Healing the Past by Nurturing the Future: Aboriginal parents’ views of what helps support recovery from complex trauma

Abstract

We aimed to understand support needs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents experiencing complex trauma.Becoming a parent is an exciting yet challenging transition, particularly for parents who have experienced past hurt in their own childhood which can have long lasting effects, including complex trauma. Complex trauma-related distress can make it harder to care for a baby, but the parenting transition offers unique opportunities for recovery. This formative research is part of a community-based participatory action research project which aims to co-design perinatal awareness, recognition, assessment and support strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents experiencing complex trauma. We used an Indigenist approach and grounded theory methods. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents who were pregnant and/or have children up to two years old were recruited through perinatal care services and community networks in three Australian sites (Alice Springs, Adelaide and Melbourne). Parents were offered a group discussion or individual interview, facilitated by Aboriginal researchers. Third-person scenarios and visual tools were used to facilitate reflections about the impact of past experiences, what keeps parents strong, hopes and dreams, and what is needed to achieve those dreams. Parents were also shown themes from a previous systematic review of parents’ experiences as a prompt to identify any additional key issues. Seventeen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents participated in August to September 2019. Most were mothers (n = 15). The study’s grounded theory methods provided the foundation of a theoretical supposition that positions the transformation of the compounding cycle of trauma, to a reinforcing cycle of nurturing at the intersection of: 1) parents’ connectedness; 2) social and emotional wellbeing; and 3) the transition to parenting. Unique opportunities and challenges situated at the interface are bound to the compounding or reinforcing nature of the intersecting factors. Findings reveal complexity, differing experiences by gender and age, as well as within and between communities.

Aspects of Wellbeing for Indigenous Youth in CANZUS Countries: A Systematic Review

“…There were 29 studies that reported on the wellbeing of Indigenous youth in Australia [ 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 ]. Our thematic analysis identified seven overarching components of wellbeing for this population: basic needs; relationships; culture; aspirations for the future; identity; recreational activities and interests; and physical and mental health.…”

“…Tight financial situations can prevent young people from accessing basic needs and extra opportunities, such as sport [ 102 ]. Accessing health services can be easier for youth through community-controlled health clinics [ 82 , 85 , 98 , 101 , 106 , 107 ], however service providers report financial instability remains a barrier to access [ 97 ], and youth may be reluctant to access community clinics due to concerns around their privacy in small communities [ 99 ].…”

“…Cultural practices are fostered through community and kinship relationships, and knowledge sharing regarding culture and cultural activities [ 84 , 87 , 88 , 101 , 102 ]. Cultural activities and practices, such as getting out on Country [ 87 , 90 , 101 , 106 ], art [ 85 , 88 , 102 ], singing and music [ 88 , 102 ], yarning and story-telling [ 90 , 100 , 101 ], dance [ 88 , 101 , 103 ], smoking ceremonies [ 85 , 101 ], and fishing, hunting and bush tucker [ 84 , 87 , 101 , 106 ] are important aspects of Indigenous culture that improve youths’ wellbeing. Adults convey to youth the importance of passing on cultural knowledge; they teach youths about cultural identity and what their cultural practices are, instilling a sense of pride, belonging and identity for youth [ 88 , 90 , 98 , 102 ].…”

“…Living between the two worlds of Indigeneity and Western post-settlement society can hinder youths’ navigation of connections to Country, and societal and cultural norms [ 86 , 87 , 100 , 103 ]. Experiences of racism, particularly regarding Indigeneity and appearance, can leave youth feeling confused and isolated, and erode identity and wellbeing [ 85 , 93 , 100 , 104 ]. Negative representations of Indigeneity incur on youths’ identity, inducing feelings of shame [ 103 ].…”

Community views on ‘Can perinatal services safely identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents experiencing complex trauma?’

“…Participants in this study were clear that the escalating rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out‐of‐home care was never far from the minds of parents. Further, the ‘language of trauma’ itself can cause anxiety, and we need to positively reframe this negative language to foster the aspirations, hopes and dreams of parents for a ‘fresh start’ and new life with their baby (Chamberlain et al, 2019b; Chamberlain et al, 2021).…”