Ngagagee Ngulu Murrup Durra
‘Ngagagee Ngulu Murrup Durra’ means ‘Hear us: our voices, spirit and heart’ in Woiwurrung, the language of the Wurundjeri Peoples.
This project has been developed in collaboration with six Victorian Aboriginal partner organisations and focuses on the experiences and healing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survivors of child sexual abuse.
Partners in the research are organisations currently supporting survivors, families and communities to heal from child sexual abuse, or in the area of prevention of child sexual abuse. Our partner organisations include Safe Pathways to Healing Sexual Assault Prevention Working Group, Yoowinna Wurnalung Aboriginal Healing Service, Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC), Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS), Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) and Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO).
Please note that the following outline of research discusses the difficult, sensitive topic of child sexual abuse.
This five-year project has three phases or ‘Platforms’ of research.
Platform 1 focuses on supporting the Victorian workforce dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survivors.
Platform 2 will be co-designed with survivors and draw on their experiences and insights to better understand what is needed to enable healing and recovery.
Platform 3 will focus on supporting communities through early intervention and prevention work.
Our approach in this research is underpinned by Indigenous research methodologies including Dadirri (‘deep listening,’ gifted by Dr Miriam Rose Ungunmerr Baumann) and the research principles outlined by Professor Lester Irabinna-Rigney: resistance as the emancipatory imperative in Indigenous research; political integrity in Indigenous research; and privileging Indigenous voices in research.
What does this study add?
This study aims to provide new insights into healing and recovery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survivors, their families and communities. In addition to a focus on healing, we are committed to contributing what we can through this research to the early intervention and prevention of child sexual abuse. We are passionate about ensuring all children have a childhood free from sexual abuse.
Platform 1 of the research included the establishment of an Aboriginal Governance Group, Cultural Wellbeing and Yarning Gatherings to gather information and support the work of partner organisations, and the establishment of a Community of Practice for practitioners and managers working in this complex space.
What is already known?
Child sexual abuse is a human rights and global health issue affecting all nations and cultures. The recent Australian Child Maltreatment Study has highlighted how pervasive child sexual abuse is in Australia. International research shows that, across cultures and societies, child sexual abuse is disproportionately reported among communities experiencing political and social inequality and systemic discrimination. These issues are highly relevant for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the impacts of child sexual abuse are of concern to many communities. The literature emphasises that, in addition to focusing on individual healing and recovery, there needs to be far greater investment in social and structural change and First Nations-led initiatives.
It was wonderful to be part of something special where we all connected through stories while supporting each other in our cultural activities.
Thank you for the safety, care, the balancing of the two days and the nourishing right through the two days when the content and experiences can be raw and hard.
What’s next?
We have started work on an international scoping review of literature exploring Indigenous peoples’ experiences of healing and recovery from child sexual abuse (see below).
Drawing on data generated at the Cultural Wellbeing and Yarning Gatherings, we are developing a grounded theory of healing from a workforce perspective.
Plans are underway for the development of a resource for organisations working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survivors that captures learnings and understandings shared by participants in the research. This resource is envisaged as a living document that will continue to evolve as the project progresses.
We are currently evaluating the Community of Practice established in 2023; we anticipate findings from this work will be available later this year.
Where can I read more?
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A Systematic Scoping Review of Indigenous People’s Experience of Healing and Recovery from Child Sexual Abuse.
Gibbs J, Milroy H, Mulder S, Black C, Lloyd-Johnsen C, Brown S, Gee G. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(3), 311
