Challenges and struggles Archives - ...metaphorically speaking

‘Drumming Up Connection in Community’ with Simon Faulkner

July 31, 2019

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My guest on the podcast this week is the brains and the hands behind the therapeutic program, Drumbeat at the Holyoake Institute. Simon Faulkner went on to set up his own business, further developing his Rhythm2Recovery model (R2R) which has now made its way into the UK, USA and Germany.

R2R combines experiential rhythmic music with cognitive reflection, as a therapeutic intervention suitable for one-to-one counselling, groupwork and community development. Thousands of practitioners across Australia have been trained to use drumming to connect with their clients experiencing a range of life challenges. Simon brings many years’ experience working cross culturally, delivering training programs and therapeutic interventions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as well as First Nations communities in the USA and Canada.

In this conversation, we discover how Simon, who does not identify as a musician, came to appreciate the drum as a therapeutic tool for connection.

In episode 31, we explore:

Why drumming has been such an effective therapeutic tool for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Simon’s discoveries working with First Nations peoples in Canada and the USA, and how this has influenced the development of the Rhythm2Recovery model
How the drum if used correctly can promote a safe therapeutic relationship
An overview of the research behind rhythmic therapeutic interventions
The ways drumming is being used therapeutically in Indigenous communities around Australia and how it is being received
What inspired Simon to develop this methodology, and the beliefs and values behind his intentions for the work
The biggest struggles Simon faces in working cross culturally and the skills and knowledge he has used to overcome them
What really makes Simon’s heart sing in his community and your chance to get involved

To listen, simply click on the Play button below or listen via the Stitcher App for iOS, Android, Nook and iPad.

You can subscribe to future podcast episodes from our Subscription page. Don’t forget, if you or someone you know would make a great interview on ‘Talk the Walk’, send us an email from the Contact Page.

Things to follow up after the episode:

Rhythm2Recovery – access to training, resources, evidence and fact sheets.
Drum Circle Facilitator Training.
Performing Arts in Prisons, Intellect Books.
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion (2012) by John Haight.
Contact Simon Faulkner.

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Re-writing Stories of Identity: Alicia’s Story

July 3, 2019

by metaphor with No Comment Challenges and struggles Child Protection Child Removal Client Stories Healing from Trauma Inspiring Stories Narrative therapy Storytelling Strengths and Resilience

The first day I met Alicia, not that long ago, she said ‘I want to share my story with other people. I want to help others who are going through similar struggles.’

In the few months that followed, I sat down to interview Alicia on her experience of having her children removed and the many years that followed, fighting to get them back. This alone appeared to be a very powerful and healing experience for Alicia. Our narrative conversations allowed Alicia to reclaiming her identity from one which was defined by the Child Protection system as ‘a worthless mother who was not going to get better’ to her preferred identity as a ‘strong-willed, stubborn but patient fighter who never stopped loving her kids’.

In narrative therapy, Denborough says “while we can’t always change the stories that others have about us, we can influence the stories we tell about ourselves and those we care about”. In telling our stories in ways that focus on our strengths for getting through difficult times, we have the power to re-author our lives. No longer are we trapped by the problem story that we have come to believe is true; we now have a new and different story of what we stand for and value in life.

Our therapy together has allowed Alicia to reclaim her ‘storytelling rights’ (Denborough 2017) and tell her story in a way that fits for her, not defined by others. The Charter of Storytelling Rights includes:

the right to define their experiences and problem in their own words and terms.
the right not to have problems caused by trauma and injustice, located inside them, internally, as if there were some deficit in them. The person is not the problem; the problem is the problem.
The right to have their responses to hard times acknowledged.
The right to know and experience that what they have learned through hard times can make a contribution to the lives of others in similar situations.

It is this last right, that Alicia now wishes to exercise. Today, is the first time that Alicia is going public with her story. This is an opportunity for you, the audience, to be witness to the alternative story Alicia is taking on about her life.

