Stakeholder s update #5

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1 Stakeholder s update #5 September 2017 Wellness Dreaming is the name of a painting by Francine Ngardarb Riches

2 Cohealth acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which our offices stand and pay respects to Elders past and present. We acknowledge the sorrow of the Stolen Generations and the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also recognize the resilience, strength and pride of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Background The project began as cohealth s Koolin Balit initiative in 2015, encourage an alternative approach by agencies; one that focuses on the strengths of individuals, families, groups and the community, affecting achievable and sustainable change to improve wellbeing. Wellness Dreaming Messenger training was delivered to Aboriginal and non-aboriginal staff from cross-sectoral agencies inclusive of Aboriginalcontrolled, mainstream, government and non-government sectors. Fostering leadership, trained Messengers utilise Wellness Dreaming facilitation skills to deliver Dreaming Circles, strength-based conversations in existing groups which are safe and supported. Participants are encouraged through various activities to focus on their strengths, their resilience and their dreams to discuss wellness as they envisage it; focusing on what is strong, not what is wrong, missing or broken. This flips the way wellness and health is often approached by identifying needs and encourages participants, staff and communities to focus on what is strong, present and can be built upon. Aims Build capacity of Aboriginal and non-aboriginal workforce, including community volunteers to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community Foster the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to enable community-led, culturally appropriate action for wellbeing Develop, train and promote a strengths based approach with all stakeholders Principles Maximum community participation and control Working in partnership Supports existing and developing leadership Enables change Strengths focused Achievements Sixty-five Aboriginal and non-aboriginal people across the north-west metropolitan region of Melbourne from 39 cross-sectoral agencies trained as Wellness Dreaming Messengers 198 people have participated in Dreaming Circles including groups of women, elders, community and youth groups Wellness Dreaming presentations at the Ngar-wu-Wanyarra Rural Health Conference (Sheapparton), Lowitja Institute International Indigenous Health & Wellbeing Conference (Melb), National Rural Health Conference (Cairns) and Justice Health forum (Melb). Story clip produced and available for viewing/distribution via Wellness Dreaming telling the story Radio National interview with project team cohealth Prevention team has committed to Wellness Dreaming into the Integrated Health Promotion Plan

3 2017 The second iteration of Wellness Dreaming training was held over two days, in May. Twenty five people registered with a total of twenty one people completing the two days training (7 x Aboriginal / 14 non-aboriginal). Click on the highlighted heading to take a look at this clip - Wellness Dreaming training participant insights Relaxed and friendly vibe. The authenticity of facilitators. The integration of creativity and varity of activities. The strengths-based approach so refreshing. Uncle Larry s storytelling. Lots of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the room. ~ Participant I loved the strengths based approach, I believe something that has been seriously lacking in this space is the recognition of what s strong in first nations communities. ~ Participant One Commitment encouraged at the end of all Dreaming Circles, here is a small sample of the One Commitments made by participants at the Wellness Dreaming training in May 2017 Run a Dreaming Circle with the justice volunteers to help guide our work and plan next steps To use the resources of Wellness Dreaming in my personal and professional life Incorporate activities in my current workshops about mental health Wellness Dreaming utilizes principles and strategies in co-design to develop and support strengthbased training and approaches. Trained Wellness Dreaming Messengers are equipped with culturally relevant skills, resources and increase confidence to facilitate strength-based conversations, called Dreaming Circles, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in community settings. The following posters were developed for initial viewing at the Lowitja International Indigenous Health & Wellbeing Conference in November 2016 and tell the story of the Wellness Dreaming project from two perspectives. Focusing on what is STRONG, not what is wrong provides an overview of the project s journey which began with the foundation stones including Koolin Balit initiative which enabled the Wellness Dreaming Messenger training and the stepping stones to Wellness Dreaming reaching across the river, taking strength based approaches into community settings. Dream Out Loud - illustrates what happens in a facilitated Dreaming Circle using a strong central Balit (Boonwurrung word meaning people ) taking part in activities such as Rapid Dreaming and Stepping Stones. The shadow image in the background acknowledges the some of the impacts of colonisation often used to overlook the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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6 Wellness Dreaming Project team Wellness Dreaming has been fortunate to have had the input of three deadly Aboriginal women as project officers. (Aunty) Nellie Flagg steered the project from the very beginning in 2015 and Nazaree Dickerson took on the role throughout 2016 until the theatre scene lured her away. In 2017 Nicole Bloomfield commenced a seven month contract to support the delivery of the second iteration of Wellness Dreaming training. Karen Ingram is a permanent member of the cohealth Prevention team and a determined advocate for the employment and engagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Wellness Dreaming project. Contributing to an environment which advocates and supports social justice and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through participation, empowerment and the arts inspires her to do her best. Karen has and will continue worked alongside Aboriginal men and women on the project, as members of the project team, advisory group and facilitators, always prioritizing Aboriginal voice. Wellness Dreaming project has provided an important platform to promote and enhance strength-based practices within the team at cohealth and more broadly across sectors in the north-west metropolitan region of Victoria. Ph: karen.ingram@cohealth.org.au Monday Thursday Next steps Wellness Dreaming is delivered by cohealth s Prevention team, funded by the Integrated Health Promotion program. We are into the first six months of a four year plan ( ) in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been identified a priority population. Collaborating with stakeholders to address race-based discrimination and stigma will be an important part of our work and we will be undertaking a recruitment process to support this work in the near future. Wellness Dreaming has continued to gather momentum and interest from a range of agencies and we will be determining future strategies with valued input from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and partners. What Who When Advocacy Workshop Wellness Dreaming Messengers cofacilitated by project lead November 2017 Re-establish project advisory group to guide next steps Project Lead with past, present and future stakeholders November 2017 February 2018 Maintain sustained connections with Wellness Dreaming Messengers Project team September 2017 June 2018 Stakeholder engagement to establish collaboration and partnerships to extend the reach of Wellness Dreaming Project Lead, Prevention Manager, stakeholders September December 2017

7 Where YOU could fit into the Wellness Dreaming picture Wellness Dreaming Messenger training is ideally suited to people who are: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community leaders Non-Aboriginal workforce invested in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing Individuals who have undertaken Aboriginal cultural awareness training within the last two years Coordinators, support workers and volunteers of community groups such as planned activity groups, youth groups and Local Aboriginal Networks Workers from community controlled organisations, local government, health, justice, housing, education and community groups Supported by managers and agency to implement Dreaming Circles in community settings Willing for community to determine their strengths and actions to improve their wellbeing Located in Melbourne s north west (exceptions considered) Wellness Dreaming Messengers will be equipped to deliver Dreaming Circles in a range of settings which will bring a return on the investment of agencies who support their staff to attend the training and further delivery by cofacilitating strength-based conversations in community settings. Dreaming Circles are ideally suited to groups which are: Inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Supported by an agency, local government and/or group coordinator For Elders For Women For Men For Youth, including primary school aged children Mixed community groups Workplaces (planning workshops)

8 Participants in Wellness Dreaming training May Photo by James Henry We look forward to your continued support and investment into the program that will see Wellness Dreaming Messengers facilitate Dreaming Circles in community settings. For more information about the Wellness Dreaming project Ph: