Let’s walk together united as one on this healing journey
David Cole, ‘Healing is a movement’
Appendix A: Healing is a Movement
- This journey is a movement; Movements can only happen in unison, standing together, strong and united;
- The wisdom and culture of our ancestors has allowed for us to be here today;
- The strength, courage and resilience of our Elders have ensured the war trauma and genocide has not broken our will or our spirit;
- Our brothers and sisters struggle each day to find their place in this imposed artificial world;
- Our children cry out for they are lost, angry and confused, unaware of where this pain comes from and why they must feel it;
- The Warrior has been attacked and forgotten, left to suffer in the turmoil he has been oppressed into;
- The Mother carries the burden of caring for the children, absorbing the pain of the Warrior while she too tries to understand her pain;
- If we listen to our spirit, our ancestors will guide us;
- If we open our hearts and free our pain we will see our future more clearly;
- It is our journey, but all can walk with us because we all own the now and the future belongs to our actions of today;
- This land is our creator, the LORE is our way, disrupted it may be, but far from lost;
- The wisdom of our existence held in the hands of our traditional peoples;
- The stolen children given the tools of the oppressor we must use them;
- Together we must unite to remember the past and walk to the future;
- We have been handed this role as we lay the pathway for our children;
- Far too often poisons become the only escape of our pain, followed closely by death;
- Warriors have walked before us, we walk now to build Warriors for tomorrow;
- I remember our ancestors;
- I thank our Elders;
- I walk for our children;
- We must not fear failure, it is the failure not to act that we must fear;
- Our pain strengthens our spirit, our tears water the roots of our strength;
- Let’s walk strong;
- Let’s walk proud;
- Let’s walk together united as one on this healing journey;
- For this is the movement.
David Cole, 4 June 2009
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Appendix B: Discussion Questions
What is healing to you?
What will help individuals and communities heal?
What good healing programs and services do you know about in your communities?
Do you support the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation?
What role do you think a Foundation should have?
Should the proposed Foundation be independent of government?
What sort of reporting role should the Foundation have?
What skills should the members of the Board of the Foundation have?
How should membership of the Board be decided?
Which focus groups should be supported by the Foundation?
How could the Foundation become self-sustaining?
How could the Foundation create sustainable healing initiatives within the community?
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Appendix C: Workshop Timetable
Date Location 25–26 May 2009 Broome, Western Australia 27–28 May 2009 Perth, Western Australia 1–2 June 2009 Darwin, Northern Territory 3–4 June 2009 Alice Springs, Northern Territory 11–12 June 2009 Brisbane, Queensland 22– 23 June 2009 Thursday Island, Torres Strait Islands 24–25 June 2009 Townsville, Queensland 26 June 2009 Townsville, Queensland 29–30 June 2009 Adelaide, South Australia 1 July 2009 Adelaide, South Australia 14–15 July 2009 Melbourne, Victoria 16–17 July 2009 Hobart, Tasmania 20–21 July 2009 Sydney, New South Wales 22–23 July 2009 Dubbo, New South Wales 27–28 July 2009 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 18 August 2009 Broome, Western Australia 19 August 2009 Perth, Western Australia
Appendix D: List of Submissions
Of the 48 people and organisations that provided submissions to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation Development Team, the following 24 agreed to be identified:
- Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation Queensland
- The Benevolent Society
- Susan Berry
- Mark Bin Bakar, Chairperson and Rosie Sahanna, Coordinator,
Kimberley Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation
- Monique and Graham Bond
- John Burke, Geelong One Fire Reconciliation Group
- Central Australian Stolen Generations and Families Aboriginal Corporation
- Laura Elkin, Secretary, Bringing Them Home Committee Western Australia
- Ray Gates
- Dr Sue Gordon, Chairperson and Director, Sister Kate’s Children 1934 to 1953
- Echoes
- Frank Hytten, Executive Officer, Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care
- Sandra Kirkwood, Director, Music Health Australia
- Dr Cat Kutay, School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales
- Many Tribes, One Mob, Queensland
- Dr Brian McCoy, National Health and Medical Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow,
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Australian Research Centre in Sex,
Health and Society, La Trobe University
- New South Wales Link-Up
- Northern Territory Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation
- South Western Sydney Stolen Generations Support Group
- Stolen Generations Alliance
- Jane Vadiveloo
- Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and Link Up Victoria
- Christine Walters
- Yintjurru Margaret Anjule (Bumblebee) Napurrula and Ruby Darkie Nangala, Co-Chairs and
Dr Zohl de Ishtar, Coordinator, Kapululangu Aboriginal Women’s Association
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Appendix E: What Good Healing Programs and Services Do You Know About In Your Communities?
