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Education and employment

Employment

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Aaron really struggles applying for jobs only to keep getting knocked back. Do you know, to get the Jobseeker payment now he has to apply for 20 jobs every month? I tell you, when you don’t have the internet or a computer, making applications online is almost impossible.

 

I see what getting those knockbacks does to him too. He thought when he got his TAFE qualification things might be easier but they aren’t. He doesn’t get any real help, apart from me that is. And what’s the point anyway, there are no jobs out there! 

 

That’ll be me next year too. When Riley turns 6, I’ll need to start meeting Jobseeker ‘mutual obligations’. I know it’ll be hard for me to get a job. I left school early and have been a stay-at-home mum since Kadisha was born.

 

Aaron and me, we want to work for a living and make our own money but honestly, I don’t know if that’ll happen for us.

 

Understand the stats

9%

of Aboriginal family members were employed

20%

were unemployed

71%

were not participating in the labour force

Understand the stats

20%

of Aboriginal family members had qualifications ` of TAFE Cert III or above

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Crisis

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  • Story4-Child-protection

  • Child protection

An Elder in the community passed away last week and so Brianna’s family and friends are going through Sorry time.

 

After the funeral, some people come back to Brianna and Aaron’s house and gather in the front yard. People are emotional and soon an argument breaks out around funeral costs.

 

There is a lot of shouting and some pushing and shoving which goes on for some time. Eventually, the police show up and ask everyone to go to move on, which they eventually do.

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  • Story4-Housing

  • Housing

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Crisis

Child protection

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I woke this morning feeling exhausted from yesterday’s sadness. I couldn’t believe it when I look through the window and see a government car pull up. Two people knocked on the door and introduced themselves as child protection officers. What are they doing here?

 

They said the police informed them about yesterday’s incident and as children were present they wanted to come talk to us. I tried to explain that everyone was grieving and it wasn’t anything to worry about. They also said they had spoken to Kadisha’s school and know she is struggling. It felt horrible to know they had been checking up on us, especially when we haven’t done anything wrong!

 

Before they left they said they just wanted to provide support to our family and try and help. I don’t trust them. My Aunty always told me “Don’t trust the welfare, how can we, they always taking our kids away from us”.

 

I am so happy the kids and Aaron slept through the whole thing.

Understand the stats

42%

of Aboriginal families had been in out of home/foster care.

18%

of Aboriginal families had their children removed from their care

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Resilience

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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.

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  • Story4-Community

  • Community

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Resilience

Culture

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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.
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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

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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
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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.