Ngagagee Ngulu Murrup Durra (‘The Ngagagee project’)

International research suggests that child sexual abuse is disproportionately reported among communities experiencing health inequities, political and social inequality and systemic discrimination. These issues are highly relevant for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the impacts of child sexual abuse are of concern to many communities. The literature emphasises that, in addition to focusing on individual healing and recovery, there needs to be far greater investment in social and structural change and First Nations-led initiatives.

This study aims to provide new insights into healing and recovery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survivors, their families and communities. In addition to a focus on healing, we are committed to contributing what we can through this research to the prevention of child sexual abuse in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

We anticipate the following outcomes from Platform 1:

1 An overview of current documented knowledge about Indigenous peoples’ experiences of healing and recovery from child sexual abuse, including barriers and enablers to disclosure, access to services and cultural components of healing and recovery.
2 Practice-based evidence for promising cultural and therapeutic approaches that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survivors of child sexual abuse and documentation of core elements of practice specific to Aboriginal healing services.
3 Preliminary evidence about how to strengthen workforce wellbeing in this area of work.
4 A theory of healing relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survivors of child sexual abuse.

Outputs will include workshop and community reports, practice briefs, community and academic presentations and peer-reviewed journal articles.

We anticipate this work being disseminated both within Australia and internationally. We have a strong interest in connecting with other First Nations researchers working in this area.