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This page was updated on 13 September 2024. To view changes, please see page updates

Resources to support Indigenous healing

Yarning place The Australian Indigenous welfare net provides yarning places—electronic networks enabling people with an interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health to share information, knowledge and experience, even when they live in different states, territories and regions, come from different sectors (such as health, education and justice) and work for different organisations.

Marumali Healing Program This is delivered throughout Australia. The program aims to support Indigenous people who have experienced trauma due to past removal policies. The program is available for service providers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, women and youth, and aims to support the healing journey through recovery and renewal of identity.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing portal This is an online hub for people working in healing, health, justice, education, employment, child protection and family violence. The portal is designed to encourage information sharing and collaboration across sectors and locations. It brings together information about what is working in Indigenous healing and includes examples of best practice healing initiatives, the latest research from around Australia and tools people can use to develop healing opportunities in their communities.

Between two worlds: a guide to understanding the Stolen Generations This was written to educate non-Indigenous service providers about the challenges faced by members of the stolen generations. It contains information on the history of the stolen generations and advice on the correct practice for working with members of the stolen generations. The topics include important issues such as ‘acting white, feeling black' and 'Facing the challenges'. This may also be useful in your conversations with non-Indigenous carers.

Health Direct—Pregnancy, Birth and Baby service is a support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families. 

Australian Government Department of Health Pregnancy Care Guidelines

Alcohol and other drugs support groups

Mutual support groups are made up of people who share their experiences about how their lives have been affected by alcohol and other drugs. They may share their progress, success and hopes for the future. Volunteers typically run these groups to help members support each other. The groups are recovery focused, and provide social and emotional support and other information. They include:

Alcoholics Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous

Family and Friends (Al Anon, Alateen)

Smart Recovery Australia

Alcohol and other drugs support services and information  

Alcohol and Drug Foundation—alcohol and other drugs resources and information

AOD Knowledge Centre—This provides evidence-based resources to reduce harmful alcohol and other drugs use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

ATSICHS Brisbane provides a range of health and wellbeing services and programs throughout the greater Brisbane and Logan areas.

Breakthrough for families provides ice education and support services.

Dovetail provides Youth alcohol and other drugs resources and tools.

Family drug support offers 24-hour telephone support, online and face to face support for family members/significant others affected by a loved one’s alcohol and other drugs use.

Insight QLD provides Indigenous alcohol and other drugs resources and toolkits.

Queensland Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies provides a service finder for alcohol and other drugs services across Queensland.

Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Corp Alcohol and Drug Dependence Services (Jessie Bubing Healing Centre) offers education, counselling and support.

Townsville Aboriginal and Islanders Health Services (TAIHS) provides health and wellness services.

Lives Lived Well—Shanty Creek rehabilitation centre, located in Mareeba, provides residential rehabilitation to Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 18 years and over.

Wunjuada Rehabilitation Centre offers a place to stay for Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a substance use rehab program in Cherbourg.

Further reading

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural capability—communicating effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Learning From Each Other: Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young People 04 youth alcohol and drug good practice guide Dovetail.

SNAICC has developed: Growing up our way about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child rearing practices.

SNAICC also published Working and Walking Together to support family relationships services in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and organisations.

Creative spirits have created this Glossary of First Nations terms to help you understand more about important Aboriginal words and terms about life and parenting. An alternative to this is Child Safety's Respectful language guide.

Alcohol and other drug treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples was developed by the National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee (NIDAC) in response to a perception that effective alcohol and other drugs treatment is not available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

For more about alcohol and drug use and its impacts among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, refer to Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, including the following resources:

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