Working with Aboriginal communities in NSW

Aboriginal culture is one of the oldest surviving cultures in the world. Aboriginal people have developed and continue to display great resilience through interdependent relationships between kin, communities, connection to country, sea and spirit and the cyclical belief of life-death-life. Since colonisation, Aboriginal people and communities have experienced challenging events such as hardships and grief through loss of country, children and identity. Trauma from these losses can be passed down from one generation to the next. Trauma can also result from new experiences of racism and discrimination at work, school, or in the general community. Trauma, isolation and discrimination can leave some people and communities vulnerable to higher rates, and increased risk, of suicide.

Conversations Matter is a resource for professionals working with Aboriginal community members in NSW, Australia. The resource provides professionals with tools to talk about suicide in safe and supportive ways. It includes a range of information depending on whether professionals are talking generally in the community, to someone they are worried about, or are wondering how they could have a conversation with someone who has lost a loved one to suicide.

The resource has been developed by a team of people including representatives from the Awabakal, Wonnarua, Gomeroi and Biripi Nations, Aboriginal health and community workers, Wiyiliin ta Aboriginal Child and Young Persons Counselling Service HNELHD, the Healing Foundation, the National Torres Strait Islander Health Workers Association, the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council NSW, Nikita Ridgeway of Boss Lady Creative Design Agency, Mental Health Commission of NSW and Everymind.

Given the diversity of beliefs, customs and practices across Aboriginal communities, the project team has developed these resources based on a set of core principles. The core principles may be useful to consider alongside the separate fact sheets and podcasts - located in the left hand navigation menu.