Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation connects Aboriginal community members to services that help them recover from trauma, reconnect to their community, and build a sense of self-worth and confidence. Baabayn has strong contacts in the community and prides itself on providing a welcoming environment where individuals and families can heal. The organisation runs activities, drop-in support and counselling sessions, idea-sharing conferences and cultural Healing Circles for community members.
One in six women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or previous partner since the age of 15, and Indigenous people are 32 times more likely to be hospitalised for family violence [1]. Domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness in Australia.
Karri* is a young Aboriginal mother of five children. Since escaping domestic violence, she has been living between multiple refuges and friends’ homes. She currently lives in one bedroom with all of her children. The waitlist for the Department of Housing is extremely long, and no one will rent to her privately, despite her being able to afford the rent.
Karri came to Baabayn for support with one of her children. She began counselling sessions to address her child’s behavioural issues but has continued receiving counselling to recover from her own hardships. Karri has joined other programs at Baabayn and now attends four days a week. She reports feeling more confident in her parenting skills and in resolving conflicts with family members. Karri also has more self-belief and identifies more strongly as an Aboriginal person since attending Baabayn. She says that her children also now identify as Aboriginal with pride. The emotional and cultural relief Karri has found at Baabayn has provided hope for the future.
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of this client
[1] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2019), Family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia: continuing the national story 2019
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