→ Gnibi: the College of Indigenous Australian Peoples, Southern Cross University, NSW

Thirty years of practice based research informs the empowering self discovery and self healing experienced by students of Indigenous Wellbeing at Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples at Southern Cross University in Lismore, NSW.

Gnibi's wellbeing program builds on 'We Al-li', the doctoral and post-doctoral work by Professor Judy Atkinson in the area of trans- and inter-generational trauma and healing.

"Childhood trauma, abuse and neglect is a fundamental public health challenge - this is now widely recognised - and it's a challenge that can largely be met with appropriate prevention and intervention," said Professor Atkinson.

"As a grandmother I could not live and think that I was handing to my grandchildren this legacy ... That what has happened in our communities now – where violence has been almost normalised in human behaviours ... We have to start to address it."

We Al-li seeks to have people come to the knowledge that each person – irrespective of disability or assumed deficit – possesses the resources to promote and experience her or his sense of connectedness with self, with others and with the world in general. 'We' means fire in the Woppaburra language and symbolises the spirit of cleansing, 'Al-li' the life giving force of water.

We Al-li is delivered as a series of activities, workshops and recreations which promote spiritual, cultural, physical, emotional and mental wellbeing for all individuals, families and social groups. It provides the personal and professional development essential for practitioners to be able to counsel effectively or be able to work in the area of trauma, family violence and positive parenting, not only in the Indigenous Australian context but around the world, says Professor Atkinson.

"When I hear about more police or the army being sent into areas of conflict, I worry about how these recruits will cope! Trauma is being unleashed around the world in ever increasing waves. I get calls from people daily asking how can we do things better."

We Al-li is now housed at Gnibi College, which since 2001 has been under the directorship of Professor Atkinson, co-recipient in 2006 of The Carrick Institute's Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Education. Gnibi runs a Certificate Level 4 of Indigenous Therapies; an undergraduate degree in Trauma and Healing; and a masters level degree in Indigenous Studies (Wellbeing), with nine post-graduate by research students being supervised at the time of writing.

"Women and men skilled in these areas can provide a catalyst for communities to begin to process their own healing. They fulfil the vital link for people who know that they have a problem and are calling out for support to begin to work things out.

"The Certificate 4 in particular is empowering action research at the grassroots. Its delivery and practice is very much at the community level, whereas the Masters is more theory related," Professor Atkinson said.

"Leadership comes when we take courage; when we stand up and we challenge lies," says Professor Atkinson.

"At times, invitations for emergency assistance come to us and we are able to send out teams with the skill sets to go and work intensively with families in crisis. Sometimes, this means sitting together under a tree for days at a time. Or it may mean engaging with governments to implement appropriate services or building programs for those at risk of offending.

"At every step of the way, the students are my teachers. In the work we do together, it's about education and care ... I like to call it 'educare'."

Find out more

Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples
Phone: 02 6620 3955
Email: gnibi [at] scu.edu.au
Website: www.scu.edu.au/schools/gnibi