November 2014

Issue 13
November 2014
Contents
1.
Welcome
2.
SEWB State Gathering 2014
3.
Suicide Prevention Community Forums Update
4.
Marumali 2 Day Risk Management Workshop
5.
Healing in the NPA
6.
Link-Up SEWB Counsellor
Invitation to attend Gallang
Place: Suicide Prevention
Reference Group
7.
GET Graduations
8.
Sixty Seconds with our
SEWB Workers
9.
Sixty Seconds with our
SEWB Workers cont.
Date Claimer: How trauma
contributes to suicide and
impacts families and com
munities
10.
Cassie Boyd's new adventure
QAIHC SEWB Contacts
Welcome to the November 2014 issue of the Queensland Social and
Emotional Well Being (SEWB) Workforce E-Newsletter.
Wow, what a big year we’ve all had. This edition will be the last for this year and is
packed with articles from the Queensland SEWB Workforce and includes SEWB workforce program initiatives, the recent 2014 Queensland SEWB Workforce State Gathering
held in Cairns, Gallang Place Education and Training update, the Suicide Prevention
Community Forums project update and other exciting articles throughout the SEWB
sector in Queensland.
The QAIHC SEWB Workforce Support Unit would like to thank you all for your continued
support and dedication to the SEWB Program over the last year and more importantly
to each of your respective communities within Queensland.
The work you all do in each of your programs and communities is complex and hard
work, so we would like to acknowledge each one of you for your tireless work and commitment to healing our mob.
We would also like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a wonderful
Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Please remember to stay safe over the holiday
season and we’ll be in touch with you early in the New Year.
The 2014 Queensland SEWB Workforce State Gathering,
Regional Forums and Professional Development
The Queensland Social & Emotional Well Being Workforce State Gathering and Regional Forums, coordinated by QAIHC’s SEWB
Workforce Support Unit (WSU) was held at the Pullman Cairns International Hotel from 15-17 October 2014 with approximately
60 delegates attending.
This years State Gathering offered delegates the opportunity to attend either a 2 day Narrative Therapies Workshop or the 2
day Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid Training on 13 & 14 October 2014. Based on feedback from
the delegates evaluations, both professional development sessions were well received and highly valued.
Local Elder Aunty Janette Singleton welcomed delegates to the start of State Gathering on 15 October and acknowledged the
important work that the SEWB workforce does in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities throughout Queensland.
Our Keynote Speaker and special guest was Professor Judy Atkinson who provided an inspirational presentation “Talking Stories, Sharing Stories, Healing Stories”. Professor Judy expanded on the theme of this year’s Gathering which was "Gathering,
Sharing and Learning” by sharing stories about how the theme works in real life with families who are in crisis.
The remainder of the Gathering included a wonderful mix of presentations on sharing successful SEWB initiatives, concurrent
sessions (JCU SEWB consultation with the SEWB workforce and unpacking the 2 nd edition of the Working Together book by Clinton Schultz), along with Regional forums.
Arguably the most moving and inspirational sessions were the sharing of client stories which highlights the great work being
provided by our SEWB workforce. At the end of each day and based on the popularity of last year’s SEWB Workers self-care
sessions, SEWB workers were once again able to participate in either Zumba or Yoga to physically engage in self-care sessions.
A special plated dinner was provided to end the gatherings formalities on Thursday evening were delegates let their hair down
and danced the night away to the soulful tunes of local band “Soul-jah”.
On the last day, delegates were treated to a cultural visit to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Culture Park for half a day with a buffet
lunch included. Activities included informative sessions on the Didgeridoo, and bush tucker/bush medicine (from the local area) as well as interactive sessions where delegates enjoyed the opportunity to participate in spear throwing, boomerang throwing and a wonderful show by the local Tjapukai dancers and Torres Strait Islander dancers. What a fantastic end to the jam
packed week.
