Community members invited to join local Aboriginal healing workshops in Yass
11 June 2024
A healing program developed from an Indigenous perspective will be delivered free of charge for local community members in Yass on 24 June.
Organised by COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN, the one-day Red Dust Healing workshop will be facilitated by Barry Fernando, a proud Yuwaalaraay man within Gamilaroi nation.
Red Dust Healing is a self-evaluating awareness program designed to help people deal with hurt and anger in their lives. Aimed at the heart and not the head, the Red Dust Healing program arms participants with the tools to make better choices and to fix things in their own lives. The workshop covers areas such as anxiety, fear, social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, suicide safeguarding, domestic violence, and law and justice.
COORDINARE’s Community Engagement Consultant for Aboriginal Health, Terry Hill said: "The workshop is for Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members - this includes clients, carers and service providers working in this area.
“Local Aboriginal community representatives have identified the need for these Red Dust Healing workshops, as there remains ongoing grief and trauma among Aboriginal communities in our region.
“As part of COORDINARE’s commitment to working collaboratively to improve wellbeing and suicide outcomes for Aboriginal community, we believe attendance at this workshop will contribute to the healing process and help with the grief and loss experienced by our communities,” said Mr Hill.
A participant in a recent workshop said, “An amazing day, I took more from it than I expected. Having images to help describe emotions, managing distress and big emotions will be helpful in my work."
Designed by Tom Powell, a Warramunga man from within the Wiradjuri Nation, Red Dust Healing received the 2017 United Nations of Australia Award for services to Human Rights. Over 17,000 people in over 400 communities Australia-wide and internationally have so far benefited from the Red Dust Healing program.
The workshop in Yass will be held on Monday 24 June at Yass Golf Club, 2 Worth Street from 9.30am to 3pm. Register here by 17 June 2024.