July 3, 2014
by Marcus Priaulx,
Barambah PaCE
A new self-help and empowerment program began in Cherbourg last month to help strengthen people, families and the community.
The program hopes to increase school attendance and improve life outcomes so that everyone involved will have a better future.
Sound fanciful? Well, it’s not.
The Cultural, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program worked well in the Kimberley where it was developed, and is now being rolled out to eight communities across Australia – including Cherbourg.
It was designed by a National Empowerment Team led by Bardi woman and psychologist Professor Pat Dudgeon.
Her people come from an area in Western Australia’s Kimberley region which was being devastated by social issues.
Rather than try to think up solutions solely within their own group, the National Empowerment Team worked with different communities to identify the causes and suggest actions.
Consultants in eight towns were trained to do research and ask people what challenges they faced, and how they could be overcome.
They identified issues involving youth, family life, personal relationships, substance abuse, community future, unemployment, health and mental health.
The new empowerment program was developed so individuals can tackle these problems.
More than 20 Cherbourg people enrolled on June 2 into a series of two-day workshops which are held on a weekly basis, for six weeks, at the old Emu Farm.
Queensland Mental Health Commissioner, Dr Lesley van Schoubroeck, arrived the following day (Mabo Day) to formerly launch it.
Cherbourg workshop facilitators Bronwyn Murray and James Stanley said the aim was to give people the skills to improve their lives.
“We get them to think about what social, emotional and cultural well-being means,” Bronwyn said.
“We then come back to the wellbeing of the individual, get people to think about where they sit within a family, what role they play and what role others play in their relationships, what’s their well-being within that, is there stability, or do they need to change things to function as a family?
“From there it’s about people within their community and what role they play within it or would they like to play a greater part.”
The aim is to get people to think about how they can contribute to bettering their own lives and those of others.
They may wish to become a volunteer coach or a shire councillor, start a business or just find work.
“We get them to set goals and then refer them to agencies or people who can help them,” Bronwyn said.
The follow-up work will last over a 12-month period.
It’s a big job for Bronwyn and James but it’s hoped Cultural, Social and Emotional Wellbeing workshop graduates, or Cherbourg community people, will take on leadership roles to help.
The end result will be will be stronger people, strong families.
“With that stability everything else will follow,” Bronwyn said.
“If a family becomes functional with structure and has motivated people with high self-esteem, everything becomes better.”
Note: Two more six-week workshop series will follow the ending of the current one to cater for people who want to take the program but missed the first sign-up.
[Photos: Marcus Priaulx]
