Spirituality and community healing: Indigenous statewide forum aims to prevent family violence
/More than 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who work in the field of domestic violence prevention and support have taken part in a Queensland statewide forum.
Hoping to prevent domestic violence and improve services, Indigenous service providers gathered at the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum in Mackay this week.
Wendy Watego, from Brisbane, was one of the keynote speakers at the two-day event.
"I speak to my ancestors on a daily basis — they are constantly present," she said.
"They're our spiritual beings who give us guidance and direction.
"When we're in spaces such as this forum you get the power of how connected we are."
Vicki Scott, from the Sunshine Coast, is the co-founder of Stars Institute of Learning and Leadership.
She works alongside Ms Watego, and she discussed the importance of self care for those working in domestic violence services.
"Often we forgot about the people who are working with the victims of domestic violence," Ms Scott said.
"Self care is such an important area that if we don't look after those who are the service providers, then nothing really changes."
Kuranda resident Joseph Oui is a counsellor for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
He regularly travels to wellbeing centres as far north as Cape York.
During the forum he took part in yarning circles where people discussed the importance of Indigenous spirituality and community healing.
"A lot of the stuff we are doing is introducing healing and connecting back to country," Mr Oui said.
"Most importantly, in reference to domestic and family violence, it's about connecting to the behaviours and attitudes that traditional people had in respect for women, partners and families."
Detective Senior Sergeant Sam Bliss is based in Mackay.
She is also a Queensland Police Service representative for the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Team.
"I'm excited to see so many services here throughout Queensland, both government and non-government, to have conversations about this particular issue," she said.
"It's an issue that every community is experiencing, so it's good to be able network and get some ideas on how we can have this conversation in our own communities to tackle this issue."
Charli Adams is a manager of a family violence program in Cairns that works with men, women and children experiencing domestic violence.
"I think there is a blind eye turned to when the men become the victims," Mr Adams said.
"I think in society itself we have a lot of intervention for women, but not many places men can go to talk about what's happening in terms of family domestic violence, and to get help to change their behaviours and attitudes towards what's happening in the household or relationship."
Charles Passi is a contractor for the Department of Housing in Brisbane.
"I see domestic and family violence more as a disease that has really infected not only the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities but the whole world," Mr Passi said.
"But specifically in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities it is such an eyesore — victims are dying.
"We need to take great steps to prevent it from happening, so that's why I'm really glad to be a part of this forum."