We invite you to read Alicia’s Story of ‘never, ever giving up’ and then send a message back to Alicia about how this story has changed you.

If you know what it is like to experience child removal, we invite you to continue the conversation with us on our Facebook Group.

References:
Deborough, D. 2014, ‘Retelling the Stories of Our Lives Everyday Narrative Therapy to Draw Inspiration and Transform Experience’, Norton.

“Coming From a Place of Not Knowing” with Alanna Audus

November 21, 2018

by metaphor with No Comment Burnout Challenges and struggles Colonisation Culturally Fit Social Workers Culturally sensitive therapeutic tools Decolonising social work practice Ethics and values Healing from Trauma Metaphors Narrative therapy Narrative work with Aboriginal communities NT Emergency Intervention Podcast Remote social work Self Care Social Work with Indigenous communities Social Work with passion Starting out in Indigenous social work Working with Metaphors

There is something to be said about social workers who are graciously willing to tell their story, just 12 months after diving into their remote social work experience. Still in the midst of a giant learning curve, Alanna Audus joins me on Talk the Walk to share the ups, downs and delicious highlights of her beginnings in Alice Springs. Alanna is a newcomer to narrative therapy and is delighted with the way her somewhat ‘kooky’ conversations with people are beginning to shape their lives for the better. She works as a generalist and victims of crime counsellor for CatholicCare NT with some of the most marginalised Aboriginal people in Australia.

This conversation is as delightful as it is authentic. So be warned, Alanna’s heartfelt generosity may inspire you to pack up your city life and go bush.

On episode 27, we explore:

What led Alanna to pack up all her belongings and head to Alice Springs
What it’s really like starting out in social work with no prior experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Alanna’s unique story which has influenced her passion and drive for social justice
A ‘fly on the wall’ account of Alanna’s approach to counselling, starting out in narrative therapy
Why relationships are at the heart of Alanna’s practice and feeling okay about not knowing
The rich conversations that transpire working with metaphors
Methods of narrative documentation such as letter writing which record people’s processes of acknowledgement and achievement, and what difference this makes to clients
Struggles and challenges Alanna has faced in her first year in a remote community and the notion of ‘doing therapy on yourself everyday’
The influence of nature and the raw environment on Alanna’s self care, allowing her to do high intensity social work
Reflections on resilience in ourselves and our clients
The people, institutions and the influence of radical politics that have shaped Alanna’s social work practice framework and life
Reflections on the NT Emergency Intervention more than a decade on, a continuation of ongoing oppression and disempowerment which began with colonisation
Words of wisdom for other social workers considering the move from big city to remote outback and avoiding burnout
A sparkling moment from Alanna’s last week

To listen, simply click on the Play button below or listen via the Stitcher App for iOS, Android, Nook and iPad.

You can also subscribe to podcast and blog updates via email from the Menu on the Home Page.

Don’t forget, if you or someone you know would make a great interview on ‘Talk the Walk’, send us an email from the Contact Page.

Things to follow up after the episode

Contact Alanna on alanna.audus(at)gmail(dot)com

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‘Facing the Realities of the History of Social Work in Australia and Getting Over Yourself’ with Emma Searle

September 19, 2018

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In the yarning chair on ‘Talk the Walk’ this week is Emma Searle, a senior social worker at the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney. Emma works within a continuity of care model of maternal health social work, where Aboriginal women can meet the same group of midwives from pregnancy to follow up post-natal care.

There is more to this interview than just reflecting on the daily challenges of working with vulnerable Indigenous women. Emma invites us to enter into a conversation about the uncomfortable realities of being a non-Indigenous social worker, in a world where Indigenous child removal is high and white professionals make the decisions about what is best for Indigenous families. Working within a system with a history of oppression and racism, Emma set out to investigate how other countries were doing culturally competent practice.

