Culturally-Equipped Programs Create Change for NSW Aboriginal Women
/Creating change for Aboriginal people through healing is the mission of Sydney-based Nelly’s Healing Centre.
Reasons why Aboriginal Women Need Support
Sadly, Aboriginal women are among the most disadvantaged women in Australia making up a third of the female prisoners in NSW despite only being 3% of the total prison population. More than 80% of Aboriginal women in prison are mothers who face historically high and increasing rates of child removal. As it currently stands, low numbers of Aboriginal females within our community and the continued misunderstandings of their cultural and specific needs has meant that few resources are available to them for help.
Leading the Way Meeting Aboriginal Women’s Needs
Gomeroi and Biripi woman, Helen Eason, is using her experience as a service user and long-time supporter of her community to develop and implement a service that is culturally equipped to meet the needs of Aboriginal women and their families in their healing journeys.
yoga foundation’s teacher, eve white, teaches a class at Nelly’s healing centre.
How Nelly’s Healing Centre Provides Support
Nelly’s Healing Centre uses traditional culturally equipped strategies that aim to provide highly disadvantaged and at-risk Aboriginal women and their families with a holistic, individually tailored, intensive support service. Harnessing cultural and trauma-informed approaches and solutions, Nelly’s will strive to peel away layers of intergenerational disadvantage and make real change.
Traditional culturally-safe healing practices have been shown to have the most efficacy in restoring these Aboriginal women's health. It can be combined with transformative partnerships with western practitioners to create innovative, evidence-based and culturally appropriate services. These address intergenerational disadvantage and support lasting change.
The Yoga Foundation’s Partnership with Nelly’s Healing Centre
Since February 2020, The Yoga Foundation has been working with the women supported by Nelly’s. Our program aims to support the mental wellbeing of the participants through yoga, build a connection to the self, to others and their Aboriginal culture.
The Yoga Foundation’s teacher, Eve White, a proud Wirridjuri woman and Indigenous Cultural Educator, is leading the program. Eve is doing a beautiful job in making the women feel safe, nurtured and respected.
The yoga-based programs at Nelly’s Healing Centre create opportunities for the women to connect with themselves, with their mind and body, and with their culture—critical for social and emotional wellbeing.
Participant Feedback from Nelly’s Healing Centre Yoga Program
These are some of the participant’s feedback from The Yoga Foundation’s program at Nelly’s Healing Centre, Redfern.
“It helps reset my week and create good tensions, this can be helpful by being a single mum.” - Alison
“It helps with the chaos around and in my mind gives me a sense of peace of mind. Nourished my soul last week. The cultural aspect is needed when we are so disconnected in this modern world.” - Tori
“Good for my body, gets me ready for the day. A recharge” - Kristie
COX Architecture Support Creates New Yoga Program
Nelly’s yoga-based program is in part supported by a new corporate program for COX Architecture.
The Yoga Foundation is delivering an 8-week mindfulness program to support COX’s extensive staff, who are mainly working from home. Eve White is teaching the mindfulness program creating a bridge between COX Architecture’s program and the one they are supporting at Nelly’s, which creates a beautiful symmetry.
If you are interested in learning how your company can support a program with The Yoga Foundation while running a customised corporate yoga program for your staff contact Jessica Hobson, The Yoga Foundation’s General Manager at jessica@theyogafoundation.org.au.
Sponsor a Corporate Yoga Program
The Yoga Foundation teaches corporate yoga programs that help fund yoga for at-risk groups with mental health concerns. Our customized programs will provide your staff with simple, evidence-based strategies and tools such as movement, breathing, mindfulness and meditation to support their mental and physical health. Choose from one of our ten corporate programs or customise a program for your staff.
Learn more about Nelly’s Healing Centre or read the groundbreaking study about the cycle of trauma and incarceration for Aboriginal Women in NSW.