A healing program developed from an Indigenous perspective will be delivered free of charge for local community members in March and May in Southern NSW. 

Organised by COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN, the one-day Red Dust Healing workshops will be held in Eden, Queanbeyan and Goulburn and facilitated by Barry Fernando, a proud Yuwaalaraay man within Gamilaroi nation.  

Red Dust Healing is a self-evaluating awareness program designed to help people deal with hurt and anger in their lives. Aimed at the heart and not the head, the Red Dust Healing program arms participants with the tools to make better choices and to fix things in their own lives. The workshops cover areas such as anxiety, fear, social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, suicide safeguarding, domestic violence, and law and justice.  

COORDINARE’s Community Engagement Consultant for Aboriginal Health, Terry Hill said: "The workshops are for Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members - this includes clients, carers and service providers working in this area. 

“It is important these workshops are accessible to local communities as there remains ongoing grief and trauma among Aboriginal communities in the Southern region and local Aboriginal community representatives have identified the need for these Red Dust Healing workshops.  

“As part of COORDINARE’s commitment to working collaboratively to improve wellbeing and suicide outcomes for Aboriginal community, we believe attendance at these workshops will contribute to the healing process and help with the grief and loss experienced by our communities,” said Mr Hill.  

A participant in a recent workshop said, “An amazing day, I took more from it than I expected. Having images to help describe emotions, managing distress and big emotions will be helpful in my work." 

Designed by Tom Powell, a Warramunga man from within the Wiradjuri Nation, Red Dust Healing received the 2017 United Nations of Australia Award for services to Human Rights. Over 17,000 people in over 400 communities Australia-wide and internationally have so far benefited from the Red Dust Healing program.  

Workshops are from 9.30am to 3pm, click below to register:  

• Eden at the Log Cabin, Friday 8 March  
• Queanbeyan at Breakfree, Tuesday 7 May  
• Goulburn at the Mercure, Wednesday 8 May  

*Header image: Barry Fernando, a proud Yuwaalaraay man within Gamilaroi nation, workshop facilitator.

Aboriginal health, Community, Events, Mental health, Southern NSW