The QAIHC SEWB WSU Team would like to thank all of our presenters and of course (our MC) Mr Trevor Tim who all did an
amazing job. Aka “Trendy Trev” – “Murri from da Curry” was inspiring, motivational and provided many laughs for all, while
tasked with keeping the program on track. He was just too deadly!
Right: Delegates at this years SEWB Workforce State Gathering
Below is a list of communities that have implemented a Sui“Lighting the Dark, Preventing Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Suicide” - Suicide Prevention Community cide Prevention Community forums:
Forums
Wuchopperen Health
Cairns
Suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is
at crisis point. The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health
Council (QAIHC) identified the need for leadership on this issues and a sector lead approach to address suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland. In
2012 the QAIHC in collaboration with the Gold Coast Titans,
Titans for Tomorrow were successful in receiving funding from
the Australian Government under the Supporting Communities to Reduce the Risk of Suicide (Aboriginal & Torres Strait
Islander Component) funding to produce a DVD.
Kambu Medical
Ipswich
Brisbane ATSICHS
Brisbane
Goondir Health
Dalby
Woorabinda
Bidgerdii
Rockhampton
Bidgerdii
Cunnamulla
CACH
Charleville
CWAATSICH
The DVD, “Lighting the Dark, Preventing Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Suicide” focusses on the provision of ‘real life’
coping mechanisms from a range of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people (including current and former Gold
Coast Titans players). The stories highlight how these individuals dealt with depression and attempts of suicide and other
mental health issues as a means of providing other Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people with coping mechanisms to
address their own mental health issues.
A series of ten community forums have been (or will be) run at
selected Aboriginal Medical Services throughout Queensland.
Participants and staff above and below at: The Brisbane &
Social and Emotional Well Being (SEWB) staff employed at
Ipswich Suicide Prevention Community Forums.
these Medical Services have been (or will be) responsible for
the local implementation of the community forums. To ensure the forums are run in a culturally appropriate manner
and cause no further harm to the communities the SEWB staff
had access to professional development and training to assist
them in administering the forums/workshops. The first days
training focussed on Identifying and Responding to Risk Indicators to Prevent Suicide and the following two days involved
the Indigenous Facilitator Training Short Course.
To date eight Suicide Prevention Community Forums have
been run. Feedback from the community forums has identified the need for continued support in this area to prevent
suicide in our communities. Preston Campbell was on hand to
attend numerous forums to share his personal story and provided insight to how he coped with his depression and suicide attempt.
Marumali Risk Management Workshop
Coolangatta
Cassie Boyd and Sandi Taylor, our two regional SEWB Workforce Coordinators (FNQ) and Toni Murphy and Jasmine
Brady from Link-Up QLD Cairns office had the opportunity to participate in the two-day Marumali Risk Management Workshop convened in Coolangatta, at the Gold Coast from 30 – 31 October, 2014
There were eight participants drawn from remote, regional and urban settings, either in roles to service and support Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities impacted by Social & Emotional Wellbeing issues and needs, and/or support the SEWB Workforce meet their professional development needs. As a prerequisite, all participants needed to have successfully completed the 5 day Marumali Program for Aboriginal &
Torres Strait Islander Service Providers.
Participants who complete both the 5 day and 2 day course will receive a unit of competency in HLTAHW017 Assess and support client’s social and emotional wellbeing from the AH&MRC’s Aboriginal Health College.
The 2 day risk management course provided an in-depth look at the Marumali Journey of Healing Model identifying
the risks and protective factors and how to manage these to ensure the safest possible journey for the survivor. A
Workbook and Learner’s Guide was provided to each participant. Participants unpacked specific Case Studies in an
interactive way to gain a unique and deep appreciation of Inter-generational Trauma, Grief & Loss, and Psychological Distress experienced by Stolen Generation individuals and their families.
