The Our Healing Ways project launched 3 key resources yesterday at the Minajalku Healing Centre, Thornbury.

Coordinated by Katherine Bakos, Our Healing Ways was a project of the Victorian Dual Diagnosis Initiative. The project was supported by VACCHO ,VAHS and Ngwala Willumbong State-wide Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Service.

The Our Healing Ways project aimed to:

• discover what skilled, experienced Aboriginal workers do to support the healing of people with both mental health and drug and alcohol issues
• develop culturally appropriate resources that are based on the experiences, successful strategies, processes, skills and qualities of Aboriginal workers

Healing Ways Project outcomes included the development of three resources:

1. Our Healing Ways manual: Putting wisdom into practice

This manual explores working with co-existing mental health and drug and alcohol issues from an Aboriginal best practice perspective. The manual takes into account the complexities involved with working with community – often with dual relationships with clients. It is a celebration and validation of the enormous skill set required for this work.

2. A resource book for Aboriginal Workers on the relationship between alcohol and drugs and mental health

This resource includes background information, holistic assessment, setting up a recovery plan together, stages of change, interventions, resources and services.

3. Supervision: A culturally appropriate model for Aboriginal workers  

This model has been developed to help meet the need for culturally appropriate supervision models for workers. It has been based on the needs of the Aboriginal AOD, Mental Health and SEWB workforce and recognises that people are working

All resources are downloadable from the Dual Diagnosis Australia & New Zealand website (http://www.dualdiagnosis.org.au/home/)