Partnership to Cultural Healing

Carinity Communities – Illoura, based in Beaudesert, has partnered with the Scenic Rim Indigenous Elders to pioneer a new program to assist children in care.

Program Manager Reuben Vail said the overrepresentation of indigenous children in care is a key issue across Queensland.

“The clinical approach to this problem is not working and I have had great results by using a community-inclusive approach with people in the past.”

“The Auntie’s were working tirelessly to help people in the community however they didn’t have a place of their own where people could feel safe and comfortable. I invited them to use Illoura.”

“We’re now working together to drive a cultural healing approach as well as establishing a safe place for people to come.”

Aunty Ruby Sims said this was the first time such a partnership has happened.

“We work with Reuben’s counselling with the kids by reinforcing why we’re a strong people.”

“We tell stories about the past. Aunty Levina organised a trip for a group of primary students for Uncle Bevan to tell them stories by the river, which was really successful.”

“It’s about restoring cultural connection. There has to be a time for listening to “Country”, listening to the grandmothers, listening to our children,” she said.

“We are all born to our place by the fire. We are all born with our own cultural strengths.”

Photo: Reuben Vail, Aunty Ruby Sims, Trey Page, Phyllis Blanco, Aunty Levina Page, June Vail, Aunty Ruth James, Uncle Bevan Page and Aunty Sue Blanco.

Carinity Communities – Illoura, provides much more than general counselling services to the community of Beaudesert and surrounds. The family friendly centre also offers a community-inclusive approach to people’s wellbeing by running activities such as arts and craft classes, parenting courses, family fun days, ladies’ time-out nights and community barbecues.