This presentation will discuss the ways we are working to develop a holistic, place-based and First Nations led Justice Reinvestment Strategy that will set out a long-term approach to achieve justice and healing for the Quandamooka community through collaborative, long-term justice and wellbeing solutions centred in local culture, knowledge, and voices to halt and heal our community’s cycles of disadvantage and intergenerational trauma. Our team applies culturally informed and place-based models for life promotion and belonging to strengthen self-value, community connection, and the social and emotional wellbeing of Quandamooka youth, families and the whole community.

Working from the strengths of our cultural foundations to maintain responsibility of social, cultural and spiritual wellbeing and reinstate a prosperous and sustainable future for our community. We are working towards healing our community’s intergenerational trauma. In reigniting Quandamooka Cultural Protocols, our work is harnessing our community’s strengths - our location, place, and country; our close relationships; our resilience; our pride in culture; and the coming together of community.

For many years, we have witnessed loved ones face the struggles of weathering colonial violence. Self-harm, substance abuse, violence, and increased encounters with the law, resulting in loss of life. These are symptoms of our community’s intergenerational trauma, which we are committed to help with healing. The reinvigoration of Quandamooka Cultural Protocols gives community-led cultural authority over strengths-based responses that contribute to this healing and build our youth, families and community to be strong, safe, and healthy.

Research supports our lived knowledge that holistic, strengths-based and placed based approaches addressing the social and emotional well-being of First Nation’s people work to break recidivism cycles by fostering identity, belonging, and resilience. This paper will speak to our progress towards our justice and healing strategy.

Three Key Learnings:
1. How healing and wellbeing is being centred through our holistic approach to Justice Reinvestment
2. Quandamooka cultural protocols: how our work is guided by the knowledge and leadership of Elders
3. How our work is harnessing our community’s strengths