Intergenerational Trauma and Mental Health

gathered from : ntergenerational trauma and mental health, Leilani Darwin, Stacey Vervoort, Emma Vollert and Shol Blustein https://www.indigenousmhspc.gov.au/getattachment/6f0fb3ba-11fb-40d2-8e29-62f506c3f80d/intergenerational-trauma-and-mental-health.pdf

What We Know:

1. Historical Dispossession and Removal:
   • The colonization of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land and the forced removal of children (Stolen Generations) from their families (1800s–1969) resulted in deep trauma and loss .
2. Impact on Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB):
   • The Stolen Generations led to the disconnection of children from their families, communities, and cultures, exposing them to multiple stressors and putting them at high risk for poor SEWB .
3. Intergenerational Trauma:
   • An estimated one-third of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations are impacted by intergenerational trauma as descendants of the Stolen Generations .
4. Health Outcomes of Survivors and Descendants:
   • Survivors of the Stolen Generations and their descendants exhibit poorer health and wellbeing outcomes, with higher risks of mental illness, suicidal ideation, and suicidal attempts .
5. Transmission of Trauma:
   • Trauma has been passed down through generations, a phenomenon known as ‘intergenerational trauma’, contributing to family and community stressors .
6. Compounding Factors:
   • Contemporary interventions (e.g., health, child protection, juvenile justice systems) have exacerbated the experiences of trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples .
7. Risk in Children of Survivors:
   • Children of survivors of the Stolen Generations are at twice the risk of emotional and behavioral difficulties compared to those not affected .
8. Importance of Protective Factors:
   • Strong connections to family, culture, and Country are crucial protective factors that help mitigate trauma and promote resilience .

What Works:

1. Holistic Health Initiatives:
   • Programs promoting resilience and SEWB through recognition of Indigenous concepts of health have proven beneficial in trauma recovery .
2. Trauma-Informed Healing Models:
   • Healing-centered approaches that empower Indigenous Australians to recognize the impact of trauma and undertake personal healing journeys have been effective .
3. Strengthening SEWB Protective Factors:
   • Tools that empower individuals to strengthen connections to family, kinship, culture, community, and Country improve SEWB and reduce trauma .
4. Community-Driven Programs:
   • Locally developed programs with self-governance and community involvement, like Red Dust Healing and the Cultural, Social, and Emotional Wellbeing (CSEW) Program, have shown success in addressing intergenerational trauma .

What Doesn’t Work:

1. Lack of Cultural Approaches:
   • Programs that do not incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing and being, or fail to address the holistic concept of SEWB, are ineffective .
2. Failure to Address Trauma:
   • Approaches that neglect to acknowledge and address the impact of intergenerational trauma do not produce meaningful outcomes .

What We Don’t Know:

1. Limited Quantitative Data:
   • There is a lack of comprehensive quantitative data on the links between intergenerational trauma, mental health, and suicide .
2. Few Program Evaluations:
   • There have been limited formal evaluations assessing the effectiveness of programs aimed at addressing intergenerational trauma and mental health .

Introduction:

• The legacy of colonization and oppressive practices in Australia has led to widespread unresolved intergenerational trauma among Indigenous Australians. This trauma impacts social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) and is passed down through generations, compounded by ongoing stressors like family violence, incarceration, and substance misuse .
• Re-traumatization through prolonged contact with risk factors worsens the mental health of Indigenous Australians. Addressing the impact of trauma is essential to tackling the high rates of mental ill-health and suicide in this community .
• Indigenous Australians demonstrate remarkable resilience, with cultural connections to Country, community, and ancestors acting as protective factors during times of adversity .

