![]() Instead, “healing” is explained as “a holistic process, which addresses mental, physical, emotional and spiritual needs, and involves connections to culture, family and land”. The words doctor, diagnosis, treatment and medication are conspicuously absent from this patter. It explains that Foundation workers visit indigenous communities, meeting with local people “to define healing, understand the impacts of colonisation in their local context, discuss their healing needs, share information about healing work in their communities and develop healing strategies”. Stating it uses “Aboriginal healing” to achieve positive wellbeing outcomes, the Foundation’s website is vague on medical practicalities. It is unclear if any medical professional or clinical psychologist expert in the diagnosis and treatment of trauma has input into the Healing Foundation’s $632 million programs funded by the Australian government. No medical specialist in Aboriginal health sits on the board or is listed in senior management of the Healing Foundation, which is incorporated as an unlisted public company. Fiona Cornford, the Foundation’s CEO, has a background in welfare administration, while her organisation’s board members include professionals from social work and public administration, plus Aboriginal activists and an academic. The focus is on developing trauma-focused welfare services in Aboriginal communities. The Healing Foundation is a government-funded body set up in 2009 to support initiatives which redress the historical removal of indigenous children from their families. In August 2021 the federal government directed $378 million of funding to the Healing Foundation, with a promise of $254 million more, in order to run trauma recovery programs for Aborigines. Charities are springing up to assist children who are being born with this medical condition. This traumatic disorder now figures in talk of schemes to compensate those of indigenous descent for historical injustices. “Intergenerational trauma” is increasingly referred to in publicity pressing for greater action on reconciliation, presented as a priority issue. In good faith they believe the innocent victims must be helped, and government is morally obliged to act. Most Australians are concerned when they are made aware of this alarming condition. The entire August issue by clicking this link ![]() Subscribers and non-subscribers alike can download This essay appears in our Voice online-only edition. The worst thing about this debilitating disorder is that it was caused by events involving forebears, sometimes whose names are unknown, many years ago. It is the root cause for chronic depression, alcoholism, drug dependency, eating disorders, poor educational achievement, family dysfunction, domestic violence, sexual abuse and suicide. This syndrome is responsible for many Aborigines suffering diminished mental health and thereby becoming wedged in social disadvantage. The passage of time, generational succession and racial intermarriage do not alleviate this affliction, because-like diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma-the medical condition is passed down through families. ![]() Those of indigenous descent are said to be suffering a traumatic condition caused by British colonisation. Over the past decade, sections of our media have taken up and publicised a serious medical disorder affecting the Australian community.
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