On episode 25 of ‘Talk the Walk’ we explore:

The incredibly busy role of a social worker in a maternal and infant health service
The factors that impact on the likelihood of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women reaching out for support, where they have Child Protection closely scrutinising them
The stigma that comes with being a social worker; the challenge this poses for engaging vulnerable Aboriginal women; and how Emma overcomes these hurdles
Addressing the over representation of non-Indigenous health and welfare professionals making decisions about Indigenous people’s lives and the alarming rate of children removal
Emma’s key findings from her Churchill Fellowship exploring the needs and experiences of Indigenous women in Canada, the USA and New Zealand
What a difference it can make to Aboriginal families by acknowledging and celebrating language and culture
Best practice success stories in maternal social work overseas including ‘bicultural practice’ in New Zealand
How Emma is using her learnings to improve services for Aboriginal women here in Australia
The essential skill of being able to have ‘difficult conversations’
Visiting the early influences on Emma’s life and the values and beliefs that she connected with in the profession of social work
What Emma’s thinks is the superpower unique to social work
The people and movements that have shaped Emma’s social work practice
Emma’s sparkling moments in maternal health social work since returning to Australia
Emma’s interest in Brene Brown’s work on shame and vulnerability
An invitation to join the conversation on culturally competent practice

To listen to this episode simply click on the Play button below or listen via the Stitcher App for iOS, Android, Nook and iPad.

You can also subscribe to podcast and blog updates via email from the Menu on the Home Page.

Don’t forget, if you or someone you know would make a great interview on ‘Talk the Walk’, send us an email from the Contact Page.

Things to follow up after the episode

Read another great story about the Malabar Midwives service as featured in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Bi-cultural practice as it relates to Social Work – A summary by the ANZASW

To explore Bi-Cultural practice and the concepts of White shame and guilt read, A Pākehā journey towards bicultural practice
through guilt, shame, identity and hope

Emma’s favourite video from Reconciliation Australia that references our shared story and the importance of acknowledging the past as part of building a future together.

Brene Brown – TED talks, books and writings

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How Did Metaphors Become a Part of My Therapeutic Framework?

August 9, 2018

by metaphor with No Comment Art therapy Challenges and struggles Counselling Culturally sensitive therapeutic tools Expressive therapies Healing from Trauma Metaphors Narrative therapy Practice tools Social Work with Indigenous communities The Life of Tree Working with Children Working with Metaphors

One of my very first learnings all those years ago in counselling work with Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory was their tendency to talk in round-a-bout ways. At first I found this frustrating. You could not ask a direct question and get a direct answer. It will usually be silence or a head nod (which does not necessarily mean yes, but a polite acknowledgement)! So I had to find ways that clients would be comfortable to share their experience safely in ways which suited their communication style and integrated their traumatic experience. After trying the methodologies I’d learnt from narrative therapy and getting such a good response, it dawned on me that working with metaphors was common sense. Aboriginal people have been communicating in metaphorical ways since time began, through their dreaming stories and ancestors. This way of working just fits! Whether it has been in individual counselling or groupwork with women and children or in training and mentoring with Aboriginal workers, concepts or ideas are much easier to communicate through metaphorical stories, verbal or visual.

My first exposure to working with metaphors was at the Dulwich Centre. “The Tree of Life” methodology was inspired by the work of Ncazelo Ncube of REPSSI (Zimbabwe/South Africa) to respond to children affected by HIV/AIDS. I’ve used this and its sister method “The Team of Life” with children in the Tiwi Islands with great success, training local Aboriginal women to facilitate the activity. The tree metaphor gives children a safe place to stand to explore challenges and problems in their lives without re-traumatising them. I also noticed how the adults supporting the children, started talking about their own lives using trees.

“Trees can teach us a lot about how to live. Our traditional way of life is about caring for each other and growing strong families. Now there are storms destroying our families and hurting our children. We can see it’s not a healthy life for our people”. – Elaine Tiparui, Bathurst Island.

