In Conversation: Healing and Recovery in Indigenous Communities

Professor Helen Milroy from Perth Children’s Hospital and the University of Western Australia, Dr Graham Gee from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Fiona Cornforth, founding Board Member of the National Centre and previous CEO of The Healing Foundation will explore how to create and restore safety with First Nations Communities in the context of the trauma and impact of child sexual abuse.

In this webinar, Professor Milroy, Dr Gee and Fiona will discuss what cultural safety means at a practical level and explore how we can develop an understanding of the deep knowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities hold and live as an important part of the healing journey. 

Date: Monday 28 August 2023

Time: 11am-12pm AEST

Where: Online 

Please note this webinar will be recorded.

Target audience: Anyone who works with First Nations children, young people and families experiencing child sexual abuse, community members, government, policy makers and researchers.

Workers who completed the National Centre's Learning and Development Survey highlighted a critical need for them to build their knowledge, skills and understand about how to work in culturally appropriate ways with victims and survivors. The conversation highlights the importance of dispelling myths and misconceptions surrounding child sexual abuse, emphasising that it is a widespread issue across Australia, as evidenced by the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS).

Featuring a live Q&A session with the speakers, all are welcome at this important and timely event.

Speakers

Professor Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia but was born and educated in Perth. She studied Medicine at the University of Western Australia, worked as a General Practitioner and Consultant in Childhood Sexual Abuse at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children for several years before completing specialist training in Child and Adolescent psychiatry. Helen is currently the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation Professor of Child and Adolescent psychiatry; a Commissioner with the National Mental Health Commission; Co-chair of the Million Minds Medical Research Advisory Group and Honorary Research Fellow with the Telethon Kids Institute. From 2013 to 2017, Helen was a Commissioner on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Dr Graham Gee is an Aboriginal-Chinese man, also with Celtic heritage, originally from Darwin. His Aboriginal-Chinese grandfather was born near Belyuen on Larrakia Country. Graham is a clinical psychologist and worked at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service for 11 years before taking up a Senior Research Fellow position at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. His area of research is healing and recovery from complex trauma among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with an increasing focus on child sexual abuse. In 2022, Graham received a Fellowship from the Eisen Family Private Fund that has supported his team to commence formative work with a Coalition of Victorian Aboriginal services dedicated to healing child sexual abuse. Among other advisory roles, Graham recently joined the National Clinical Reference Group for the Prime Minister and Cabinet National Office for Child Safety, and the Research Advisory Committee for the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse.

Moderator

Fiona Cornforth is of the Wuthathi of the far north-east cape of Queensland with family roots also in Zenadth Kes. She is a founding Board Member of the National Centre and previous CEO of The Healing Foundation. Fiona has gained experience and perspectives in education, leadership and business development globally and shares a message of celebration and gratitude for the greatness of ancestors, Elders, and the ontology and authority that holds her and her family.

About the In Conversation series

Hosted by the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse, our In Conversation series brings together experts from research, law, policy and practice to explore how we can work together to reduce, eliminate and respond to child sexual abuse so that victims and survivors are believed and supported to heal and recover.

About the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse

The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse (the National Centre) is a partnership between three respected organisations — the Australian Childhood Foundation, Blue Knot Foundation and the Healing Foundation. Established in late 2021, following a recommendation by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the National Centre commissions critical research, builds the capability of workers and organisations and raises community awareness to reduce stigma. Central to this work is elevating the voices of victims and survivors of all ages, life stages and communities.