Understanding Trauma: Healing Journey for Indigenous Kids

1. “A Kinship group with DEADLY outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids”Supporting the healing journey Authors: Wiyiliin ta Aboriginal child and young persons counselling service

2. Acknowledgement to Country • I would like to Acknowledge the Wonnarua people as the traditional owners of the land we meet on today and pay our respects to Elders past and present

3. WIYILIIN TA CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COUNSELLING SERVICE Wiyiliin ta nubaliin ta Talking – Learning SE(Awabakal Language)RVICE WW

4. Wiyiliin ta Counselling Service • Charlie Faulkner • Todd Heard • Joh Bartley • Jude Payling • Mary Watson • Natalie Kentish • Dr Sally Cleworth

6. Wiyiliin ta Counselling ServiceHi storyWiyiliin ta Counselling Service (CAMHS) began in 1997 with Burdekin NSW State funding Wiyiliin ta (CAMHS) Hunter New England Health works in Partnership with Awabakal Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS). Aboriginal / Torres Strait Island clients have choice of being seen at Awabakal Aboriginal Primary Health Care Service, Mindaribba Aboriginal Lands Council or the James Fletcher Site Newcastle. Special projects such as ibobbly.

7. Overview • Trauma • A Kinship Group • Attachment • Deadly Time • Resilience “Discussing trauma can sometimes be difficult so be sure to look after yourself throughout the workshop” “When referring to Aboriginal people throughout todays presentation this is also inclusive of our Torres Strait Islander brother and sisters”

8. TraumaUnderstanding history • Profound trauma • Extreme powerlessness • Multi generational grief and trauma • Stolen Generation- Role of psychological theory (directly or indirectly) in removal • One generation past genocide • (Milroy,2007)

9. What is trauma? • The situation threatens one’s safety and survival which stimulates subcortical defensive responses and hyper or hypo arousal. Perception of threat occurs • Through physical and physiological sensation & impulses then; and • Cognitive evaluation.

12. Reparative Parenting ProgramRPP • In 2015 Wiyiliin ta ran our first Kinship Group program to address trauma and attachment with carers of children and young people • RPP developed by the Alternate Care Clinic team at Redbank House, Westmead House • Authored by Rebecca Sng, Brendan New, Dr Megan Chambers and others

13. Mindfulness Exercise Whats missing from the house? • Consider body function in pairs ex I am helpless, I’m not loved then try I am confident; I am loved • Swap roles

17. Pair Activity What sorts of behaviour might you see in Aboriginal children and young people in care?

19. Mindfulness Exercise • Consider a physical trauma –as you tell a partner, the partner simply observes your body movements. Swap roles Sensory processing

24. So, DadirriDeep Listening involves (Judy Atkinson 2002) • ‘Listening’ to what’s not being said … ‘Listening’ to what’s being said non-verbally • Being ready for broken narratives, or hard-to-relate, roundabout stories, or hinted-at events …‘Listening’ for fear, grief or ‘shame’

30. Group Exercise • Role play focusing on arousal i.e. towel exercise. • Group reflection on the arousal graph.

34. What's important from an Aboriginal perspective?

35. What's important from an Aboriginal perspective? • Attachment for Aboriginal people includes connection to culture, country, community and family. • Supporting cultural developmental milestones for Aboriginal children and young people. • Maintaining cultural identity. • Kinship relationship for Aboriginal kids in care.

36. Types of attachment