Evidence-Informed Co-Design of a Therapeutic Design for Noongar Children and Young People with Complex Trauma
Tracks
William Magarey Room
| Tuesday, October 25, 2022 |
| 11:20 AM - 11:40 AM |
Overview
Vickie Hovane, Australian Centre For Child Protection, University Of SA
Speaker
Prof Victoria Hovane
Research Professor
Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia
Evidence-Informed Co-Design of a Therapeutic Design for Noongar Children and Young People with Complex Trauma
Abstract
Child abuse and neglect causes trauma. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found an urgent need to develop the evidence for therapeutic responses to complex trauma; a common and difficult to treat outcome of abuse-related trauma in childhood. This project worked with Yorgum Healing Services in Boorloo (Perth) to place Noongar children, families, and communities at the heart of the co-design process. Using this place-based approach which privileged the knowledge and perspectives of participants, this project brought together two knowledge systems – Noongar cultural knowledge, ways of working and healing methods, and Western research evidence, into deep conversation through women’s and men’s yarning circles, to test ideas and explore new approaches for responding to Noongar children who experience complex trauma. This presentation will describe the co-design methods and the resultant holistic Noongar therapeutic framework for supporting Noongar children recover from complex trauma together with their families and communities.
Biography
Professor Victoria Hovane (PhD) is an Aboriginal woman from Broome in the Kimberley region of WA. She belongs to the Ngarluma, Jaru and Gooniyandi peoples of the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.
She is a registered psychologist and an experienced consultant and practitioner having worked in various legal, social welfare, justice, and research roles over the past 40 years. She is Research Professor at the Australian Centre for Child Protection at the University of South Australia and an Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Indigenous Peoples and Community Justice, Law School at the University of Western Australia. She specialises in the areas of addressing the cultural needs of Aboriginal people in various settings including the child protection, legal, courts and correctional systems, with a particular emphasis on understanding intergenerational trauma including family violence and sexual assault, and its multiple impacts in Aboriginal communities.
Ms Kathy Pickett
Senior Cultural Advisor
Yorgum Healing Services
Evidence-Informed Co-Design of a Therapeutic Design for Noongar Children and Young People with Complex Trauma
Abstract
Child abuse and neglect causes trauma. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found an urgent need to develop the evidence for therapeutic responses to complex trauma; a common and difficult to treat outcome of abuse-related trauma in childhood. This project worked with Yorgum Healing Services in Boorloo (Perth) to place Noongar children, families, and communities at the heart of the co-design process. Using this place-based approach which privileged the knowledge and perspectives of participants, this project brought together two knowledge systems – Noongar cultural knowledge, ways of working and healing methods, and Western research evidence, into deep conversation through women’s and men’s yarning circles, to test ideas and explore new approaches for responding to Noongar children who experience complex trauma. This presentation will describe the co-design methods and the resultant holistic Noongar therapeutic framework for supporting Noongar children recover from complex trauma together with their families and communities.
Biography
I am proud Noongar Yok with family connections to the Yued, Ballardong, Whadjuk, Goring and Minang groups. I identify strongly with my mother’s country, Yued where I continue to have a connection to land/country as often as I can.
I am a mother of 3 and a grandmother of 8 and I have 3 sisters.
I worked for 20 years in the Kimberley region and learnt many skills by working in remote areas. Working in child sexual abuse, suicide and critical incidents and mental health gave me an enriched experience of working with Aboriginal.
The exposure of working on the ground with the community in child sexual abuse and suicide eventually exposed me to vicarious trauma and burnout. I left the Kimberley region and commenced my Masters in Indigenous Therapies – Southern Cross University Lismore NSW, based on Professor Judy Atkinsons’ We-Ali curriculum.
I have worked in women’s prisons, SARC (sexual assault resource centre), schools and various other positions over the years and currently work with Yorgum Healing Service as the Aboriginal Cultural Advisor sharing my experiences and knowledge with younger generations.