Background:

1. Impact of Intergenerational Trauma:
   • Intergenerational trauma among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is complex and manifests across various levels:
     • Family Level: Parents may struggle to provide care due to their own unresolved trauma.
     • Community Level: Dislocation from culture and kin contributes to collective trauma.
     • Vicarious Trauma: Witnessing others’ re-traumatization and exposure to stressful life events (bereavement, family violence, incarceration) heightens the risk of poor SEWB (Menzies 2019) .
2. Cumulative Stressors:
   • The layering of multiple, prolonged stressors contributes to increased vulnerability to mental ill-health and SEWB issues .
3. SEWB Framework:
   • Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) framework originates from Indigenous Australian perspectives on health and wellbeing. It was developed to provide a holistic approach to Indigenous health, recognizing that health is not just the absence of disease but a balance between physical, emotional, cultural, and spiritual elements. The framework was shaped by various Indigenous-led health initiatives and consultations, along with guidance from reports like the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing 2017–2023 (Commonwealth of Australia 2017).
   • Unlike Western biomedical models, it integrates seven interconnected domains that are unique to Indigenous Australian health and wellbeing, encompassing 7 key domains: connection to :
     • Country
     • culture
     • community
     • family
     • spirituality
     • ancestry
     • body
     • mind (Commonwealth of Australia 2017).
   • Mental Health as a Component: Mental health is part of the broader SEWB framework, distinct from mental illness, and focuses on psychological distress as a more appropriate measure (Kelly et al. 2009) .
4. Social Determinants of SEWB:
   • Social, historical, and political determinants—such as employment, housing, education, and the legacies of colonization (violence, trauma, abuse, and social disadvantage)—impact SEWB. These factors can accumulate over time and must be integrated into SEWB programs for holistic care .

Risk and Protective Factors of SEWB (Social and Emotional Wellbeing):

1. Protective Factors:
   • SEWB promotion relies on strengthening protective factors inherent in Indigenous Australian cultures:
     • Cultural Participation: Connection to land, spirituality, and ancestry.
     • Community Ties: Strong ties to family and community promote resilience (AIHW 2022) .
   • These factors reduce exposure to stressors at the individual, family, and community levels (Purdie et al. 2014) .
2. Risk Factors (Stressors):
   • Negative Social Determinants: Poverty, limited education, and unemployment can significantly affect SEWB.
   • Trauma and Grief: Unresolved grief, trauma, and abuse negatively impact emotional health.
   • Forcible Removal and Cultural Dislocation: Historical and contemporary child removals, cultural dislocation, family breakdown, and discrimination are major stressors (McCallum 2022; Kelly et al. 2009).
   • Recent Events: Disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic and natural events have disproportionately affected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, weakening protective factors for SEWB.
3. Psychological Distress and Risk Chains:
   • An imbalance between stressors and protective factors can result in psychological distress.
   • Risk Chains: These stressors accumulate over time, increasing vulnerability to mental health issues (Fraser 1997).
   • Layered Risks: Indigenous Australians face unique historical, political, and social stressors, compounding the effects of trauma and increasing vulnerability to SEWB deterioration (Dudgeon and Holland 2018).

Colonial Roots of Intergenerational Trauma:

Intergenerational trauma among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people stems from :

1. Dispossession of Land:

• Colonization led to the dispossession of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from their lands. The British declared Australia “terra nullius” (land belonging to no one), disregarding Indigenous land ownership and connection to Country. This had devastating impacts on Indigenous culture, spirituality, and livelihoods.
• Impact:
  • The forced removal from land disrupted traditional practices, hunting grounds, and spiritual connection to Country, which is central to Indigenous wellbeing.
  • lead to loss of cultural knowledge, practices, kinship systems, and family ties that are essential for maintaining identity and wellbeing (Holloran, 2004).
• Evidence: The Mabo decision in 1992 legally recognized Indigenous land rights, overturning the concept of terra nullius (Mabo v Queensland [No. 2] (1992) HCA 23).

2. Protection and Segregation Policies:

• During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Indigenous people were subject to “protection” policies, which aimed to segregate them from the broader population.
  These policies often placed Indigenous people on reserves or missions, controlled by state-appointed officials. Aboriginal people had little or no autonomy over their own lives under these systems.
• On these settlements, they were expected to adopt Western habits of work, dress, language, and religion. Their movements were heavily restricted, and they had very little control over their lives.
• Impact: Indigenous people were often denied basic rights, including freedom of movement, custody of their children, and the right to work or earn wages without permission.
• Evidence: The Aborigines Protection Act (1909) in New South Wales is an example of legislation that allowed for the control and removal of Aboriginal people from their land and the forced separation of children (AIATSIS, 2022).

