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Making a stand and advocating

Emerging Minds, Australia, 2019

Related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing

Resource Summary

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this resource may contain names of people who have passed away.

This resource is part of Emerging Minds’ Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children toolkit. Drawing on the expertise of First Nations consultants, practitioners and families, the toolkit explores ways non-Indigenous professionals and services can develop genuine partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

I was taught and am continuing to learn. It was 1988, the year that white Australia was celebrating 200 years of ‘white sovereignty’. At the same time there were protest marches: ‘Don’t celebrate ‘88’, ‘Invasion Day’, ‘No Pride in Genocide’, ‘Commonwealth is Stolen Wealth’. We were never taught this at school. That day was the beginning, the introduction to a whole other way of understanding where l live, and how l have come to live – not in this Nation, but on this Country, the sovereign lands of Aboriginal peoples.

- Social Service Practitioner

The nature of the history and colonisation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, the ongoing policies that are impacting communities including direct and systemic racism and the ongoing intergenerational hurt means that working with Communities and tackling these topics is inherently political and at times contested.

Many people will have different views about what will need to happen to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing and ultimately the status of First Nations communities in this country.

Advocacy when working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community takes on a different dimension. It is not just in the workplace; it is a belief about social justice. This obligation will challenge your understandings about the Australian ‘fair go’ attitude. You will at times be required to make a choice about what you will stand for and what you will challenge in our community.

This is not easy. The more you are involved in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, the more you will begin to notice attitudes and views in both yourself and your personal and professional lives. Reflect on what you notice – it will assist you in understanding how history, services, and the broader community are affecting the self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Ultimately, it is important to continue to listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and individuals. One practitioner said this:

‘We consult with Community – ongoing – so it’s not up for me to determine how to ‘build in voice’, but up for me in my role to ask Community who would self-determine this. There is no one right way, so keep asking the questions. Each community determines what is right for them.

 

Look and listen:

  • As you learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and history, what are you learning about racism and how this is seen in our community?
  • What do others say about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their rights and choices?
  • What do Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people say?

Learn and reflect:

  • What are the attitudes and values you see arising in yourself? Where do you think they come from?
  • Has there been a time when you wanted to ‘make a stand’ or challenge a view or attitude you heard that was racist, but you decided not to? Why did you make that choice? How did that make you feel?
  • Has there been a time when you heard a view or attitude and did challenge it? Why did you make that choice? What was that experience like? How did that feel? What was the result?

Practice:

  • Taking small steps at first, is there something you can do to make a stand for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people or their rights? How are you being guided by First Nations people in doing this?

 

The preferred terminology used by Emerging Minds in our resources is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, as guided by our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing National Consultancy Group.

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This resource is part of the following toolkits

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