Project Title:

Grief and Trauma

The focus for this project was to assist communities and individuals to cope with the grief and trauma experienced due to drug misuse, premature deaths, violence, suicide and the host of other causes that affect Indigenous people.

The project arose from meetings in Murray Bridge in 1996 and 1997 to address the appalling levels of suicide and premature death being experienced by the community at that time.  A group of Elders met and developed the ‘In Search of a Rainbow’ document which outlined a community response to help individuals and families deal with the grief and trauma they were suffering. 

Project Objectives:

The program had a number of aims – supporting individuals, families, Indigenous workers and the community as a whole.  The project was based at the Lower Murray Nungas Club in Murray Bridge but much of the individual support work was done after hours from the principal Project Officer's home or in other’s homes.The Project Officers' roles included supporting individuals and families facing difficult situations.

Project Strategies:

One aspect of the project was its efforts in maintaining the community services provided by the Lower Murray Nungas Club after funding to such organisations was cut in 1997. The Project Officers were active in keeping its doors open, maintaining its services and trying to get other programs and funding to make sure that the Murraylands community continued to have a functioning community centre.  The project provided administrative support for the Club – at a committee level and within administration.

The Project Officers also had associated roles on the boards of community organisations such as Kalparrin Community, the Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee (AJAC), and the Aboriginal Elders Council.

Project Status:

Past project.

Resources resulting from the project:

The Grief and Trauma project has produced its own information pamphlets on grief and loss issues and there is also a range of resources dealing with grief and loss.  These can be obtained from the resources section of the website, or contact ADAC.

Project Contacts:

Andrew Biven
Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council (SA) Inc.
53 King William Street
Kent Town, SA, 5068
Ph: +61 (08) 8362 0395
Email: andrewb@adac.org.au

This page last updated: November 2003