3. The Stolen Generations:

• Historical Context of the Stolen Generations:
  • The Stolen Generations refers to the forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities by government policies in Australia from the late 1800s until 1969. This policy aimed to assimilate Indigenous children into European society by placing them in institutions, orphanages, and White foster homes. The removal was often justified on the belief that Indigenous children would be “better off” if raised away from their culture and families (Raphael et al., 1998).
  • Impact on Identity: Many children were taken at a very young age and grew up without any connection to their Indigenous heritage, family, or community, resulting in a profound loss of cultural identity.
• Traumatic Legacy:
  • The Bringing Them Home Report (1997) documented the stories of these children and their families, revealing the extent of trauma they endured. The report found that many children faced repeated trauma after removal, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, as well as exploitation. The separation also caused long-lasting psychological damage, with the children growing up disconnected from their families, culture, and identity.
  • Scale of Removal: It is estimated that up to one-third of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were forcibly removed from their families.
• Health and Wellbeing Outcomes:
  • Members of the Stolen Generations have significantly poorer health and wellbeing outcomes compared to Indigenous people who were not removed. This includes higher rates of mental illness, substance abuse, and social disconnection (AIHW, 2018).
  • Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS) findings:
    • People who were removed were 1.95 times more likely to have been arrested or charged with an offence.
    • They were 1.61 times more likely to report that alcohol abuse caused household problems.
    • 2.10 times more likely to report that gambling caused problems in their household.
    • 1.50 times more likely to have had contact with mental health services.
    • Less than half as likely to have social support (such as someone to talk to about their problems) (Silburn et al., 2006).
• Severing of Cultural Ties:
  • The disconnection from family, community, and culture was one of the most devastating aspects of the Stolen Generations. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, strong family ties and connection to community and culture are key protective factors that help build resilience against trauma.
  • By forcibly removing children, the government severed these protective ties, leaving them without the cultural structures and community support needed to cope with the trauma. This led to feelings of grief, loss, identity crisis, and racial discrimination, further compounding their distress (Menzies, 2019).
• Psychological Impact:
  • Loss of Identity: Children who were removed often grew up without a sense of who they were or where they came from. This loss of identity resulted in low self-esteem, a sense of hopelessness, and high levels of psychological distress.
  • Racial Discrimination: Once removed, many children faced discrimination based on their Aboriginality, further intensifying their trauma. The experience of being treated differently or marginalized for their race contributed to ongoing emotional damage.
• Harmful Behaviors:
  • The trauma and dislocation experienced by the Stolen Generations often manifested in harmful behaviors such as substance misuse (alcohol and drugs) and violence. These behaviors are often coping mechanisms for unresolved trauma and grief (Memmott et al., 2001).
  • Intergenerational Effects: The trauma experienced by the Stolen Generations did not only affect those who were directly removed but also their descendants. The ongoing exposure to trauma, combined with the absence of protective factors, has left subsequent generations more vulnerable to mental ill-health, self-harm, and social issues.
• Legacy of the Stolen Generations:
  • The long-term effects of the Stolen Generations policy continue to be felt today. The forced separation from family, loss of cultural identity, and ongoing trauma have left deep scars on survivors and their descendants, contributing to higher rates of mental health issues, family violence, substance abuse, and socio-economic disadvantage.

4. Assimilation Policies:

• The central idea behind the assimilation policies was that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should eventually blend into non-Indigenous society, essentially erasing their distinct cultural identities. This was based on the belief that Indigenous cultures were inferior or doomed to extinction. The government’s vision was for future generations of Indigenous Australians to live as part of white society, no longer practicing their own traditions.
• From the 1930s to the 1960s, assimilation policies aimed to integrate Indigenous Australians into mainstream society by eradicating their cultural identity.
  • Indigenous people were encouraged or forced to adopt European customs and were denied the right to practice their own traditions, speak their languages, or maintain cultural practices.
  • People of mixed Aboriginal and European descent (often referred to as “half-caste” at the time). The belief was that those with lighter skin could more easily be absorbed into white society, and thus they were targeted more aggressively for removal from their families and communities. They were often seen as more capable of “civilizing” and adopting European ways of life.
• Impact: These policies sought to make Indigenous Australians “disappear” as distinct groups, further deepening cultural disconnection and social disadvantage.
• The Commonwealth Government’s Policy of Assimilation (1951) stated that “all Aboriginals and part-Aboriginals are expected eventually to attain the same manner of living as other Australians” (Commonwealth Government of Australia, 1951).

