Helen Kennedy

Abstract

This PhD aims to understand Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing and healing and recovery from complex trauma within Aboriginal led kinship care. This will be addressed by two studies.

Study one: Narrative Review

Research question: How are ‘social and emotional wellbeing’ and ‘healing and recovery from complex trauma’ conceptualised and understood in policies and frameworks supporting implementation of Aboriginal-led Kinship care and cultural and family reunification programs?

Study two: Grounded theory study.

Research question: How do Aboriginal-led kinship care and Aboriginal cultural and family reunification programs support social emotional wellbeing, healing, and recovery?

The Grounded theory study aims to privilege the voices of lived experience in Aboriginal-led kinship care, including young people, carers and those working as professional practitioners in the sector, many of whom may also have a personal lived experience of the kinship care system.

The research will be conducted in collaboration with three Victorian Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in Melbourne and regional areas of Victoria as outlined below.

• Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA)
• Bendigo & District Aboriginal Corporation (BDAC)
• Ballarat & District Aboriginal Corporation (BADAC)

The research will be supported by a Community Advisory Group made up of these agencies and community advisers.

Implications

The narrative review will offer insights into how current policy and guiding frameworks are understanding and operationalising core concepts of Social and Emotional Wellbeing and healing and recovery from complex trauma. It is expected that this work will help to identify limitations within current policy approaches and opportunities for future policy reforms

The completed grounded theory will explain processes of healing and recovery, including family reunification. The theory will be used to promote best practice in an Aboriginal-led Kinship model in Victoria, with the potential to contribute to broader policy and practice discussions nationally.

Ultimately, the PhD will help to contribute to improving the social and emotional well-being outcomes of Aboriginal children and young people in kinship care, as well as carers and practitioners.

Supervisors

• Associate Professor Graham Gee (primary)
• Professor Stephanie Brown

School

• Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
• General practice/Paediatrics Department/s, Melbourne Medical School

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