Trauma and Violence Informed Care Through Decolonising Interagency Partnerships: A Complexity Case Study of Waminda's Model of Systemic Decolonisation.

Patricia Cullen,Hayley Longbottom,Kathleen Clapham,Keziah Bennett-Brook,Rebecca Ivers,Maree Hackett,Marlene Longbottom,Cleone Wellington,Tamara Mackean,Faye Worner,Julieann Coombes

doi:10.3390/ijerph17207363

Abstract

Through the lens of complexity, we present a nested case study describing a decolonisation approach developed and implemented by Waminda South Coast Women’s Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation. Using Indigenous research methods, this case study has unfolded across three phases: (1) Yarning interviews with the workforce from four partner health services (n = 24); (2) Yarning circle bringing together key informants from yarning interviews to verify and refine emerging themes (n = 14); (3) Semi-structured interviews with a facilitator of Waminda’s Decolonisation Workshop (n = 1) and participants (n = 10). Synthesis of data has been undertaken in stages through collaborative framework and thematic analysis. Three overarching themes and eight sub-themes emerged that centred on enhancing the capabilities of the workforce and strengthening interagency partnerships through a more meaningful connection and shared decolonisation agenda that centres Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities. Health and social services are complex systems that function within the context of colonisation. Waminda’s innovative, model of interagency collaboration enhanced workforce capability through shared language and collective learning around colonisation, racism and Whiteness. This process generated individual, organisational and systemic decolonisation to disable power structures through trauma and violence informed approach to practice.

Highlights

Indigenous peoples globally are spiritually and culturally diverse
The data were separated into three overarching themes according to the evolution of Waminda’s decolonisation approach over time: (1) complexity of interagency partnerships; (2) a new approach to decolonising the workforce; (3) decolonising partnerships
Describing the complexity of interagency partnerships was key to understanding the system context and how this sits within the dynamic of colonisation

Summary

Methods

2.1. Design and TheoryDecolonisation is at the centre of the First Response project and the nested case study (Figure 1) [20].As such, our theoretical stance draws on Indigenous scholarship around decolonisation, which assert that dominant ways of knowing, being and doing are grounded in white superiority and are the products of historical inaccuracies and institutionalised practices and identities [7].Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, x

Results

Discussion

Conclusion