5. Denial of Citizenship Rights:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were denied basic civil rights for much of Australian history, including the right to vote in federal elections, access to social services, and recognition as Australian citizens.
• Impact: Indigenous people were not counted in the national census until the 1967 referendum, which allowed them to be officially recognized as citizens and for the federal government to make laws for them.
• The 1967 Referendum was a landmark vote in Australian history, where over 90% of Australians voted to amend the Constitution to include Aboriginal people in the census and allow the federal government to create laws for them (Australian Electoral Commission, 2022).

6. Forced Labor and Wage Theft:

• Many Indigenous Australians were forced to work under exploitative conditions, often for little or no pay, particularly in the agricultural and domestic sectors. These stolen wages were often withheld by government-run schemes that claimed to protect the wages of Indigenous workers but ultimately exploited them.
• Impact: Indigenous Australians were denied fair wages and basic labor rights, further entrenching poverty and disadvantage.
• The “Stolen Wages” campaign has highlighted the extent of the exploitation of Indigenous workers. In 2019, the Queensland government agreed to a $190 million settlement for stolen wages claims (Stolen Wages Class Action, 2019).

7. Health and Education Disparities:

• Systematic underfunding and neglect of Indigenous communities have resulted in significant health and education disparities. Indigenous Australians have lower life expectancy, higher rates of chronic disease, and limited access to quality healthcare.
• Impact: These disparities are directly linked to the legacy of colonization, dispossession, and systemic racism.
• The Closing the Gap Report (2022) shows that while some progress has been made, significant gaps remain in health, education, and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians compared to non-Indigenous Australians (Australian Government, 2022).

8. Over-representation in the Criminal Justice System:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. This over-representation can be traced back to systemic racism, social disadvantage, and the legacy of oppressive policies.
• Impact: High incarceration rates and deaths in custody have devastated many Indigenous families and communities.
• The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (1991) found that systemic racism and social disadvantage were key drivers of the over-representation of Indigenous Australians in custody (Australian Law Reform Commission, 1991).

Legacy of the Stolen Generations:

