This chapter discusses the traumatic experiences of Auntie Lorraine Peters, a Gamilaro woman from Western New South Wales. It highlights a traumatic event in her childhood when she and her siblings were forcibly removed from their family by the government and the harsh conditions they endured in institutional homes.
In Australia there are an estimated 17,000 Stolen Generations survivors, and a lack of culturally relevant mental health services is a major barrier to healing for many of them. Now programs led by Indigenous communities themselves are helping people to confront and move past their trauma. We talk with Stolen Generations survivor Aunty Lorraine Peeters, whose life experience led to a pioneering healing program, and became part of a groundswell of Indigenous-led solutions to address trauma. And Indigenous psychologist Kelleigh Ryan describes the challenges to supporting culturally appropriate healing.
Presented as part of Reconciliation Week 2020, and the ABC's Walking Together initiative.