Picture: Ian Morris. This image has been used to talk about the role of the whole family/community to grow up strong kids (Grandparents are the old growth trees in the background, Uncles/Aunties and parents in middle, teenagers as younger trees and babies/toddlers the little seedlings in front).

I went on to work collaboratively with the women of Tiwi Islands and NE Arnhemland to develop a new tool using the tree metaphor to invite women into a conversation about violence and its affect on children’s development. “It Takes a Forest to raise a tree: Healing Our Children from the Storms in their Lives” is my first resource produced in community, with community, for community.

As my counselling work progressed, I found that narrative therapy still relied on people being able to verbally express a story. Neuroscience tells us that the impact of trauma on the brain means that people are simply unable to talk about what happened to them, even if they wanted to! Many of the children, I’ve worked with were still very much non-verbal and I’ve come to rely more and more on art as a method of communicating and integrating traumatic experience. Working alongside Aboriginal Child and Family Support Workers using their own languages, we discovered ways for children to document their stories of abuse, violence and neglect using methods like drawing, clay, collage and mask making. Not surprisingly these stories were communicated through aliens, imaginary friends, monsters, dreaming animals, body parts and other such creatures apart from themselves. To offer other alternative ways in to children’s stories, I also went on to write ‘The Life of Tree’, a therapeutic picture book, designed to help Aboriginal children speak up about their trauma experience. Metaphors work in the most magical way to bring healing!

…metaphorically speaking will continue to experiment with playful and effective therapeutic tools using metaphors in our direct work with clients and in the resources we produce in the future.
You can read more about how we are integrating use of metaphors with other therapeutic modalities on our page ‘How We Work’.
You can also find further resources on using metaphors in counselling and trauma work in our Professional Development Library.

Just some of the beautiful trees that spoke to Anne around the community and on homelands.

‘Opening Doors and Letting Stories Unfold’ with Anne Carrick

February 7, 2018

by metaphor with No Comment Challenges and struggles Community Work Cross Cultural practice Culturally Fit Social Workers Domestic and family violence Ethics and values Health and wellbeing Inspiring Stories Podcast Reflective social work practice Remote social work Self determination Social and emotional wellbeing Social Work Placement Social Work with Indigenous communities Social Work with passion Starting out in Indigenous social work Talk the Walk podcast Two way learning

Anne Carrick working on Kunibidji country

In episode 20 of ‘Talk the Walk’, my guest today captures the essence of what it takes to move from a big city to a remote community in the heart of Arnhemland. Social Worker, Anne Carrick spent three years immersed in community life and working in a social and emotional well-being program alongside 13 language groups and clans, each with their similar but different traditions living on Kunibidji land. Anne says “This is one of the most multi-lingual communities in the world.”

If you’ve ever considered working remote or wondered what it is like, Anne’s stories, memories and lessons learned are pure gold.

In this episode we explore:

Anne’s early learnings working with Aboriginal people as a young social worker in Adelaide and Ceduna
The thinking and motivation behind Anne’s move to the Northern Territory
One article every Balanda (whitefella) needs to read before working in Aboriginal communities
A typical day working in the social and emotional wellbeing program in a remote Aboriginal community
The effects of daily life being exposed to frequent domestic violence and suicide attempts
The role Elders and leaders took in responding to domestic and family violence
The outcomes Anne was able to achieve assisting women, children and families
How a social work assessment process differs in a remote community compared to a more urban settling, and the role of Aboriginal workers
How the community shaped new understandings of mental health using the positive concept of living a life ‘worried well’
Anne’s experience of supervising social work students; what students can do to prepare themselves for a remote placement; and good advice for anyone thinking of working remote
Anne’s challenges and struggles; and what sustained her
The vision, principles and values inherent in Anne’s social work practice framework and how she advocated for this in a system which had different ideas about tackling social issues
Tracing Anne’s ethics and values back to early childhood
The wake up call that may help you prevent burnout
Accessing good supervision and support

Just some of the beautiful trees that spoke to Anne around the community and on homelands.

