Emerging Minds encourages Australia to listen to the stories of First Nations healing

As Australia prepares to acknowledge National Reconciliation Week, marked 27 May to 3 June, Emerging Minds has released the first episode from its podcast series on Indigenous experiences, ‘Listening to the stories of healing’.

The five-part podcast series explores the diverse experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and includes stories of healing, learning and resilience, communities and culturally informed healing.

Listening to the stories of healing currently contains four stories from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including A story from Community, Culturally informed, trauma-integrated healing practice (part 1 and 2) and A story of resilience. 

Throughout the podcast series a number of topics and themes are explored, including: 

• the implications of past policies on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community
• how to understand self-determination – the importance of Community autonomy through listening to a Community’s history.
• why relationships and trust are the foundation to any engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families

• the importance of understanding the generational history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families
• how the creative use of arts in story and play can be an effective tool in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families
• how to understand the ongoing experience of grief and loss faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• practices that support two-way learning and healing
• the importance of connections – to family, Country, and Community.

“Listening to the stories of healing is an Emerging Minds podcast series that will help practitioners better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children,” Emerging Minds Director, Brad Morgan explained.

“The podcast series explores the many diverse experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and how these narratives have helped shape the amazing work that is happening in communities across Australia.”

Stories of healing, learning and resilience are shared, along with stories from communities, and stories of culturally informed, trauma-integrated healing practice.

“This series provides insight into the strength and resilience that has enabled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to be the oldest continuing culture in the world,” Mr Morgan continued. 

“By listening to the podcast series, practitioners can build the skills and knowledge required to respectfully and effectively engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and improve mental health outcomes.”

The second five-part series will be released during National Reconciliation Week, with access to all these podcasts available on the Emerging Minds YouTube channel.

The Emerging Minds Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families and Children Toolkit also offers a range of resources to help non-Aboriginal practitioners to look and listen, learn and reflect, and practise the principles that support genuine engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities.

The toolkit may be accessed here.