Population specific resources
Experiences of trauma in First Peoples’ communities
Before colonisation, the rich and diverse cultures of First Peoples nurtured healthy and thriving communities across Port Phillip for thousands of years. The trauma of colonisation experienced by First Peoples impacts First Peoples’ minds and bodies, as well as families, connections to place (Country), culture, language, and ways of life across generations.
Healing Journey by Sonia Harrison
| The types of trauma colonisation can inflict include: | Such as: |
| Historical and cultural trauma | Stolen Generations, genocide, racism, poverty and more. |
| Community trauma | Substance abuse, violence, multiple deaths and more. |
| Lateral violence | When traumas are internalised and acted out within a community to other community members, such as a community bullying, shaming or isolating a community member. |
| Family trauma | Intergenerational trauma, domestic violence, loss of parenting skills and more. |
| Individual trauma | Child abuse and neglect, challenges trusting and engaging with others, challenges engaging with culture, language and Country, and more. |
The impacts of colonisation have meant that rates of trauma are higher among First Peoples than Australian averages. It follows that rates of coping adaptations, such as alcohol use or changes in family dynamics, are also higher.
Higher levels of trauma and social disadvantage experienced by First Peoples increases exposure to:
- Health inequalities
- Mental health disorders
- Drug use
- Alcohol use
- Suicide
- Self-harm
- Co-occurring mental health issues
- Socio-economic disadvantage
- Feeling disconnected from ones community
- Loss of identity loss
- Profound grief and loss
- Child maltreatment
- Fighting within a community or lateral violence
- Stressful life events including:
- Unemployment
- Homelessness
- Incarceration
- Changed family dynamics
Resilience within First Peoples' communities
Resilience in First Peoples' communities in Port Phillip comes from many aspects of life. Supportive connections with family and the community are important. But connection to culture and Country also builds resilience and helps heal from past traumas. Becoming trauma informed means supporting resilience and strengths in First Peoples and communities.
First Peoples’ strengths:
- Connection to culture
- Support for one another
- Humour
- Courage
- Will to survive
- Desire for next generation to do well
- Adaptability to new environments
- Ability to live in two different cultures: First Peoples’ and Western.
Collaborating with First Peoples and communities
When working with First Peoples and communities, it is important to remember that First Peoples’ cultures are many and varied. A one-size-fits-all approach will not meet everyone's needs and can be more damaging than helpful. For a trauma-informed practice to be effective, it is important to learn about the people you are working with and the peoples whose lands you are living and working. This includes their culture, strengths and the specific challenges of colonisation faced by that person and/or community.
DADIRRI (Official Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Video)
Health is also seen differently across different cultures. In many First Peoples’ communities, the health of Country, language, culture, spirituality and family can be as important to an individual's health as their own bodies. Involving friends and family might be an important part of someone’s recovery. But this should not be assumed. Individual's choices should be asked for and respected. Practicing Dadirri, or deep listening, patience, and holistic care, and understanding that everyone has the right to seek culturally-based care is a step toward a culturally safe practice that is essential for effective trauma-informed care.
Healing as:
- Holistic
- Set by those involved in the process
- A journey that involves time and pain
- Deep listening
- Evolving cultural traditions
- Hope for the future
- Connecting with identity and spiritual self
- Individual and community empowerment
- Understanding how an individual’s stories fit into First Nations’ stories of trauma of colonisation.
Trauma among people experiencing homelessness
In our community, around 25 people a night are sleeping rough on the streets, parks or foreshore. It is impossible to know how many more of our community members are sleeping on someone’s couch, in their cars, in crisis accommodation, rooming houses or overcrowded dwellings.
Studies have shown that across Victoria 100% of people experiencing long-term homelessness have experienced at least one potentially traumatic event. As many as 97% have experienced more than four potentially traumatic events.
Trauma has been identified as a cause and maintainer of homelessness. This is in part because of the impacts of trauma on our mental health which increases the likelihood of social disadvantage. Social disadvantages people experiencing homelessness face when trying to access support include:
- Closure of mental health facilities
- Lack of specialised care for severe or concurrent mental illness
- General inaccessibility of our healthcare
- Pressures of everyday survival outweigh other demands, such as spending effort accessing food instead of navigating healthcare systems
Experiencing homelessness can create extra barriers when trying to access support. This can make it harder to address trauma and heal. In a study of people experiencing long-term homelessness, 50% reported a time when they wanted professional help but could not access it. This should not be mistaken for a lack of interest. In fact, only 9% expressed a lack of interest or readiness to address trauma and access support. Reported reasons for not being accessing support:
- Not knowing how to get help - 35%
- Not trusting anyone - 11%
- Thinking that no one could understand their situation - 11%
- Cost - 7%
Prevalence of trauma among people experiencing homelessness
| In Victoria, 88% of people experiencing homelessness met the criteria for at least one current mental health disorder: | In Victoria, 60% of people experiencing homelessness reported experiencing interpersonal, prolonged and/or repeated trauma. These people reported struggling with: |
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