Wellness Dreaming Project - A Koolin Balit Initiative
Wellness Dreaming – Artwork by Ngardarb Riches
Project Aims
• build capacity of Indigenous and non-Indigenous workforce in the North West
Metropolitan Region (NWMR) to work in inter-sectoral partnerships to improve
outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community
• Foster the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to enable
local, community-led, culturally appropriate action for wellbeing
• Develop, train and promote a strengths based approach with all stakeholders
Background
Koolin Balit means healthy people in Boonwurrung language and is the name given to the whole of
Victorian Government’s strategic directions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people until 2022 and
underpins the health objectives of the Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework (2013 – 2018). The
Wellness Dreaming Project is a Koolin Balit initiative, developed and implemented by cohealth.
Capitalising on cohealth’s leadership of the Healthy Together Victoria (HTV) Health Champions Project - a
Department of Health prevention initiative – the Wellness Dreaming Project will draw upon this experience
and other strength based models and work in partnership with communities, local agencies and the
Aboriginal Community Controlled sector to adapt and create initiatives to improve wellbeing within
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Long Term
Outcomes
GoalLocal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the North West Metropolitan Region are supported
to become active in the holistic health and well-being of their communities.
Maximum community
participation and control
Wellness Dreaming Project Step-by-StepMay 2015
Intermediate
Outcomes
Activities
Principles
2 Project officersInputs
Works in partnershipSupports existing and
developing leadership Enables change Strengths focussed
Short Term
Outcomes
Outputs
WDMs identify opportunities to facilitate
Wellness Dreaming sessions in community
and workplaces
Inter-sectoral
relationships
developed
between
agency staff
Agency staff trained as
Wellness Dreaming
Messengers (WDM)
Form
advisory
group
Recruit agency staff
to participate in
Wellness Dreaming
Deliver 1-2 iterations
of Wellness Dreaming
Messenger training
DHHS Funding
Develop Wellness
Dreaming materials
and resources
Commitment from
agencies
Advisory group
oversees model
development
Wellness Dreaming model determined
and training developed
Wellness Dreaming materials, resources and
branding developed
Agency staff time
Increase in agencies
working together
inter-sectorally
WDMs have
increased
knowledge
of and skills
in strength
based
approaches
Cross sector
networks formed
& strengthened
WDMs have
understanding
of the impact
of sectoral
service
provision on the
community
WDMs have
increased
knowledge &
understanding of
the Aboriginal
and Torres Strait
Islander
community in
the NWMR
Advisory Group
Support Wellness
Dreaming
Messengers
Connections
are made
between
WDMs and
community
members
WDMs have
greater
understanding
& connection
to land and
culture
WDMs influence change in
their home agencies
Participating agencies have increased commitment and capacity to use strength based and
empowerment approaches to:• Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to become active in the holistic health and well-
being of their communities.• Provide culturally responsive services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Short-term
outcomes
TBC
based on
learning
outcomes
from
training
WELLNESS DREAMING PROJECT TEAM (Located at cohealth, 72 Paisley Street, Footscray)
Karen Ingram joined Doutta Galla Community Health (DGCH) in 2007 as Health
Promotion Officer and was a founding member of the DGCH Reconciliation Working
Group and has been passionate and pro-active in her contributions in developing
Reconciliation Action Plans for DGCH and cohealth. As a member of the Inner North
West Primary Care Partnership (INWPCP) Close the Health Gap Wellbeing Partnership
Karen collaborated with partners to develop the Collecting Indigenous Status Training
Package, now a key resource for Koolin Balit initiatives across NWMR. Last year she
presented ‘Pathway to Reconciliation – reconciling attitudes and approaches of inner-
urban community health to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’
at the Australian Health Promotion Association conference Equity in the Centre.
Ph: 8398 4151 [email protected]
Nellie Flagg (nee Taylor /Charles) is a descendant and Traditional landowner of Wemba
Wemba, Dja Wurrung and Boonwurrung. Nellie has worked for and with Aboriginal
people for over 30 years in many different roles within State and Commonwealth
government agencies as well as community organisations. These include the
Department of Health, Health and Family Services, the Department of Education,
VACCHO, Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative (Administrator), the Department of
Justice and the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service. During this time, Nellie has had the
opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and has built up a great, respectful
relationship with people all over Australia. Nellie is proud of who she is and where she
has come from. Ph: 8398 4114 [email protected]
WELLNESS DREAMING ADVISORY GROUP (WDAG)
An enthusiastic group of thirteen Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff from agencies and
community members are members of the WDAG. Agencies represented include; cohealth,
Care Connect, Dianella Community Health, Western Health, Sunshine Hospital, Australian
College of Opteometry, Health West, Victoria University, City of Whittlesea, Brimbank City
Council and Dept Environment, Land, Water & Planning. The group will oversee the the
development of the project’s training program and development of resources in a series of
workshops and meetings held between April and October 2015.
AGENCY PARTNERS
Agencies from health, justice, education, sport, community and Aboriginal controlled
sectors will be engaged in the Wellness Dreaming Project to improve their reach and
outcomes with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the North West Metro
Region, specifically Wyndham, Melton, Sunbury, Hume and Whittlesea. Agencies will
commit to resourcing selected staff who have a self-determined level of cultural
competence to attend Wellness Dreaming Messenger training and for same staff to be
enabled to conduct Deadly Dreaming Circles with clients and community members.
WELLNESS DREAMING MESSENGERS
Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff from mainstream and Aboriginal controlled
organisations will be trained as Wellness Dreaming Messengers which will equip them with
knowledge and skills to facilitate Deadly Dreaming Circles in community settings for clients
and community members. Wellness Dreaming’s strenth-based principles can also inform
workplace practice beyond Deadely Dreaming Circles.
DEADLY DREAMING CIRCLES
Deadly Dreaming Circles will be held within existing groups and networks in community
based settings in the NWMR. Trained Wellness Dreaming Messengers will support
community members to explore and improve holistic wellbeing of themselves and their
families by drawing upon their culture, knowledge and experiences.
If you are interested in training as a Wellness Dreaming Messenger and/or if you would like more information,
contact Karen or Nellie.
contact Karen or Nellie.
ADVISORY GROUP
cohealth
Koolin Balit
Project Lead
cohealth
Koolin Balit
Project Officer
A
G
E
N C
I
E
S
Staff trained as Wellness Dreaming Messengers
WDM Training WDM Training WDM Training
Wellness Dreaming Project Framework
Deadly
Dreaming
Circles
Deadly
Dreaming
Circles
Deadly
Dreaming
Circles
Deadly
Dreaming
Circles