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Healing past hurts

Reach:
WA
Focus area:
Indigenous
Status:
Current
Evaluated:
No

Overview

An Aboriginal specific counselling service with a priority to engage Aboriginal individuals, families, and communities in the process of identifying the strategies needed for change to restore their health and sense of wellbeing. These processes are culturally sensitive and based on Aboriginal protocols. The service began in 1991 in Perth and is funded by World Vision and the Department for Community Development. Additional services provided in conjunction with this project are:

Aboriginal Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Service
Aboriginal Child Witnessing and Experiencing Family Violence
Community Development Healing Project
The Building Solid Families Program (WA State Link-up Service)

Contacts

Yorgum Aboriginal Family Counselling Service
176 Wittenoom Street
East Perth WA
Ph: (08) 9218 9477
Ph: (08) 9221 2733
Fax: (08) 9221 0487

Related publications

Zubrick SR, Silburn SR, Lawrence DM, Mitrou FG, Dalby RB, Blair EM, Griffin J, Milroy H, De Maio JA, Cox A, Li J (2005)

The social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people: vol 2.

Perth: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and Curtin University of Technology

The intention of the Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS) was to build knowledge to develop preventative strategies that promote and maintain the healthy development and the social, emotional, academic, and vocational wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This report, the second of five volumes for disseminating the survey results, presents data collected on the social and emotional wellbeing of 3,993 children aged 4-17 years. Factors discussed include: demography; geographic location; social and environmental influences; biological stresses (such as low birth weight, chronic infections and poor nutrition); and health risk factors. The long-term effects on the health and wellbeing of children who have a carer who was forcibly separated from their natural family by a mission, the government or welfare, are also examined.

Compared with the general population, it was found that Aboriginal people experience greater challenges associated with the emotional or behavioural difficulties of their children. The higher proportion of children at high risk of difficulties, and the lower adult-to-child ratio in the Aboriginal population result in proportionally fewer adult carers to assist children who experience difficulties. The findings demonstrate the problems faced by many Aboriginal communities and families but they also include information on children and young people who are doing well and living healthy lives despite past or current adversity.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Gordon S, Hallahan K, Henry D (2002)

Putting the picture together: inquiry into response by government agencies to complaints of family violence and child abuse in Aboriginal communities.

Perth: Department of Premier and Cabinet

The Inquiry into response by government agencies to complaints of family violence and child abuse in Aboriginal communities was prompted by the coronial inquest into the death of 15-year-old Susan Ann Taylor at the Swan Valley Nyoongar Community in Lockridge, Western Australia in 1999. This report outlines the procedures and findings of the Inquiry which examined issues surrounding the inquest and family violence and child abuse in Aboriginal communities. The Inquiry investigated the responses of government and other agencies to allegations of family violence and child abuse and sought information on the causes and prevalence of such abuse and appropriate solutions. The report includes recommendations and detailed plans for addressing identified issues and concerns.