This book provides an accessible resource for conducting culturally safe and trauma-informed practice with First Nations’ peoples in Australia. Designed by and for Australian Indigenous peoples, it explores psychological trauma and healing, and the clinical and cultural implications of the impacts of colonization, through an Indigenous lens. It is a companion for anyone who works or will work with our families and communities.
The authors recognise trauma at the heart of all Indigenous disadvantage, and explore types of trauma in the context of Indigenous, collective cultures. The chapters take an Indigenous ‘Yarning’ approach to sharing knowledge, and encourage readers to challenge their unconscious, long-held beliefs and worldviews. Nicole Tujague and Kelleigh Ryan identify the differences between mainstream systems and more holistic Indigenous understandings of social and emotional health and wellbeing and outline a meaningful practice framework for practitioners. They analyse types of complex trauma, including intergenerational, institutional, collective and historical trauma; and discuss the impacts of racism and the concept of ‘cultural load’. They also address vicarious, or “compassion” trauma experienced by front line workers and carers; and offer insights into their experience of working with collective healing programs.
This book is essential reading for Indigenous practitioners and service providers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is also a valuable resource for students likely to work with First Nations’ peoples within a broad range of health and social science disciplines.
Author(s): Nicole Tujague, Kelleigh Ryan
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 304
City: Cham
Foreword
Preface
Respect for Cultural Protocols
Contents
About the Authors
List of Figures
1: Introducing Billabongs of Knowledge
Honouring the Ancestors
Who This Book Is for
Who Are We? A Personal Introduction to Us and Our Family
What Is the Story Behind This Book?
How Is This Book Different?
Why ‘Billabongs of Knowledge’?
How Are the Chapters in the Book Structured?
About Each Chapter
Chapter 2: The Lay of the Land
Chapter 3: The Journey Towards Cultural Safety: Cultural Safety in Trauma-Informed Practice from an Indigenous Perspective
Chapter 4: Yarning at the Campsite: Understanding Trauma
Chapter 5: Sharing Trauma Knowledge: Types of Trauma
Chapter 6: Yarning about Racial Trauma
Chapter 7: Sharing Practice Knowledge
Chapter 8: Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma and Self-care
Chapter 9: Culture and Healing
2: The Lay of the Land
Introduction
Acknowledging Australia’s First Nations Peoples
The Culture of the Book
We Privilege an Indigenous Perspective
We Take a Strengths-Based Approach
We Emphasise Self-Care Throughout the Journey
We Take an Aboriginal ‘Yarning’ Approach to Sharing Knowledge
Checking-in, Checking out
Emotions and the Body
The Role of ‘Grounding’ Exercises
Self-Reflection as a Skill
Understanding How You Build Your Knowledge System
The Social and Emotional Wellbeing Wheel
Concluding Comments
References and Further Reading
3: Towards Cultural Safety: Cultural Safety in Trauma-Informed Practice from an Indigenous Perspective
An Indigenous Perspective on Cultural Safety
Defining Cultural Safety: A Continuum of Practices
Cultural Safety Requires a Trauma Lens
Know Your Own Cultural Worldview
Concluding Comments
References and Further Reading
4: Yarning at the Campsite: Understanding Trauma
Introduction
Circles of Knowledge and Connection
What Is Trauma?
The DSM Definition of Trauma
First Nations Peoples and the DSM
Trauma and Neuroscience
Structure of the Brain
A Simple Model of Brain Structure: The ‘Triune Brain’ (Fig. 4.3)
Model of Brain Structure with Amygdala and Hippocampus (Fig. 4.4)
Responses to Threat: Befriend, Fight, Flight or Freeze
Window of Tolerance
What Does the Threat Response Look Like in Young Children?
The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System
What Do You Do When You Can’t Fight Back?
Polyvagal Theory and the Vagus Nerve
Polyvagal Theory and the Threat Response
The Impact of Early Traumatic Experiences
The ACE Study
Attachment Theory
Attachment Styles
Attachment in Individualist Cultures Vs. Collective Cultures
Concluding Comments
References and Further Reading
5: Sharing Trauma Knowledge: Types of Trauma
Introduction
Why Categorise Trauma?
Single Incident Trauma
Developmental Trauma
The Body Remembers
The Impact of Developmental Trauma on Language Development
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Triggering and Retriggering Explained
Trauma Brain Images
Complex Trauma
Intergenerational Trauma and Epigenetics
Institutional Trauma
Institutional Trauma at the Kinchela Boys Home
Collective Trauma
Historical Trauma
Environmental Trauma
Want to Know More About Environmental Trauma?
Concluding Comments
References and Further Reading
6: Yarning About Racial Trauma
Introduction
Notice Your Reactions
What Is Racism?
Racism as a Fear Response
Why We Don’t Talk About Racism
The Impact of Everyday Racism
Everyday Racism Is Bad for Your Health
Everyday Racism Is Isolating
Everyday Racism Dehumanises and ‘Others’ You
Everyday Racial Trauma: Racial Microaggressions
Micro Assaults
Micro Insults
Micro Invalidations
Common Themes of Microaggressions
Stereotyping
Exoticising
Pathologising
Responses to Microaggressions
Overt and Covert Racism
Meritocracy and Intergenerational Privilege
Covert Racism Reinforced by Ongoing Colonisation
Native Title, Land Rights and Stolen Generations
Cultural Load
Tips for Allies
Concluding Comments
References and Further Reading
7: Sharing Practice Knowledge: Trauma-Informed Practice
Introduction
Decolonising Practice: The Social and Emotional Wellbeing Wheel
Decolonising Practice: Circles of Knowledge and Connection
The Five Rs of Trauma-Informed Care
The FEAR Rubric
F is for Fear Extinction
E is for Emotional Regulation
A is for Attentional Bias and Cognitive Distortion
R is for Relational Dysfunction
Culturally Safe, Trauma-Informed Practice Principles
Safety
Trustworthiness
Collaboration
Choice
Empowerment
Culture
Concluding Comments
References and Further Reading
8: The Cost of Caring: Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue
Introduction
Responding to Trauma Stories: Empathy or Sympathy?
Vicarious Trauma: Not If, But When
Vicarious PTSD
Compassion Fatigue
Burnout
Warning Signs of and Risk Factors for Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma
What Helps Minimise Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue?
Compassion Satisfaction
Workplace Support
Connection
The 5th R: Replenish
Self-Care as Ethical Imperative
Everyday Self-Care Minimises Everyday Exposure to Trauma
Listening to Your Body
Making Time for Your Support Systems
Setting Boundaries
Planning Time for You
Nurturing Your Spirit
Sleeping or Resting?
Concluding Comments
References and Further Reading
9: Billabong of Culture and Healing
Introduction
Culture and Identity
A Story of Culture and Identity
Symbiotic Relationships
How Culture Heals
Water Music
Rituals, Dance, Story and Songlines
Weaving as a Protective Factor
Culture in Self-Care
Privileging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems
Respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Strengths
Connection to Country
The Dreaming and Creation
Language and Culture
Dadirri and Yarning
Collective Healing
Collective Healing Programs
Driven by Local Leadership
Have a Developed Theory and Evidence Base
Proactive, Rather Than Reactive
Developed to Address Local Issues in Community
Understanding Traditional Healing
The 6Rs of Culturally Responsive Practice: The Damulgurra Program Model
Concluding Comments
References and Further Reading
Index