1. Transgenerational Impact of the Stolen Generations:
   • The trauma experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families during the Stolen Generations continues to affect subsequent generations. This ongoing transmission of trauma is called intergenerational trauma. It manifests in later generations both directly, through family breakdown and harmful behaviors, and indirectly, by witnessing the trauma experienced by others in the community (Milroy, 2005).
2. Mechanisms of Transmission:
   • Trauma is passed down through several mechanisms:
     • Attachment Relationships: Disrupted or unhealthy relationships with caregivers affect emotional development.
     • Parenting and Family Functioning: Parents who experienced trauma often struggle with caregiving, leading to dysfunction in the family unit.
     • Parental Physical and Mental Illness: Trauma affects parents’ mental and physical health, which, in turn, impacts the children.
     • Disconnection from Culture and Society: The severing of ties to extended family, culture, and community alienates children and families, worsening the trauma.
   • These effects are made worse by ongoing stress and trauma, such as bereavement, loss, family violence, and substance abuse. Even when children are not directly told about their ancestors’ trauma, its impact can still affect them through family dysfunction, community violence, and poor health outcomes.
3. Psychological Impact on Later Generations:
   • Childhood Abuse and Family Breakdown: These experiences are independent risk factors for mental health issues, substance misuse, and psychological distress. Studies (Goldman et al., 2016; Grasso et al., 2013; Saunders & Adams, 2014) have shown that children who experience familial breakdown and abuse are more likely to suffer from mental ill-health.
   • Aboriginal Youth in South Australia: A study by Clayer (1991) found that the absence of a parent and lack of involvement in Aboriginal cultural practices were significantly correlated with mental ill-health and suicide risk among Aboriginal youth. This underscores the importance of family relationships and cultural involvement in maintaining social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB).
4. Re-traumatization and Harmful Behaviors:
   • Ongoing exposure to stressful life events can trigger behavioral patterns that repeat past traumas. This concept, noted by Ratnavale (2007), explains how past trauma can lead to behaviors such as family violence, substance misuse, and risk-taking. These harmful behaviors increase the risk of mental ill-health and poor SEWB among both carers and children (Memmott et al., 2001).
5. Re-traumatization by Contemporary Systems:
   • Contemporary interventions, such as those made by the health, juvenile justice, and welfare systems, can perpetuate trauma rather than resolve it. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 10 times more likely to be placed under care and protection orders compared with non-Indigenous children (AIHW, 2019). These interventions often do not take into account cultural perspectives of SEWB, focusing instead on clinical mental health approaches that can further re-traumatize Indigenous people (Anthony et al., 2020).
6. Impact of Forced Removal on Children:
   • Studies by Silburn et al. (2006) and De Maio et al. (2005) show that children raised by carers who were forcibly removed are more than twice as likely to be at high risk of emotional or behavioral difficulties compared to those raised in families without a history of forced removal. Witnessing or experiencing violence is also strongly linked to an increased risk of mental ill-health and suicidal ideation (De Leo et al., 2011).
7. International Parallels:
   • Indigenous communities worldwide, such as the Canadian First Nations, American Indian, and New Zealand Māori populations, have experienced similar historical trauma from colonization, with mirrored impacts on mental health and SEWB (Menzies 2019).
8. Health Outcomes of Stolen Generations Survivors:
   • The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2018) found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were removed from their families (Stolen Generations) experienced significantly worse health outcomes compared to those who were not removed. These individuals were:
     • 1.7 times as likely to have poor self-assessed health.
     • 1.7 times as likely to have experienced violence in the past 12 months.
     • 1.6 times as likely to have experienced homelessness in the last decade.
     • 1.5 times as likely to have poor mental health and substance use in the past year.
9. Impact on Descendants:
   • Descendants of Stolen Generations survivors also face adverse health and socioeconomic outcomes, compared to families not impacted by removal:
     • 1.9 times as likely to have experienced violence in the past year.
     • 1.6 times as likely not to have ‘good’ health.
     • 1.5 times as likely to have been arrested in the last five years.
     • 1.4 times as likely to have poor self-assessed health.
     • 1.3 times as likely to have poor mental health (AIHW 2018).
10. Connection to SEWB Protective Factors:
    • These poorer health outcomes reflect the erosion of SEWB protective factors (cultural connection, family support) caused by the trauma of the Stolen Generations and colonization. The ongoing loss of these protective factors is key to understanding the link between intergenerational trauma and poor SEWB outcomes in Indigenous communities.

Protective Factors in Building Resilience:

