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A boost for Indigenous healing

Posted by: EthicalLiving.com.au    Tags:      Posted date:  November 4, 2010  |  No comment



The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation today announced $2 million for 2010/2011 funding to support 21 Indigenous healing projects throughout Australia.

A traditional healing outreach program targeting women and children in Central Australia and a healing and parenting program for men in the Lake Macquarie area are two of the programs being funded.

[pullquote]“Healing involves people exploring the events in their lives that have led to trauma and grief and finding a way to deal with these events, coming to terms with them and then moving forward in a positive and productive way. This is a journey that many Indigenous people are on today.”[/pullquote]

The Healing Foundation supports the development of successful models to address trauma and healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have suffered directly or indirectly from the impact of colonisation, forced removals and other past government policies. It focuses on: support and capacity building; healing promotion, education and training; and research and evaluation.

The Healing Foundation is governed by an Indigenous board. Board members all have a strong connection with their communities and come from diverse backgrounds including members of the Stolen Generation and people working in the areas of youth affairs, health, justice, healing and trauma. The Healing Foundation is funded by the Australian Government.

Richard Weston, the newly appointed CEO of the Healing Foundation said “the more than 100 applications received and the high quality of many of these projects demonstrates the depth of need for robust and effective healing activity to be supported in Indigenous communities.

“This initial grant of funding for 21 healing projects will support valuable work across the country to help heal the profound legacy of pain and hurt in Indigenous people’s lives from past government policies.”

“Healing involves people exploring the events in their lives that have led to trauma and grief and finding a way to deal with these events, coming to terms with them and then moving forward in a positive and productive way. This is a journey that many Indigenous people are on today.”

A list of the 21 successful projects is available at www.healingfoundation.org.au


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