Cultural Fitness

"...simply me, one human being talking to another. You have a story to tell because you are here... so enjoy exploring your story and the stories of others so we may lay down the tapestry of who are are and who we are becoming" - Murrai in Bunna Binda, 2008.

What is Cultural Fitness?

Culture is dynamic and change is a process that occurs over time. It is shaped by history yet evolves with new stories and experiences - both good and bad. Culture influences many aspects of our lives and is a story about all of us... how we connect and interact, the influence we have and who influences us, and the impacts of our words and actions on others. We are all part of rich and diverse communities and where there are problems, there are solutions. The first step is to acknowledge that we are part of the problem and, therefore, part of the solution. The second step is to action commitment to change and that is where Heart-based's Cultural Fitness Training events can support you and your organization.

 

Cultural Fitness requires daily exercise - a commitment of engaging and learning new ways of working together towards creating shifts of change built on strong foundations through new understandings and deeper connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families and communities.

 

 

Reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities takes effort and is a collective responsibility.

What we do

Cultural Fitness Training

Heart-based delivers one-day training events, tailored to your organizations goals and vision around what we, as professionals, can do to work towards engaging better with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families. We call these training events Conversations.

Conversation 1

 

Historical to individual trauma: mapping the narratives of the impacts of trauma on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, including how trauma impacts attachment and identity and influences parenting and other relationships. We explore biases and stereotypes and support participants in developing the skills and practice to recognise and address these.

 

We also look at the First 1000 days and beyond: understanding the impacts of early childhood experiences and working towards positive change. We explore the impacts of trauma in utero and on the developing brain, shield of shame responses and other challenging behaviours, and the power of 'being with' and

co-regulation.

 

 

Conversation 2

 

Developing a culturally safe environment.  An exploration of the cultural safety of your organization and planning to transform your environment to work better with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, families and communities.

 

We also look at how your organization can support workers' safety and the connections between them and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, and families they work with, as well as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities they work alongside.

 

 

Conversation 3

 

Domestic and Family Violence: It is not Men's Business... it is Everybody's Business.  A conversation around working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families impacted by Domestic and Family Violence, including with fathers who perpetrate, and on the premise that using violence is a parenting choice. 

 

We also take a look at your organization's practice towards domestic and family violence and becoming more than just dv-informed.

 

 

Conversation 4

 

The professional and the personal. An exploration of the impacts of exposure to the trauma experienced by your client base on your mind and body, why it can occur, what can be done to avoid burnout, and a step-by-step guide in designing a take-home toolkit personalised to your resources and strengths.