic measure. Disproportionate and alarming statistics across suicide, mental-Ill health, incarceration, child protection, deaths in custody, gendered violence, domestic violence, homelessness and education are all proof of this.
As a result, we see our Aboriginal Communities suffering from entrenched hopelessness, sadness, disconnection and grief. This is compounded by layers of complex intergenerational trauma experiences and the reality of navigating the heaviness of an inherently racist society in the present time. This leads to many negative life trajectories and outcomes; symptoms of the deeper issues.
Turn to Me strongly supports the growing evidence that any early intervention or prevention initiative targeted at First Nations Communities should adopt culturally integrated, trauma-informed, community-led approaches. It is about rekindling and reinstating what was taken away throughout the destruction of colonisation. Starting with self-determination, autonomy and free will.
The essence of early intervention and prevention work within Aboriginal Communities is healing. When our people heal they are less likely to be caught in cycles, less likely to turn to violence, less likely to complete suicide and more likely to live holistically healthy lives, free from pain and suffering.
Preventing suicide is not an isolated outcome of our work in this space. It is part of a much more significant and impactful narrative: Aboriginal People, Families and Communities Healing & Thriving, against all odds.
PARTNERSHIP
To support in having meaningful, sustainable and culturally appropriate impact across our engagement with First Nations Communities, Turn to Me has partnered with Yarn Bark. A First Nations Led Social Enterprise with over 10 years experience delivering Culturally Integrated Trauma informed Early Intervention and Prevention Program in Aboriginal Communities. This work spans over Aboriginal Workforce, Community, Education, Child-Protection and Justice Settings.
Yarn Bark and Turn to Me have conducted a community co-design process to inform the creation of a ready made program "Meerta Peeneeyt - Rise Up Strong" targeted at young mob aged between 14 - 18. Any engagements beyond this program will be tailored and designed based on the context of each First Nations Community or Group that we are approached to work with.
More About Yarn Bark
MEERTA PEENEEYT - RISE UP STRONG
"MEERTA PEENEEYT - RISE UP STRONG" is Turn to Me’s Flagship Program targeted at First Nations Young People aged 14 - 18 and is a result of an intensive co-design process that engaged 20 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People over five workshops that have relevant lived, professional and community expertise in relation to what works for early intervention and prevention programs targets at First Nations Young Mob.
This highly interactive and culturally immersive workshop experience takes participants on a transformational journey of breaking the silence and stigma attached to Mental Ill-Health and inspires new culturally integrated approaches to health, well-being and self-care.
With an emphasis on the importance of community and social cohesion, the participating group will explore, construct and gain the status of their very own “Turn to Me - Community of Care” to honour and uphold. This builds strong foundations for the participating community to become a place of purpose and belonging, free from stigma, judgment, and harmful behaviours, promoting the act of deeply caring for each other.
Throughout this program we will explore and unpack specific experiences that First Nations Young People encounter that can be detrimental to their health and well-being. This may include addressing shame, eliminating degrading labels, intergenerational cycles, walking between worlds, embracing culture as a strength and understanding racism.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
OUTCOMES
Community of Care Co-Design Project
In 2023, Turn to Me and Yarn Bark secured $49,000 via the DFFH “Empowering Communities” grant round, funding a community co-design process that led to the creation of Turn to Me’s flagship program, “you belong, I belong”. The co-design project engaged a cohort of young people from diverse backgrounds across the Ballarat Community, exploring and capturing their insights into what were the main drivers to local young people experiencing poor Mental Ill-Health and what a successful program response would include.
VicHealth Funded Project
Yarn Bark holds a three year funding agreement with Vic Health for the design, development and delivery of the Kareeta Meerta Peeneeyt - Grow & Rise Up Strong Program. Combining a completely online, highly accessible and self paced Cultural Empowerment Program, with on-country cultural strengthening workshops, Kareeta Meerta Peeneeyt is targeted at any First Nations Young Person across the Victoria aged 12+ that are experiencing barriers to experiencing their cultural identity in strength based and positive reinforcing ways.
BDAC Healing Our Healers Workshops
Yarn Bark was engaged to deliver a total of 14 x On-Country Well-Being, Healing and Connection Days for the entire staff community of the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-Op. These gatherings had a specific focus on strengthening the “community of practice” to be a “community of care”. Acting as a prevention to community and lateral violence and the detrimental impacts of burnout.
BDAC Mens Health Day
Yarn Bark supported with the end to end planning and delivery of BDAC’s annual Mens Healing and Cultural Connection Day. Engaging 200+ Aboriginal Men from the Bendigo and surrounding areas in important conversations around health, violence and community participation.
Yappera Childcare - Aboriginal Fathers
Yarn Bark was engaged to design and deliver a 10 session workshop series targeted at Aboriginal fathers ( 17+) themed around preventing violence, wellbeing, self care, healing and cultural connection. Utilising traditional craft and artefact making as the modality for culturally safe and empowering participation.
Tyipen Kwe - Northern Districts Youth Mentoring Project
Yarn Bark was engaged to design a cultural mentoring and personal development program framework that would guide the engagement of First Nations Young People in Kerrang over three school terms. While supporting the facilitation of the program and building the capacity of First Nations Mentors and Community Members to lead the overall program delivery into the future.
WRISC - Youth Cultural Empowerment Program
Yarn Bark was engaged to deliver a series of six cultural mentoring, community connection and healing workshops that engaged a group of First Nations Boys between the ages of 12 - 17 who had experienced family violence in the Ballarat Community.
Aboriginal Wellness Foundation
Yarn Bark was engaged to “mentor the mentors” who are responsible for the delivery of on-going programs for First Nations Boys, Men and Families in the West Metro Region of Melbourne centred around the prevention of family violence. This involved the delivery of three on-country mentor camps themed around wellbeing, self care, healing and cultural connection.
Out of Home Care Resources
Yarn Bark received funding from Vic State Gov to lead the creation of an online resource aimed at non-Indigenous carers of Aboriginal children and any non-Indigenous person working across the child protection workforce. This recourse went through a deep community co-design process to ensure it featured unique, specific and tailored content that supports non-Indigenous carers and child protection workers being better equipped with the deeper level knowledge and understandings required to confidently navigate the complexities and meet the needs associated with raising Aboriginal children. This resource is currently in a phased approach of being rolled out statewide.