The following is a selection of the services suggested by workshop attendees and in written submissions in response to the above question. Please note inclusion in this list does not mean the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation Development Team necessarily endorses the service.
Australian Capital Territory
- Ngunnawal Community Healing Farm
- Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Services
National
- Australian Government Indigenous Leadership Program
- Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation
- Bringing Them Home Counsellors
- Community patrols
- Family Wellbeing program
- Lifeline
- Link-Up services
- Marumali program
- Men’s Sheds
- Midnight Basketball
- National Aboriginal and Islander Day
- Observance Committee
- National Indigenous Basketball Competition
- National Sorry Day Committee, Journey of Healing Tour
- Red Dust Healing project
- Relationships Australia
- Stolen Generation Alliance
- Triple P Positive Parenting Program
New South Wales
- Aboriginal Women’s Healing House, Picton
- Indigenous Mentoring Experience, state-wide
- Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group, Redfern
- Biala Services, Charlestown
- Gamarada, Redfern
- Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples,
- Southern Cross University, Lismore
- Mudgin-Gal, Chippendale
- NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors, state-wide
- Tjanara Goreng Goreng, Byron Bay
Northern Territory
- Balunu Foundation, Darwin
- Dilthan Yolngunha, Gulkula
- Garden Point Association, Darwin
- Ilpurla Outstation, Alice Springs
- Spiritual Healing Centre, Santa Teresa
- Warlukurlangu art centre, Yuendumu
Queensland
- Aboriginal and Islander Community Health Service, Brisbane
- Alternative to Aggression prison program, Cairns
- Black Ink Press, Condon
- Gallang Place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
- Counselling Service, West End
- Goori House Addiction Treatment Centre, Cleveland
- Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services, Yarrabah
- Indigenous Catholic Council, Townsville
- Indigenous Schooling Support Unit, Cairns
- Kambu Medical Centre, Ipswich
- Kurbingui Youth Development Association, Zillmere
- Marcus Pedro Warrior Program
- Mothers Crying Out For Help, Townsville
- Murri Court, Townsville
- Murrigunyah, Woodridge
- Nalingu Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders Day Respite
- Centre, Zillmere
- Reverend Charles Harris Diversionary Centre, Townsville
- Sisters Inside, South Brisbane
- Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service
- Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Media Association
- Townsville Community Justice Group
- Townsville Cultural Centre
- Townsville Indigenous Human Rights Group
- Wuchopperen Health Service, Cairns
South Australia
- EarthSong Aboriginal Healing Pathways Foundation, Adelaide
- Nunkuwarrin Yunti, Adelaide
- Sacred Site Within Healing Centre, Port Adelaide
Tasmania
- Colony 47, Hobart
- Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, Hobart
Torres Strait Islands
- Danalaig Niai-Idid ‘Our life, Our Way to Live Longer’ Building
- Healthy Communities project
- Torres Strait Regional Healing Service
Victoria
- Maya Healing Service, Thornbury
- Meerindoo Youth Service, Bairnsdale
- Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation, Healing Spirit
- Program, Wodonga
- Rumbalara Football and Netball Club, Shepparton
- South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault, East Bentleigh
- Stolen Generations Victoria, Preston
- UnitingCare Moreland Hall drug and alcohol service, Moreland
- Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, East Brunswick
- Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, Fitzroy
- Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place, Maribyrnong
Western Australia
- Aboriginal Early Years Support Service, Goldfields
- Aboriginal Grandparents and Family Support, Perth
- Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service, East Perth
- Jacaranda Community Centre, Belmont
- Marr Mooditj Aboriginal Health Training College, Waterford
- Western Australian Government Youth Development Holiday
- Program, state-wide
- Yorgum, East Perth
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Appendix F: The Eight Principles of Public Life
Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.
Integrity
Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.
Objectivity
In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
Openness
Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
Honesty
Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
Leadership
Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
Behaviour
Holders of public office must exhibit at all times exemplary levels of personal and corporate behaviour.