Back to previous
Crisis

Housing

Listen to the audio

This morning the whole family is at home when the Homeswest property manager shows up. He says they have received reports of “brawling” in the front yard and that the police had to come break us up. None of that is true. We tried to explain to him what really happened. He listens and says he will investigate it further.

 

A few days later though a letter arrives saying we have a strike against us for ‘Disruptive behaviour’. It listed the police record and a ‘number of complaints’ as evidence.

 

Nothing happened! People were grieving and being loud, that’s all. I am really worried now. How many more strikes can we get before they kick us out of this house? Where would we go? I don’t even know who to speak to about this. I can’t ring the Homewest cause they may think I’m causing trouble.

 

It feels like we are trying so hard but the weight of the world just keeps getting piled on.

Understand the stats

31%

of Aboriginal families had been evicted from the home they were living

58%

of Aboriginal families had experienced homelessness

Understand the stats

42%

of Aboriginal families accessed housing pathway/housing support services

34%

of Aboriginal families accessed homelessness/emergency accommodation

back

Resilience

Listen to the audio
Find out more about
  • Story4-Culture

  • Culture

Brianna and her family continually feel like they are fighting a system in order to just stay afloat.

 

When times get tough though Brianna knows she can always turn to her family for support.

 

Her culture and her community are very important to her and give her strength. This has been true for her people for a very long time.

 

Saying that, like everything else in life, these things too are not without their challenges.

Find out more about
  • Story4-Community

  • Community

Back to previous
Resilience

Culture

Listen to the audio

This week I managed to go spend time on boodja (my Country). It has been a long time since I last could go but Aunty and I traveled together with my cousin in his car. I got to take the kids too which was important. Just spending a few days with family on Country did so much to lift our spirit.

 

My Aunty is the Elder in our family and we spent hours listening to her and all her stories. We learned so much from her. She told us about some of the things her family used to do back then. Hunting, cooking, practicing tradition, and football. Even then football was important.

 

My Aunty wanted to take us to some other parts of our boodja but a lot of it is fenced off now. White man rules say we can’t go there.

 

Kadisha seemed a lot happier by the end of that trip. I hope it gives her as much strength as it gives me.

Understand the stats

85%

of Aboriginal family members who did not live on their traditional country were allowed to visit all areas that they considered their traditional country

5%

could visit one area that they considered their traditional country

8%

were allowed to visit some but not all areas that they considered their traditional country.
back to previous
End of story

Thank you for exploring
Brianna’s journey

Scroll down if you want to make an impact

Calls to Action

Families repeatedly asked us before, during and after their engagement; ‘how will my information be used to make a difference? It is through this lens and in the context of your own influence and responsibility that these calls to action should be viewed.

Support people to identify and achieve their life goals – their way

Families are intimately familiar with their own circumstances and needs and hold valuable perspectives about what approaches would work for themselves and their communities.

Elevate the role and amplify the voice of people experiencing disadvantage

Families consistently reported that they often don’t feel seen or heard in policy or practice settings and would like to add their voices and lived experience in designing, implementing and evaluating policies, programs and social change that impacts them.

Ensure every Australian has access to adequate income to meet their basic needs

The 100 Families WA evidence demonstrates the positive benefits that the Coronavirus Supplement had on family members, which ultimately supported them to live with a greater dignity.

Build and strengthen local community networks and supports

Families draw on their relationships with family, friends, neighbours and community networks when available, for both practical assistance and emotional support to meet a variety of needs.

Challenge stigma and create a safe, supportive environment for people

Family members continue to experience stigma and discrimination at individual, community, service and societal levels. Safe, supportive environments can help reduce people’s experiences of stigma and discrimination.

Make it easy as possible for people to access support when they need it

Family members reported a range of personal, organisational and systemic barriers to accessing formal and informal supports. Reducing these barriers can reduce the financial, emotional and time costs for families who are currently navigating multiple formal supports.

Prioritise and develop trusted and enduring relationships

Families’ positive experiences of seeking support depends on being genuinely listened to and supported with care and understanding of their individual circumstances.

Invest in prevention and early supports

Policies, services and community-based programs focused on prevention and early support, in addition to crisis services, can help support people to solve issues before problems escalate.

Recognise the value of caring roles and other contributions to society

Recognising, valuing and supporting the multiple ways that family members contribute to their families and society can create social and economic benefits and reduce inequality

Reflection

Informed by what you have learned, please answer the below question. Your comments are made anonymously and will not be attributed back to you.

Learning

Interested in continueing your 100 Families journey? Stay connected to 100 Families WA by adding your details below (only quarterly contact will be made via newsletters and project opportunities).

Click on the links below to download key resources to help you on your learning journey.

Download the Full report
Download the Summary Report
Download the Lived Experience Framework
To access further 100 Families WA resources, click here
To access other helpful resources, like the WACOSS Advocacy Toolkit, Outcomes Framework and more, click here
Website design by Dropin Solutions
contact us on 100familieswa@wacoss.org.au

Go to next story

Jo, Single mum

Go to next story

Sam, living homeless

Go to next story

Carol, Grandparent Carer

Background

Brianna is a 36 years old strong aboriginal woman with 2 beautiful girls. The stigma that her people suffer and her childhood traumas have affected her life in all aspects like employment and housing. Sometimes it all gets too much for her to handle.
Vision/goals

I want a life that is stable, where I can raise my girls into strong, proud women. The basic stuff really; children in school, knowing their culture and family, me studying, a car, employment, enough money to provide a safe and a clean home.

Background

Brianna is a 36 years old strong aboriginal woman with 2 beautiful girls. The stigma that her people suffer and her childhood traumas have affected her life in all aspects like employment and housing. Sometimes it all gets too much for her to handle.

Vision/goals

I want a life that is stable, where I can raise my girls into strong, proud women. The basic stuff really; children in school, knowing their culture and family, me studying, a car, employment, enough money to provide a safe and a clean home.