Holding Culture in High Esteem in the Creation of Culturally Responsive Trauma Informed Workforce Development
Tracks
Ballroom 2 - In-Person & Virtual via OnAIR
| Tuesday, October 13, 2026 |
| 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM |
| Ballroom 2 |
Overview
Casey Mcmurtie, Snaicc
Three Key Learnings
1. Cultural practice and identity is our right, responsibility and key to healing
2. Culturally responsive and trauma informed training is essential to breaking the cycles of intergenerational trauma
3. Intellectual property rights enabled partners to confidently share cultural and intellectual property and ways of knowing, being and doing, to design, produce and deliver the training in collaboration
Presenter
Ms Casey McMurtrie
Training & Development Facilitator
SNAICC
Holding Culture in High Esteem in the Creation of Culturally Responsive Trauma Informed Workforce Development
Presentation Overview
At SNAICC, we connected with old ways of knowing, being and doing to guide us in the development of new ways. New ways in the design and delivery of training and data that held values of collectiveness, self-determination and culture. In this presentation, SNAICC will share its approach and learnings of Project Waterways, Believe Inquire Respond to Disclosures (BIRD) training package to guide our work with Through Young Blak Eyes and Supporting Healing for Families (Mparntwe Alice Springs) through culturally responsive and trauma informed sector capacity building.
Project Waterways provided culturally responsive trauma informed training anchored in truth telling around ongoing impacts of colonisation, power and privilege and important skill development around addressing this complex intergenerational trauma. Through the careful co-design and co-production of Project Waterways, the work has significantly contributed to the advancement of priority reforms.
Project BIRD is a trauma-informed and culturally responsive training initiative that contributes to systems transformation in the health sector’s response to child sexual violence disclosures. Grounded in the Country-centred BIRD framework, the training centers Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing, using bird behaviours, such as flocking together and protective instinct. Rather than focusing solely on individual capability, Project BIRD supports a shift in system conditions by strengthening participants’ understanding of positionality and intersectionality, reinforcing their role as duty bearers, and embedding Country-centred frameworks into practice.
SNAICC conducted a co-design process in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) with First Nations organisations, to develop a healing model to support Aboriginal individuals and families impacted by child sexual abuse.
Our key learnings from Waterways and Bird will inform us of the redevelopment of the Through Young Black Eyes training.
Project Waterways provided culturally responsive trauma informed training anchored in truth telling around ongoing impacts of colonisation, power and privilege and important skill development around addressing this complex intergenerational trauma. Through the careful co-design and co-production of Project Waterways, the work has significantly contributed to the advancement of priority reforms.
Project BIRD is a trauma-informed and culturally responsive training initiative that contributes to systems transformation in the health sector’s response to child sexual violence disclosures. Grounded in the Country-centred BIRD framework, the training centers Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing, using bird behaviours, such as flocking together and protective instinct. Rather than focusing solely on individual capability, Project BIRD supports a shift in system conditions by strengthening participants’ understanding of positionality and intersectionality, reinforcing their role as duty bearers, and embedding Country-centred frameworks into practice.
SNAICC conducted a co-design process in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) with First Nations organisations, to develop a healing model to support Aboriginal individuals and families impacted by child sexual abuse.
Our key learnings from Waterways and Bird will inform us of the redevelopment of the Through Young Black Eyes training.
Biography
Belle Arnold is a Wakka Wakka woman from Southeast Queensland and Manager of Special Projects in the Programs Unit at SNAICC. Belle has worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on cultural empowerment, social emotional wellbeing and healing programs for over two decades.
Casey McMurtrie is a Noongar woman from Western Australia. With more than two decades of experience across youth justice, community services, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sector. Casey is committed to culturally grounded, community-led practice centred on improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families, and communities.
