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Mental Health Coordinating Council Supports National Reconciliation Week
The Mental Health Coordinating Council supports National Reconciliation Week, May 27-June 3, and this year’s theme, Grounded in Truth, Walk Together in Courage.
National Reconciliation Week promotes the importance of comprehensive truth-telling when talking about Australia’s history, in order to build strong relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
As the peak body for community managed mental health groups in NSW, the MHCC walks together with our member organisations, some which are run by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and some that employ and support Aboriginal Australians.
MHCC acknowledges the impacts of intergenerational trauma on Indigenous people and communities. While the impact of trauma is under recognised in some mental health services, Aboriginal people have been using a trauma-informed approach to healing for centuries.
MHCC is developing resources to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities accessing the NDIS, through the reimagine.today website.
Our two-day training on Culturally Informed, Trauma Integrated Healing Approach to Care and Practice, is designed and delivered by Aboriginal people for workers in mental health or community service who support Aboriginal people impacted by trauma.
Chief Executive Officer Carmel Tebbutt said “The relationship between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is at the heart of reconciliation and National Reconciliation Week is a time to recommit to achieving reconciliation in Australia. Aboriginal Australians continue to experience poorer mental health than non Aboriginal Australians and we must be guided by Aboriginal people and their vast knowledge of health and healing to understand how best to address this. The MHCC will continue to work with Aboriginal people to support self governed, inclusive and accessible mental health services.
