Harnessing culture as a protection and strength

In Strengths of Australian Aboriginal cultural practices in family life and child rearing, Lohoar, Butera and Kennedy (Australian Institute of Family Studies—2014), identify how cultural practices contribute to effective family functioning and how these practices have positive effects on children and communities. The main messages are:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kinship relations reflect a complex and dynamic system that is not captured by existing non-Indigenous definitions of family.
• Emerging evidence supports some of the strengths of traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in family functioning and raising children, but conventional academic wisdom can be incompatible with traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems.

The strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural traditions and customs, as they apply to family life and raising children, revolve around 4 interrelated themes:

1. A collective community focus on child rearing helps children.
   Interdependence, group cohesion and community loyalty are important features of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family and community life, where raising children is considered to be a shared responsibility of all community members.
2. Children need the freedom to explore and experience the world.
   In most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, children are offered every opportunity to explore the world around them—to help them develop the necessary skills to successfully negotiate their pathways to adulthood.
3. Elderly family members are important to family functioning.
   The elderly are highly respected for their contributions to family life in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, particularly in helping children to understand the practical aspects of life and society.
4. Spirituality helps families cope with challenges.
   Families and communities who engage in spiritual practices benefit from a greater sense of identity, and individuals are more likely to connect with, support and help protect one another.

The resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people can be strengthened by harnessing their culture. This will also help to reduce their vulnerability.

Your support in helping them gain knowledge about who they are, their land and country, and the role they have in their community is an important part of your work. You can assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and parents to:

• learn about their connections and belonging
• find positive Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander male and female mentors
• identify a positive Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander woman to talk to about women’s business
• identify a positive Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander man to talk to about men’s business
• have the opportunity to participate in men’s and women’s activities to connect to country and enact the important roles they have been given.

Consult with the cultural practice advisor, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues and community members, Elders and professionals to understand the best ways to connect children and young people to their culture and community.

The strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural practices in family life and child rearing

This Strengths of Australian Aboriginal cultural practices in family life and child rearing infographic identifies the strengths as being:

A collective community focus—The concept of ‘one community, many eyes’ helps children to build trust and confidence in themselves and in others, access support when they face challenges, and be safe.

Autonomous play—Having the freedom to explore the world can empower children to build independence, learn responsibility and make sound decisions.

Respect for the elderly—Elderly family and community members help children to learn their responsibilities, understand who they are and where they come from, and keep the spirit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures alive.

Spirituality—This helps children to cope with life by connecting with others, instilling positive values (such as caring and sharing), improving physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing, and providing opportunities to heal from trauma.

The strength of the community

In spite of the level of disadvantage many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities experience, they are vibrant and actively seeking to address the issues they face. Strong cultural connections are fundamental to increasing resilience in the community.

You can support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities by:

• developing a strong partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and services in the community
• showing a genuine respect and empathy to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when they are talking about their cultural and life experiences
• consulting with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander colleagues, Elders and professionals about effective ways to engage children and families in conversations to discuss some of the challenges they are experiencing
• assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, women and men to engage in genuine opportunities to connect with their country, land and roles within their community
• providing information and education about the impacts adults’ challenges have on their parenting of children
• embracing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ beliefs about spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing and traditional healing methods, and connecting them with someone who can support them on their journey
• looking for opportunities to connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander mentors
• looking for opportunities to involve Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Elders or professionals in your conversations with parents, family, kin and community to help communicate the worries and develop culturally appropriate solutions
• respectfully find out about men’s and women’s business for the family and community.

Embracing the inner spirit model for healing

Some healing ways to build strong spirit and identity may include:

• ceremonies
• healing circles
• men’s and women’s business
• stories, art, song, dance and music
• being on country and taking on responsibilities handed down for care and protection

The video Songlines: Aboriginal Art and Storytelling explains more about this way of Aboriginal healing.