In May 2010, the Healing Foundation announced its first funding initiative aimed at acknowledging and addressing the pain and hurt caused by colonisation, forced removals and other past government policies. The primary purpose of the healing initiatives was to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous people and communities, focusing on the wellbeing of body, mind, spirit and culture.

In October 2010, following an open-tender funding process, the Healing Foundation awarded funds to 21 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-controlled agencies to deliver healing initiatives. Projects ranged from one-off events to large-scale three-year projects. Projects received funding of between $56 000 and $400 000 for development and implementation.

The funded projects support work in urban, regional and remote areas of Australia. The Healing Foundation is supporting healing across our community for men, women, families and communities, children and young people and Stolen Generations.

Project activities include:

development of local healing centres

healing camps on country

cultural renewal and revitalisation activities including traditional dance, song, arts and crafts, ritual and ceremony, kinship structures and bush trips

the use of both western and traditional healing practices including Ngangkari treatments, bush medicine, wild flower essences, meditation, massage and bush tucker

men’s and women’s gatherings

individual and group counselling

leadership and mentoring projects focusing on trauma prevention

life skills programs focusing on prevention, resilience and recovery from trauma

development of resources to heal trauma, grief and loss

increasing skills and knowledge sharing between organisations and individuals involved in providing healing services.

In the January to June 2012 reporting period, 17 of the initial 21 funded projects continued to provide services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.