Social & Emotional Wellbeing

The Stolen Generation refers to the systematic removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities. From 1883 to the early 1970’s an estimated 100,000 Indigenous children were forcibly removed (for more information please refer to the Bringing Them Home Report).

Effects relating to the Stolen Generation include:

• Insecurity and lack of self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness
• Depression and suicide
• Delinquency and violence sometimes leading to imprisonment
• Alcohol and drug abuse and/or
• Lack of trust and intimacy

Goondir has Counsellors who are able to address a full range of emotional and social problems endured by survivors of the Stolen Generation and their families.

Mental Health

Good mental emotional health is a vital part of overall good health and wellbeing. It is just as important to maintain good mental health as it is to maintain good physical health.  The Mental Health Counsellor is responsible for providing assessment, case management, referral and follow-up for clients seeking assistance with mental emotional issues. Episodes of mental emotional unwellness can come and go in periods throughout people's lives. The Mental Health Counsellor can assist you to understand your personal and emotional issue/s and help to ease the pain and discomfort that these issues can cause. This may involve brief interventions, counselling, initiating and managing planned treatment options, consultation and referral to other agencies or crisis management.

Substance Misuse Worker

The Substance Misuse Worker addresses issues and challenges that are faced by clients with drug and alcohol issues and understands the importance of harm minimisation and advocacy for an often marginalised client group.

Goondir Counselling Services ensures professional counselling/support services are made available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Counsellors/Workers provide:

• Confidential Counselling/Intervention
• referrals to both Counselling Services & Link-Up Services
• Confidential referral to "Link-UP" (Qld) Aboriginal Corporation
• Confidential history taking
• Telephone or one to one support
• Stolen Generation information, services, and inquiries