The Kinship Project - Becoming the Heroes Of Our Own Stories
Tracks
Ian McLachlan Room East
| Monday, October 24, 2022 |
| 11:30 AM - 11:50 AM |
Overview
Bernie Goulding, Diversity Network Australia
Speaker
Ms Bernie Goulding
Director
Diversity Network Australia
The Kinship Project - Becoming the Heroes Of Our Own Stories
Abstract
Our wellbeing begins with truth-telling about our history, beliefs and trauma. After centuries of colonisation and migration, Pacific People are over-represented in;
- the justice system
- disengaged youth statistics
- non-communicable disease statistics
- those with mental health conditions
There is very limited research available by and for Pacific people, on concepts of wellbeing. Response strategies to date have focused on art, religion, sport and music, with limited success in improving engagement or wellbeing, addressing the effects, rather than the causes of Pacific wellbeing issues.
Method
Interviews, focus groups and surveys of Pacific people and Non-Pacific Australians in schools, workplaces and community organisations, totalling 505 participants.
Findings
The majority of participants indicated they were not told/did not understand :
- Oceania history or the impacts of colonisation
- Pacific blackbirding or slavery
- Pacific contributions to WWII efforts
- Peace time weapons testing in the Pacific
- Climate change impact and natural resources exploitation
Pacific participants indicated that learning their stories and implementing Kinship strategies including the DNA Wellbeing triangle would likely :
- improve wellbeing outcomes for their people and communities
- increase their sense of connection and belief they had ‘the right to belong’
Interestingly, non-Pacific participants indicated that learning Pacific stories and implementing Kinship strategies including the Wellbeing triangle would likely :
- improve their own wellbeing outcomes especially those with diverse cultural backgrounds, people with disability and LGBTQI people
- increase their appreciation and sense of connection to Pacific people
Summary
The Kinship Project’s Wellbeing triangle can assist individuals and communities to improve their wellbeing, focusing on sharing stories and embedding the domains of Security, Belonging, Identity, Purpose and Wellbeing, beginning with truth telling about our history, beliefs and trauma. Resources include published books, learning programs and Kinship Kits.
- the justice system
- disengaged youth statistics
- non-communicable disease statistics
- those with mental health conditions
There is very limited research available by and for Pacific people, on concepts of wellbeing. Response strategies to date have focused on art, religion, sport and music, with limited success in improving engagement or wellbeing, addressing the effects, rather than the causes of Pacific wellbeing issues.
Method
Interviews, focus groups and surveys of Pacific people and Non-Pacific Australians in schools, workplaces and community organisations, totalling 505 participants.
Findings
The majority of participants indicated they were not told/did not understand :
- Oceania history or the impacts of colonisation
- Pacific blackbirding or slavery
- Pacific contributions to WWII efforts
- Peace time weapons testing in the Pacific
- Climate change impact and natural resources exploitation
Pacific participants indicated that learning their stories and implementing Kinship strategies including the DNA Wellbeing triangle would likely :
- improve wellbeing outcomes for their people and communities
- increase their sense of connection and belief they had ‘the right to belong’
Interestingly, non-Pacific participants indicated that learning Pacific stories and implementing Kinship strategies including the Wellbeing triangle would likely :
- improve their own wellbeing outcomes especially those with diverse cultural backgrounds, people with disability and LGBTQI people
- increase their appreciation and sense of connection to Pacific people
Summary
The Kinship Project’s Wellbeing triangle can assist individuals and communities to improve their wellbeing, focusing on sharing stories and embedding the domains of Security, Belonging, Identity, Purpose and Wellbeing, beginning with truth telling about our history, beliefs and trauma. Resources include published books, learning programs and Kinship Kits.
Biography
Bernie Goulding is an Indigenous Pacific leader, nurse, educator and author of ‘Colour Outside The Lines, One Girl, Two Tribes,’ and ‘Children Of The 12 Tribes.’ As a public health sister in remote Fijian villages, she learned the importance of language, connection, culture and traditional medicine on Indigenous health. With the Fiji Red Cross, she developed the UN Peacekeepers War Injuries Workshop, introduced community training for prisoners, coordinated disaster emergency response and taught thousands of children to Swim and Survive.
Bernie was this year’s Pacific Representative to the United Nations International Migration Review Forum in New York and contributor to the Pasifika Family Violence & Wellness Project and development of WorkSAFE Victoria’s Seasonal Worker Safety Program. She is also the Director of Diversity Network Australia, a social enterprise committed to sharing Pacific stories and providing Pacific led diversity and wellbeing learning programs in our schools, workplaces and communities.
