Bringing-Them-Home-Report-Web

It is a model that takes into account injustice, responsibility and oral history. Michael sees thatour lives are a story that provides context for our experiences. He sees that society and theindividual process this story and give it an interpretation. This interpretation then effects what wedo and the steps that we take in life.Michael’s counselling listens to the story that has shaped a person’s life. The theory aims to givean alternate story to ‘how life may be’ by talking through alternatives. Michael’s work alsoaddresses mapping the effects of the problem. It is here that he looks at the effects of the problemin light of people’s lives and their relationships. It seems that Michael White is also interested inaspects such as:. naming injustice. healing through traditional means. caring and sharing. remembering. being listened to (submission 685 page 7).Further development and evaluation of these and other models, particularly asapplicable to grief and trauma and the inter-generational effects of the forcible removalpolicies, are needed. There must be opportunities for documentation and sharing ofinnovations and lessons across Australia.… Aboriginal people have been working in this area and there is a valuable amount ofinformation and techniques available. This information needs to be brought to an awareness,documented, and distributed to National Aboriginal Australia. Thus creating a cultural sensitivecounselling programme that can be added to continuously (report from Joyleen Koolmatrie, Sept1996).At the same time it must be appreciated that,Traditional healing practices are diverse and specific to individual communities and familygroups. They may include traditional song and dance, food and medicine. In some communitiesthe use of traditional healing is predominant, being regarded as essential for cultural and spiritualwell being (Queensland Mental Health Policy Statement 1996 page 12).Indigenous healing may also be dependent on particular locations on traditionallands. Dr Jane McKendrick of the Victorian Aboriginal Mental Health Network told theInquiry,… it has been my experience with some Aboriginal people who have been taken away from theirfamilies in childhood and who have had severe mental health problems in adulthood have reallybenefited from going home, spending time on their traditional land with their elders and extended