Don’t forget, if you or someone you know would make a great interview on ‘Talk the Walk’, send us an email from the Contact Page.

Things to follow up after the episode

‘Kartiya are like Toyotas’ by Kim Mahood

“National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well-Being 2017-2023“, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (October 2017)

Social and Emotional Wellbeing Portal, Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Contact Anne Carrick on anne475esp(at)hotmail(dot)com

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‘Taking the time to build relationships’ with Louise O’Connor

December 14, 2017

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There’s something about the blue sky, the sparse landscape and the weaving of cultural stories that drew Louise O’Connor to Australia’s red centre. Far from her homeland of Ireland and not satisfied with the big city lights of Melbourne, Louise O’Connor packed up her meagre belongings and head to Alice Springs. She found herself working with the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council as a Domestic and Family Violence Case Worker and hasn’t looked back. Since arriving, Louise has been drawn to narrative therapy as an approach for working respectfully with Aboriginal women. She now supports a team of case workers implementing the Council’s new domestic and family violence prevention framework developed in consultation with the Australian Childhood Foundation and the large group of women they support in the NPY lands. Louise brought with her a long history of case work with refugees and asylum seekers, youth and people at risk of homelessness or in crisis, both in Australia and Ireland. Louise’s passion for sharing stories and helping others tell theirs shines through in my conversation this week on ‘Talk the Walk’.

In episode 18, we explore:

Why Louise uplifted her life in Melbourne to venture into Central Australia and how she got started in community work
A brief history of the NPY Women’s Council and its work
A typical day in the life of a domestic and family violence caseworker in the NPY lands
How the Women’s Council moved away from a justice focus to a violence prevention framework using a trauma-informed, community development, narrative therapeutic approach to practice
What Louise loves about her job and her journey into narrative therapy
How Aboriginal women are developing their own tools of narrative practice for use in their community
The everyday challenges of remote work and what Louise does to look after herself
The ‘strong stories board’ project – one of Louise’ sparkling moments
Louises biggest learnings and awesome words of advice for community development and social workers thinking of working with remote Aboriginal communities

Don’t forget, if you or someone you know would make a great interview on ‘Talk the Walk’, send us an email from the Contact Page.

Things to follow up after the episode

The NPY Women’s Council domestic and family violence service

Download the Family violence Prevention Framework

Episode 15 – ‘Telling the Stories of Our Lives’ with Sudha Coutinho

Contact Louise on lou_oconnor33(at)hotmail(dot)com

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“Every Child is Worth It” with Doug Dunlop

December 6, 2017

by metaphor with No Comment Challenges and struggles Counselling Cross Cultural practice Culturally Fit Social Workers Ethics and values Evaluation Healing from Trauma Podcast Remote social work Social Justice Social Work with Indigenous communities Social Work with passion Talk the Walk podcast Trauma-informed practice White privilege Working with Children

Today’s conversation on ‘Talk The Walk’ has many gems, but particularly for counsellors and social workers interested in developing an evidence based program that is also culturally safe. Doug Dunlop is a senior counsellor with the ‘Holding Children Together’ program based in Alice Springs and working with surrounding town camps. Doug is part of the team leading a rigorous evaluation process, developed and mentored by the Australian Childhood Foundation and a Cultural Advisory Group. In episode 17 of Talk the Walk, we also get a glimpse into the man behind the work; his historical roots, his life experience, the values and principles he brings to his trauma-informed, culturally-safe practice framework.
There is nothing quite like ‘Holding Children Together’ elsewhere in Australia and other organisations are starting to take notice of the Care Team model adopted by this child and family counselling service. The road to evidence-based practice is long, requires collective good-will and a large investment, but like Doug says “every child is worth it”.

