Healing and wellbeing

Healing communities

While the major focus on BAC's work has been on developing land enterprises, the organization, its partners and major stakeholders recognise the potential connection and opportunity to link economic programs with social and emotional wellbeing programs.

Being engaged in meaningful work on-country can strengthen an individual's connection to land and culture. This in turn strengthens their spirit and identity which can contribute greatly to building personal resilience against temptations, factors necessary for improved social wellbeing.

Opportunities for volunteering

BAC's land enterprises offer a unique training and employment opportunity to support Aboriginal women, men, youth and seniors in an inter-generational and inclusive manner through the development of casual work and volunteer opportunities on-country.

The BAC / Katanning Landcare partnership with Piesse Lake planting program providesd an avenue for healing land and spirit through landscaping and /or restoration projects linked with planting trees in recognition of ancestors or loved ones that are no longer with us.

Reconciliation begins when everyone is prepared to work together and BAC is laying down a new foundation through supporting the Katanning Police with cultural services for the National Police Remembrance Day. The event will take place at Police Pools (Twonkwillingup) on Friday 27th September 2019, with the Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony conducted by Noongar Elder Morton Hansen to begin the process of healing.

Twonkwillingup is an important place to the Noongar people and was a place where people gathered long before European settlement. It only came to be known as "Police Pools" after the area was used as an outpost of the Kojonup Police Station from 1865 – 1870.

The Katanning Noongar Leadership group hopes to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for the Shire of Katanning in 2020. The plan will complement BAC's "Healing the Land" works program, which will have both environmental and social outcomes for the entire community.

A RAP provides a framework for organisations to support the national reconciliation movement, and work more collaboratively together at a local level. It opens the door to develop partnerships with local Police and community organisations and to work together to set up programs in areas such as crime prevention, family and domestic violence, truancy and mental health wellbeing. 

Could you help?

BAC has uncovered great interest from stakeholders to do more work in this area and would welcome partnerships from agencies looking to develop innovative social service models linked to land enterprises, cultural connection, social and emotional wellbeing and intervention programs.

If you are interested in volunteering, work or partnership please contact us using the form below.