Citation

Black C, Frederico M, Bamblett M. Br. J. Soc. Work 2019; 49(4): 1059-1080.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/bjsw/bcz059

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The wrongs experienced by Aboriginal people have caused life-long and intergenerational impacts that demand culturally grounded healing approaches, yet this is not experienced by Aboriginal people in mainstream services. This article details a culturally informed approach by sharing the findings of a Cultural Healing Program (CHP) designed, developed and delivered by an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation. The program was for Aboriginal survivors of institutional child sexual abuse who had also experienced cultural abuse having been forcibly removed from their families as children and in the process disconnected from their communities, culture and land. This study of the development, implementation and evaluation of the CHP included a review of literature, interviews with survivors and facilitators, pre- and post-participant surveys, facilitator journals, participant-observer reflections and short films exploring impacts. The study drew upon the experiences of the survivors and facilitators to identify outcomes of the program. Connection with culture and the collective approach were key to healing for all survivors. The paper identifies key learnings that can inform social work practice and discusses implications regarding program design and implementation.