In this episode, we explore:

Considerations for Doug arriving from New Zealand to work in Australia’s Central Desert communities
the stark differences working with Maori and Aboriginal children beginning with engagement in therapy
understanding trauma informed practice with Aboriginal children and their families
the Care Team model integral to ‘Holding Children Together’ (HCT)
a typical day in the life of a counsellor
how HCT is upholding cultural safety and working towards evidence based status
a sparking story that makes the work all the more worthwhile and why great outcomes cannot be tied down to one intervention
the challenges of working within a Care Team model
insights into the complexities of reunification with family when a lot of intervention has focused on establishing relationships with carers
what makes Doug so passionate about his work and the values he holds most precious
important considerations of cultural world views in cases of Aboriginal children in foster care which has implications for reunification
awareness of white privilege and seeing the world through the eyes of others
Moments from Doug’s early life that have influenced the values underpinning his practice
How Holding Children Together manage the exposure to trauma in counsellors
Hopes for the future of evidence-based counselling services and why it’s a good process to undertake

Don’t forget, if you or someone you know would make a great interview on ‘Talk the Walk’, send us an email from the Contact Page.

Things to follow up after this episode

Contact Doug Dunlop at doug(at)ra-nt.org.au

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Burnout and Vicarous Trauma: An employee defect or a yearning for collective action for social justice?

November 29, 2017

by metaphor with No Comment Burnout Challenges and struggles Commentary Ethics and values Justice issues My personal journey Self Care Social Justice Social work blog Social Work with passion Strengths and Resilience Strengths-based practice Vicarious Trauma

If you work in the area of trauma counselling, chances are you have an organisation or colleagues keeping a watchful eye out for the first signs and symptoms of burnout or vicarious trauma.

In my workplace we have to complete two tests every year – the Compassion Fatigue Self Test for Practioners and the Trauma and Attachment Beliefs Scale. We also have regular training so that employees can identify the symptoms in each other.

While it might be considered admirable for our organisations to have a Vicarious Trauma Policy and working proactively to promote the health and wellbeing of its employees, what is it that is really happening here? And what effect is this having?

If someone returns high results to vicarious trauma testing, the onus is on the individual to address it. They are encouraged to revisit their self care plan or self refer to the Employee Assistance Program. This kind of response pathologises the problem and locates it within the individual, that the counsellor is somehow defective or not strong enough. It follows then that the client is to blame for somehow causing an injury by sharing their story with us. Vikki Reynolds says using self care as an antidote for burnout “does nothing about the social determinants of health for people…. The problem is not in our heads or our hearts, but in the social world where clients and workers struggle with structures of injustice.” Vikki argues that assuming a position where clients are seen to be hurting us is not an act of accountability at all.

In Darwin where I practice, we are surrounded by some of the worst cases of injustice in Australia such as the mistreatment of youth in detention, the highest rates of removal of Aboriginal children from their families and concerning numbers of child abuse within the foster care system. Not far from us, refugees on Manus Island continue to suffer.

Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to hear the sad and heartbreaking stories of abuse and violence and the impact this has had on our clients. And yes, I see and hear the impacts of intergenerational trauma outside my house; it’s difficult to escape it sometimes. However, I return a normal vicarious trauma result. I also hear inspiring stories of skills, knowledge and strengths of survival; stories of people speaking out to the Royal Commission so that the same thing doesn’t happen to other people; stories of people taking action to reduce the isolation caused by their poverty and homelessness. I admire the steps of resistance my clients make against systems of injustice. Indeed, clients do not hurt us, but instead inspire us, teach us and critique us says Reynolds.

The biggest critique our clients could legitimately make is why we, as workers, are not ‘fostering collective sustainability’*, coming together in solidarity to challenge the institutions and systems which marginalise and victimise our clients.

Indeed the collective silence of social workers in Australia is more likely to lead to my potential burnout, due to my frustration with the profession. Why are social workers not out on the streets marching together to get Manus Island refugees to Australia? Why are we silent in our support of our Indigenous comrades in the fight for Recognition? Why are we standing back and allowing removal of Aboriginal children from families to go up and up? Isn’t that why we entered this profession in the first place, to make a real difference to the social structures of injustice? I was once accused of getting too close to a community because I cared too much, and was threatened to be removed by my employer. However I was proud of my role as an advocate for social justice for the community and its people.