1. Holistic Approach to Addressing Trauma:
   • Interventions aimed at addressing intergenerational trauma must go beyond treating trauma-related illnesses at the individual level. They need to incorporate community-level support and focus on preventing the trauma from being reproduced. This involves a holistic response that considers the physical, mental, and cultural determinants of Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) (Commonwealth of Australia, 2017).
2. Protective Factors as Resilience Builders:
   • Protective factors are elements within a community, family, or individual that help mitigate the effects of trauma and promote resilience. Though it can be difficult to measure their exact impact, research has shown that they have a profound influence on minimizing psychological distress (Purdie et al., 2014; Kelly et al., 2009).
   • Key Protective Factors:
     • Social Cohesion and Strong Family Relationships: These provide vital support networks within communities, acting as a buffer against trauma. They help protect individuals by offering emotional, social, and psychological support.
     • Transmission of Culture, Language, and Traditions: Strong family and community bonds ensure the continuity of cultural identity by passing down traditions, language, and values from one generation to the next. This continuity is important for maintaining a sense of belonging and cultural pride (Kelly et al., 2009).
3. Impact of Trauma on Family and Kinship Systems:
   • One of the significant effects of intergenerational trauma is the disruption of family and kinship systems. This breakdown weakens the protective factors that typically help Indigenous communities build resilience. For this reason, interventions aimed at improving SEWB must focus on rebuilding family and kinship ties as a key strategy for healing (Purdie et al., 2014).
4. Connection to Country as a Cultural Determinant of Health:
   • Connection to Country is a critical protective factor for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Country refers not just to the physical land but to a deep spiritual, cultural, and emotional connection to their ancestral lands.
   • The forced removal from land during colonization and the Stolen Generations has severely weakened this connection, leading to psychological and emotional distress. Indigenous psychologist Dr. Tracy Westerman describes this as a longing or “crying for country,” which manifests in symptoms similar to depression (Vicary & Westerman, 2004).
   • Studies show that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are disconnected from their land experience higher levels of psychological distress, even when they live in areas with more social and economic stressors (Kelly et al., 2009). Thus, maintaining or rebuilding a connection to Country is essential for promoting good SEWB and should be an integral part of any intervention.
5. Incorporating Protective Factors into SEWB Services:
   • Successful interventions for improving SEWB need to integrate protective factors into their models. This means incorporating elements that strengthen family ties, promote cultural continuity, and maintain or restore the connection to Country. Cultural determinants of health, such as the relationship with land, family, and culture, must be central to these services to support long-term resilience and healing.

Programs and Initiatives to Address Intergenerational Trauma, Suicide Prevention, and SEWB:

1. Aboriginal and Islander Independent School – Murri School:
   • Funding: Supported by the Healing Foundation, the program focuses on addressing intergenerational trauma among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children by promoting cultural connectedness and SEWB.
   • Interventions and Activities:
     • Therapeutic intervention.
     • Service coordination.
     • Family case work and family camps.
     • Cultural and group activities.
     • (Re)connection with educational and sporting activities.
   • Evaluation Outcomes (Deloitte Access Economics, 2017):
     • Higher Year 12 completion rates and attendance compared to other schools with Indigenous students.
     • Improved mental health.
     • Reduced contact with the child protection and justice systems.
     • Estimated economic benefit of $6.5 million or $28,248 per student, mostly from reduced child protection and mental health costs.
2. Cultural, Social, and Emotional Wellbeing (CSEWB) Program:
   • Development: Created after the National Empowerment Project, this structured program promotes SEWB, empowerment, healing, leadership, and resilience among Aboriginal people.
   • Delivery Locations: Implemented in Kuranda and Cherbourg (Queensland), and later in Western Australia in multiple locations, including Kwinana and Langford.
   • Objectives:
     • Promote positive cultural, social, and emotional wellbeing.
     • Strengthen family mental health and resilience.
     • Prevent psychological distress.
   • Evaluation Findings:
     • Increased confidence among participants, helping them gain employment.
     • Improved family relationships and reduced family violence.
     • Enhanced understanding of Aboriginal history and the impacts of intergenerational trauma.
     • Strengthened ability to cope with grief, loss, and other stressors.
3. Red Dust Healing:
   • Focus: Originally designed to address oppression in the juvenile justice system, it primarily targets Aboriginal males. The program addresses the intergenerational impacts of colonization on mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.
   • Key Components:
     • Provides a culturally safe environment for healing.
     • Encourages reflection on personal hurt, rejection, and their effects on relationships and family violence.
     • Promotes empowerment through a problem-solving tool called “POUCH” (Problems, Options, Choices, and How to deal with them).
   • Evaluation Findings (Caritas Australia, 2018):
     • Improved understanding of the impacts of colonialism, oppression, rejection, grief, and loss.
     • Strengthened self-esteem and ability to restore broken relationships.
     • Increased capacity of Aboriginal men to contribute to community strategies and programs.
   • Recognition: Red Dust Healing received the United Nations of Australia Award and the Mental Health Matters Award for its contribution to Aboriginal SEWB.