Aunty Lorraine Peeters and her daughter, Shaan Hamann facilitated the Workshop. Their insights, expertise, cultural empathy and wisdom were clearly demonstrated throughout each session/s of the workshop. Their calming approach and encouragement to all participants was very much appreciated and valued. We all strived to adhere to
the Rules of Engagement and in particular, the Marumali Rule Number 1,2, and 3. That is, “You must allow the client to set the pace, rate and direction of their healing journey”.
Left to Right – Jane Bin Saad (Yorgum,
WA), Aunty Lorraine Peeters, Ned Wyatt
(VACCHO, VIC), Cassie Boyd (QAIHC), Toni
Murphy (Link-Up, QLD), Shaan Hamann,
Faye Sambo (Yorgum, WA), Denise Taylor
(GRAMS, WA), Jasmine Brady (Link-Up,
QLD) & Sandi Taylor (QAIHC)
Healing in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA)
Paul Pedro
NPA Family & Community Services Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corp.
Healing Forums are being held in the five Communities of the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) of Cape York; Seisia,
New Mapoon, Bamaga, Umagico and Injinoo. The NPA Healing Forums aim to provide the opportunity for the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people of these 5 Communities to yarn about healing as individuals, families and as
communities. At the Forums everyone is encouraged to explore options, solutions and strategies dealing with hurt
and pain that is impacting on them as individuals and as a community towards their healing. The NPA Healing Forums provide a culturally safe place for people to share their stories, find their strengths and empower each other
towards sustainable healing.
The Theme of the NPA Healing Forums is: “Healing, Harmony and Balance”
These Forums give participants the opportunity to discuss:

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





Identity
Kinship
Island adoption
Spiritual Healing
Country
Cultural Connections: refers to both the relationships with community and kin and relationship to culture. It
may have close ties with undergoing cultural practices and maintain relationships between self, kin and community.
Lateral violence
Leadership
From the NPA Healing Forums, a working group consisting of representatives from each community will be established to develop the NPA Healing Camp 2015.
Staff and Community Members at the Healing Forums
their journey using the skills from the diploma.
Link-Up Queensland
New SEWB Counsellor
Margaret North was employed as a
caseworker at Link-Up (Qld) in 2010.
Margaret then decided to apply for
the Diploma of Narrative Approaches at Nunkawarrin
Yunti, Adelaide South Australia in order to further her
career in counselling.
Margaret was accepted for enrolment in the diploma in
February, 2011. Over the following 2 years, Margaret’s
travelled to Adelaide regularly to attend face-to-face
study blocks for the duration of the course.
Margaret successfully completed the diploma in February 2014 and looks forward to supporting her clients on
Narrative therapy seeks to be a respectful, non-blaming
approach to counselling and community work, which
centres people as the experts in their own lives. It views
problems as separate from people and assumes people
have many skills.
The course gives workers the ability to instil competencies, values, commitments and abilities that will assist
their clients to reduce the influence of problems in their
lives. This therapy is culturally appropriate for our mob.
When Margaret had graduated from the Diploma, she
decided to apply for the vacated position of SEWB Counsellor in the Brisbane office, and was successful and commenced in that role in August 2014.
LIVE LONG LIVE STRONG
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Reference Group
Invitation to Attend Future Meetings
Acknowledge and respect to the traditional owners of the land and elders both past and present.
Next meeting to be held in February 2015.
Morning tea and Lunch will be provided
Main focus Suicide Prevention Strategies
Promotions, Programs and strategies
Updates of services
Holiday closures
Please contact Cleavon Davis on 07 3899 5041 for further information on date,
time and venue.
Growing list Graduate to the Gallang Education and Training (GET), Alumni
Palm Island Class of 2014
On 31 March 2014 nine workers from Ferdys Haven on
Palm Island arrived at the PCYC Training Room. This
would be the first day of Block 1 in the Certificate IV in
Mental Health. Over the next 6 Blocks students would be
introduced to 15 Units of Competencies and undertake
hours of study and learning which would bring to the
students, knowledge, skills and language in mental
health. The course overall would provide training and
validate on the job experiences.
