Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginals are considered as the natives of Australia. Colonisation has affected the natives of the country in a severe and disrupted manner. Some of the impacts were epidemic diseases resulting immediate life losses, settlers taking away their land, number of restrictions put on the natives impacted their abilities and tore their confidence. They weren’t even able to support themselves. The effect was such that the number of natives reduced considerably in the country. The colonisation led to spread of diseases like smallpox, influenza and measles (Ryan et al., 2017). The physical surroundings also led to severe illnesses in people and due to colonisation, the natives of Australia were forced to lead their life in inappropriate living conditions. The European colonisation led to social dislocation and spread of infectious diseases (Jalata, 2013). The people also faced losing their lands and food resources and they were removed from their places, forcefully imposed disease laws impacting their culture and violating their rights and genocidal massacres. Colonisation led to inequality and racism and was most detrimental to the health and culture of the native Australians. The Australians natives faced injustice at the time of the colonisation. The people also saw ill-health, unemployment, poverty and even imprisonments (Parker et al., 2014).
For a support worker, it is always advised to know the culture and the background of the clients, you are dealing with. It is important to know the culture of the Aboriginals and Torres Islanders, as we all are cultural beings and our culture defines us. Culture influences the way we perceive the world, our thought process, behaviour, actions & interactions. A support workers can only truly understand the problems and issues of their client when they are culturally competent themselves. A support worker is expected to be sensitive and emotionally aware about their client’s culture. The support workers knowledge of client’s culture can help them to work better and can have an enriching relationship with them. The support worker can relate to their clients better and can respond to their requirements in a much better way, if they understand their culture, upbringing and background better. Knowing the culture can facilitate in better understanding of each other, the client will feel comfortable and will share their issues and problems more openly (Liaw et al, 2011).
Housing, education and employment are some of the common requirements of the people. However, there are specific risk and protective factors that affect the mental well-being of the native Australian people. Some of the protective factors are cultural practices passed on, stronger governance of the community, self-determination, living either on the customary lands or near it, connection to ancestry, sense of belonging spirituality, culture, land and social connectedness, equal treatment, opportunities to revive and grow, financial security. Some of the risk factors are violence, misuse of substance, incarceration, health problems, social and economic dis-advantages, culture or race-based discrimination, physical abuse, identity issues, alcohol, prolonged illness, ill-treatment by the society, cultural separation, instability in the family, traumas which are unresolved, loss & grief, children stolen, bullying and lost generations etc (Kelly et al., 2009).
The family needs help to establish themselves again. They need help with accommodation, food, finance, medical, education etc. The family needs complete and full support from the social worker. The mother and two kids first of all need medical attention and nourishment and they all are pale and undernourished; they also need safe housing. The family will then need a place to stay. Next, Kirra would need employment to support her two kids. The daughter, Marli who is in depression would need good medical care, simultaneously. Then the family will also need support for education. The support worker will have to connect the family to various organisation providing support in the areas. The family should also be enrolled into healing programs run by various agencies where they can overcome the trauma and torture they have suffered for a long time. These programs can help them to get to their normal self quickly (Blagg, 2002). The support worker can also help Kirra to reconnect with his family, if that helps in any way. The Australian government through its agencies provide parenting payment, carer allowance, crisis and special help and also monetary support to families during family violence and abuse. Kirra would be connected with the Aboriginal and Islander women’s Shelter organisation providing accommodation to homeless women who are looking to escape the family violence. The organisation also provides referral and outreach support to these women. YWCA’s domestic and family violence centre can help Kirra with case management, assistance in legal matters. The family will also be connected with Centrelink for financial assistance till the time Kirra is not employed. Aboriginal development foundation in the area can help also Kirra over all. As a support worker the plan will be to first accommodate the family at a safe housing facility, then making sure they get timely food and nourishments. Then providing Marli medical care, to cope with her depression and so that her situation does not become worse of what it is now, she is still finding difficult to overcome her mental situation using the help of NTcommunity and Darwin house. The family will then be enrolled in various healing programs run by these organisations. Once the family is in their normal self, they will be given time to heal and keep the trauma behind them and move forward, Kirra will be motivated to seek employment and the children will be motivated to go to community schools and seek education for their better tomorrow (Blagg, 2002). Kirra is also worried that if she will not be able to provide care to her children, they will be removed and put in child care services. As a community worker, all help will be given to Kirra, so that she can keep her children with her. Also, Kirra and Yarran will be put into counselling sessions, where they can discuss their past trauma, incidents, fears and issues in detail and openly. They can talk to the psychologist knowing it will remain confidential and in-turn due care will be given based on the reports of the psychologist. In such cases where there is abuse and violence by a close family member, the mental condition of the victims is much worse than the physical situation. The victims have a severe mental impact and it is more difficult to cure and hence counselling sessions are must to understand their mental condition and about their thoughts and feelings (Gordon, 2002).
As a support worker I have tried to give the family a wholesome care, catering to their immediate needs and then the following. It been only three weeks since I have started working with the family, in their re-establishment, however the family has shown positive signs of coping. The family is in much better shape now. Kirra has been attending counselling sessions regularly. She has physically recovered and has managed to keep her children with her, with the help of all the assistance she has received. Also, the psychologist advised that the family should be kept together. Marli is still in recovering phase as her situation was the worse, she however has managed to come out of depression to some extent seeing her mother and brother in a better place but still there is time for her to fully recover, till then all the help will be given to her (Cheers et al., 2006). Yarran has now agreed t go to a community school to continue his education, but still is a little resistant and more so scared. The family has now shifted from the community housing provided by the Aboriginal and Islander women’s Shelter organisation and got their own stable housing with the aid from the Centrelink, the family is able to provide themselves with food and clothing. Kirra is also receiving single mother aid and other financial support from the Aboriginal development agency. Kirra is attending legal meetings and courthouses and filed for divorce with the help given by YWCA (Shea et al., 2010). Just in three week we can see a change in all the three. Bringing in all the organisations possible was a good decision as each organisation helped with a different aspect and I was able to help Kirra and her children to get all the help needed quickly and simultaneously. Connecting Kirra with Centrelink, will provide her with a long-term financial security and will be able to manage things in a much better way. Kirra initially was a little susceptible about her decision to leave her husband as she thought that she will be homeless and her children will be taken care and they will all be apart but know with all the assistance and help she has got she is in a satisfactory place. Kirra is now positive that she will be able to create a good and happy life for her children, provide them with education and motivate them to do better on their own. The decision to connect Kirra with her own family was also a wise decision as it is given her more strength, she feels connected and secured. She is now among people that are willing to help her in whatever she needs and are trying to keep her happy and safe. Therefore, the family is certainly better now and will soon be in a much happier place and will be able to build a better life for themselves in the future
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