New healing projects announced
The Australian Government today welcomed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation’s announcement of $2 million for 21 Indigenous community-led healing projects.
These projects focus on overcoming the underlying causes of trauma, building positive relationships and preventing destructive cycles of behaviour.
The Healing Foundation is an Indigenous run organisation which supports the development of successful models to address trauma and healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Grassroots initiatives focused on the underlying causes of trauma are critical to providing lasting healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Funding being provided for local activities include:
- Cultural revitalisation through healing workshops and retreats, yarning circles and passing on of traditional skills;
- Healthy relationships activities and mentoring for young people;
- Family support, including support for male carers;
- Group and individual counselling, as well as a Stolen Generations Healing Camp;
- Alternative and traditional healing including bush medicine; and
- Recording oral history and tracing family trees.
One hundred and twenty applications were received on an open tender basis and assessed against selection criteria.
I congratulate the Healing Foundation’s board, including the newly appointed CEO Richard Weston, on delivering the first funding round of community-led healing initiatives.
The Australian Government provided $26.6 million in the 2009-10 Budget to establish the Healing Foundation.
A full list of successful projects will be available on the Healing Foundation’s website at www.healingfoundation.org.au