Cairns Class of 2014
Gallang Education & Training delivered the Certificate IV
in Mental Health to students in Cairns. The students
came from Mt Isa, Rockhampton, Yarrabah, Pormpuraaw, as well as Cairns. They successfully completed
their training in the last week of October over 6 x weekly blocks.
Earlier in the year Gallang Education & Training also delivered the course to students in Mareeba.
Gallang Education and Training (GET) trainers, Ginny
Both the Cairns and Mareeba students came together
Slattery, Batasi Morris, Allan Renouf and Robert Ah Wing
on 31 October 2014 to celebrate their graduation at the
passed on their knowledge and skills through delivering
Mercure Harbourside Hotel, Cairns.
the Certificate IV in Mental Health course curriculum,
with an Alcohol and Other Drugs elective pathway.
Once again hard work, a commitment to study and conOn Friday, 3 October 2014 the students were to be retinuous learning would see all students graduate and
warded for their study commitment, hard work and
receive their award.
hours of learning and participating in-group and individual activities. Gallang Education and Training presented all Photo: Mareeba and Cairns Students receiving their
students their Certificate IV in Mental Health at the
qualification.
Graduation Ceremony held at Ferdys Haven.
Photo: Ferdys Haven students with the GET trainers.
Standing (L-R):
Emilee Dabea, Tanessa Hunter, Clay
Hunter, Iris Cannon, Donovan Cannon,
Carcia Nallajar, Steven Fulford, and
Alfred Clay.
Sitting (L-R):
Batasi Morris, Robert Ah Wing, Ginny
Slattery and (Kneeling) Raphael Watson
Standing (L-R):
Batasi Morris, Graham Parter, Ian
Patterson, Terry Hill, Kerry-Anne Yeatman, Sandra Wason, Albert Lingwoodock, Colin Baira, Theresa Cannon,
Robert Ah Wing and Kylie Smith.
Sitting (L-R):
Lyndell Thomas, Linda Baird, Francelle
Thomas, Donna Singleton, Ginny
Slattery, Selena Lawton-Gray, Dawn
Gordon, Toni Murphy, Shona Maclellan.
Sixty Seconds with our SEWB Workers
Dena Dodd-Ugle, SEWB Manager, Bidgerdii Community Health
Service
Rhyl Tonge, Research Officer ,
Link-Up Queensland
1. Five things I cannot live
without?
My dog Jessie, the beach,
dancing, yoga,
poetry & art
1. Five things I cannot live without?
COFFEE!, being able to connect
to family and friends, walking,
seeing and talking!!
2.What is your favourite flavoured ice cream?
Magnum Ego
3. If you could have a drink with someone from history
who would it be? And what drink would you have?
Tea with my great grandmother from Awabakal country
(Newcastle)
4.If you could be an animal what would you be?
Eagle cross with Seal
2. What is your favourite flavoured ice cream?
Vanilla
3. If you could have a drink with someone from history
who would it be? And what drink would you have?
Grandparents, cup of billy tea/damper and listen to
them speaking lingo
4. If you could be an animal what would you be?
Domestic cat and pet to a loving family
5. What is your favourite season and why?
5. What is your favourite season and why?
Summer because I love the heat and long days to be at
the beach, dancing and hanging with my dog in the bush Summer – swimming, sunshine, BBQ’s and gatherings
6. What do you miss most about being a kid?
Being in the bush all the time (no fear of snakes)
7. What hobby or activity that you do not do now but
think you might like when you retire?
Surfing!
6. What do you miss most about being a kid?
Running around everywhere with all the cousins and
being adventurous
7. What hobby or activity that you not do now but
think you might like when you retire?
Cooking 3 course meals for family and friends
8.What goes through your mind when your boss asks to
talk to you privately?
