When an indigenous child or adolescent experiences trauma, loss or grief, there can be extra complexities that need to be taken into account. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians experiences of loss are multifaceted and complex, and involve the ‘normal’ losses that people experience as well as the other losses that are specific to Indigenous Australians.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians have historical and cultural ways of dealing with loss. These differences should be considered, however, being culturally sensitive should be balanced with best practice principles.

This section of the hub gives some useful information and background about child and adolescent trauma, loss and grief from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander perspective.

ACATLGN Resources

Transgenerational Trauma Presentation

Transgenerational Trauma Audio

Transcript of presentation (pdf 184 kb)
On this page - Interviews on trauma, loss and grief of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
In 2009 the Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma Loss and Grief Network asked questions of five members of the Footprints in Time Steering Committee:

• What we really need to know about grief and loss?
• How do we make sure our children are better able to cope with diversity?
• How does unresolved grief affect our children’s futures?
• What are, or aren’t, our systems doing to support our children?

Review of the Working Well Guide
By Shane Merritt

Other Resources

Trauma and loss - MHFA Guidelines for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Guidelines Project, The MHFA Training & Research Program

Resource that is most useful for professionals and community leaders.

Child protection and Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander childrenAustralian Institute for Family Studies
This report presents and discusses the involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system.

Working Well Guide: Reflections on providing suicide prevention projects in remote Aboriginal Communities in Central AustraliaReview of report, Mental Health Association of Central Australia
A report compiled for the We Know Our Strengths Project, a partnership between Waltja Tjukangku Palapayi Aboriginal Corporation and the Life Promotion Program, Mental Health Association of Central Australia.

Suicide prevention in Indigenous communitiesLIFE – Living is for Everyone
This factsheet discusses issues of suicide prevention and cultural considerations for those working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.  

Suicidal thoughts and behaviours and deliberate self injury
Mental Health First Aid Training and Research Program 
Guidelines from Mental Health First Aid that have been adapted to be specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Weblinks

Aboriginal Suicide Prevention ResourcesLifeline
A list of resources from various sources, that have been compiled to assist those that may be suicidal.

Far North Queensland Suicide Prevention Taskforce
Website designed to provide support and information for those working in Far North Queensland with people who are suicidal from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. 

Footprints in Time: The Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children (LSIC)
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
The LSIC study aims to improve the understanding of the diverse circumstances faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, their families and communities. The study is designed to determine how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children develop resilience, what helps to improve their wellbeing and future and to recognise links between early childhood experiences and later life outcomes. On this website you will find further information about this study, including data and results collected from the first waves of the study. 

Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS)
Telethon Institute
The WAACHS is the largest and most comprehensive study of Aboriginal child health and development ever undertaken in Australia. This website offers a wealth of information and resources, including free access to all main survey publications, regional profiles and research themes. 

The Lowitja Institute
This is Australia's national institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health research. The website contains extensive information and research that aims to bring evidence based research into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research. 

Indigenous Australia
Oxfam Australia
This website contains information on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians and the work that is being done to help Close the Gap. 

Close the Gap
A national campaign taking action to improve Indigenous health. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and Psychology Interest GroupAustralian Psychological Society
This site provides many references to research and publications.