The Wire

Giving emotional and social support seems simple enough, but it’s one of the missing ingredients in many programs tailored towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These are the conclusions from new reports monitoring Australia’s progress in closing the gap, evaluating successful programs across Australia. The mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been severely affected by the impact of colonisation, the removal of children, racism and continued socioeconomic disadvantage. Programs that are not culturally tailored and ignore Indigenous trans-generational trauma will be far less effective in creating lasting change.