Social justice activism is a protective factor against vicarious trauma. It’s not our clients that are hurting us. It is our silence and inaction.

Perhaps the care we can show our colleagues is not to watch out for signs or symptoms of vicarious trauma in the workplace, but to gather in solidarity around shared ethics of social justice and collective accountability. Let’s get out on the streets and do what we signed up for.

*‘Fostering collective sustainability’ is one of the guiding intentions advocated by Vikki Reynold in Justice Doing in Community Work and Therapy.

“Privileging the Voices of Aboriginal People” with Tileah Drahm-Butler

November 15, 2017

by metaphor with No Comment Aboriginal world views Challenges and struggles Cross Cultural practice Culturally Fit Social Workers Decolonising social work practice Hope-Focused Social Work Hospital social work Indigenous Voices Speaking Up Justice issues Narrative therapy Narrative work with Aboriginal communities Podcast Racism Reconciliation Remote social work Social Justice Social Work with Indigenous communities Social Work with passion Storytelling Talk the Walk podcast

What a delight it was to be speaking with Tileah Drahm-Butler this week on ‘Talk the Walk’, about her journey into narrative therapy and her approach to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Tileah’s passion for social work and giving Aboriginal people a voice shines through in this conversation. We also gain insight into the woman behind the work and the long list of inspiring women in her family that stand behind her.

Tileah is a Durrumbal woman currently living in Kuranda and working as a Senior Social Worker at Cairns Hospital. She has worked in a range of programs in Cairns and Cape York, including developing and delivering the Drop the Rock program, building the capacity of Aboriginal communities in mental health service delivery. In 2014, she completed the Masters in Narrative Therapy and Community Work.

Tileah is a co-author of ‘Aboriginal Narrative Practice: Honouring storylines of pride, strength and creativity’ where she writes about the many ways she is developing and using narrative practices that resonate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. She is a member of the International Teaching Faculty of the Dulwich Centre for Narrative Therapy.

In Episode 16 of Talk the Walk, we explore:

The notion of narrative therapy as a decolonising practice that gives the client agency over their problem
What works in narrative practice for Aboriginal and TSI people in the context of an emergency and intensive care unit of the hospital
Re-membering conversations
The strong story of Aboriginal people’s lives incorporating their family, community and ancestors stories
The influence of Tileah’s cultural background on her practice
Social work as a political practice
Attracting Aboriginal and TSI people’s to the profession of social work and other allied health professions
The AASW mental health accreditation process and how that fits for practitioners working with Aborginal and Torres Strait Islander clients
The ethics and values underpinning Tileah ‘s commitment to social work
The influence of Tileah’s family and ancestors that holds her to the principles of justice-doing
The struggles of dealing with systems built on racism and the effect this has on Tileah as a practioner and a human being
The narrative therapy community that strengthens Tileah’s resolve and the stories that keep her going
Sparkling stories of hope and resistance
Tileah’s interest in beekeeping and what the bees have taught her about social work
Tileah’s dreams of raising the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to Close The Gap
Reconciliation in action

Don’t forget, if you or someone you know would make a great interview on ‘Talk the Walk’, send us an email from the Contact Page.

Things to follow up after the episode

Indigenous Allied Health Australia

The Dulwich Centre (home of Narrative Therapy in Australia)

Subscribe to the Narrative Therapy journal

Wingard, B., Johnson, C. & Drahm-Butler, T. (2015) Aboriginal Narrative Pratice: Honouring storylines of pride, strength and creativity, Dulwich Centre Publications, Adelaide.

Drahm- Butler, T. (2015). Video: Decolonising Identity Stories: A Friday Afternoon production from Dulwich Centre Foundation.

Contact Tileah via The Dulwich Centre

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