8. What goes through your mind when your boss asks
I wonder if she has chocolate in her office somewhere…
to talk to you privately?
Have I done something wrong!!
9. What song do you love to dance to?
Happy People – Last Kinection
9. What song do you love to dance to?
So many! Let’s say disco always gets me going!!
10. Where’s Wally?
On the dancefloor…
10. Where’s Wally?
In some cool shady spot having a nap!
Sixty Seconds with our SEWB Workers continued
Jasmin Brady, Link-Up Queensland, Cairns Office
1. Five things I cannot live
without?
My children, grandchildren, my
husband, my mother and my
best friend
2. What is your favourite flavoured ice cream?
Chocolate
3. If you could have a drink with someone from history
who would it be? And what drink would you have?
Martin Luther King and an icy glass of water
4. If you could be an animal what would it be?
Dolphin
Professor Judith Atkinson BA(Canb) PhD
(QUT) Indigenous Trauma and Healing
Presentation
Date: Monday 1 December 2014 Time: 2:30 –
3:30pm Venue: The Salvation Army 123 Paradise
Road Slacks Creek
How trauma contributes to suicide and impacts on
families and communities
Professor Judith Atkinson’s heritage derives from the
Jiman people of Upper Dawson in Central West Queensland and the Bundjalung of Northern NSW.
Professor Atkinson has focused most of her community
and academic life working in the field of violence, trauma and healing.
Professor Atkinson currently serves on two Committees,
the NSW Child Death Review Team and the NSW Department of Community Services Research Committee.
5. What is your favourite season and why?
Spring as it is a beautiful time of the year. The weather is Professor Atkinson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from
the University of Canberra, majors in Professional
lovely and all the flowers and tree’s are in bloom
Writing and Media Studies (UC) and Aboriginal Studies
(ANU), and a PhD from
6. What do you miss about being a kid?
Not having the worries you have when you are an adult
7. What hobby or activity that you do not do now but
think you might like when you retire?
I would like to take up art painting etc.. Or go travelling
around this beautiful country of ours (that’s two lol)
Queensland University of Technology in the area of
Trans-generational Effects of Trauma in Aboriginal Australia.
Bookings are essential as spaces are limited and this
valuable academic session is free of charge.
Phone Briannah Green 3290 5200 or email:
8. What goes through your mind when your boss asks
to talk to you privately?
What have I done now!!
9. What song do you love to dace to?
Earth Wind and Fire songs
10. Where’s wally?
Well he not here in Cairns
[email protected]
Bon Voyage Cassie Boyd
Our regional SEWB WSU Coordinator Cassandra Boyd will be leaving QAIHC on a secondment with a voluntary organisation called VOICE (Volunteers in Community Engagement) from the 20 November 2014 – 16 January 2015.
Cassandra will be travelling first to Port Vila, Vanuatu and then to be sent onto a Village with 10 Indigenous youth
from around Australia to participate in a grass roots community development project.
Sandi Taylor will be available to assist while Cassandra is away.
We anticipate Cassandra’s return and look forward to hearing of the experiences she’s gained away in Vanuatu.
“Have a Safe Christmas and New Year’s and see you again next year” Cassie
QAIHC Social and Emotional Well Being Workforce Support Unit
Sandi Taylor
Emma Umba
Tiana Lea
Regional SEWB Workforce Coordinator Far North Queensland:
Regional SEWB Workforce Coordinator Central, North and North/West
Queensland:
Administration Support Officer:
[email protected]
(07) 4037 7481
[email protected]
[email protected]
(07) 3328 8500
(07) 4979 0992
Cassandra Boyd
Regional SEWB Workforce Coordinator Far North Queensland:
[email protected]
(07) 4037 7483
Troy Combo
Regional SEWB Workforce Coordinator Southern Queensland:
[email protected]
(07) 3328 8500
Lenny Dahlen
SEWB Workforce Support Unit Manager:
[email protected]
(07) 3328 8500