Prioritise First Nations’ healing

In Queensland, as in other parts of Australia, the cultural knowledge of First Nations peoples endures as the foundation for strong identity and connection. It is the source of resilience, survival and excellence for all First Nations peoples.

30

Progress truth-telling and healing, including prioritising a trauma-informed approach to ensure the safety of all people involved with the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry and to foster community engagement.

31

Progress the implementation of Leading healing our way: Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Strategy 2020–2040 across whole-of-system and whole-of-community, including community-led healing through culture, and developing First Nations led evaluation frameworks.

32

 Assess the feasibility of Queensland implementing an accountability framework led by First Nations peoples to address institutional and systemic racism, disadvantage and
re-traumatisation of First Nations peoples.

33

Grow and strengthen community-led responses, awareness and education on the impacts of
historical and intergenerational trauma on First Nations communities in Queensland.

Address system-related re-traumatisation

Re-traumatisation that occurs within systems—whether healthcare, justice or social services—can severely impact the healing process and make existing trauma worse. The system needs to be more trauma-informed to prevent these outcomes.

34

Enhance help-seeking and prevent system-related trauma for people who use drugs by continuing to shift toward health-related responses, including human rights and the legislative environment.

35

Work toward the elimination of restrictive practices in health settings, and further develop alternatives to seclusion and restraint.

36

Improve cultural and gender-specific responses required to prevent re-traumatisation, particularly
in institutional settings.

37

Review system responses to children and young people where trauma can be experienced, including for those in contact with, or at risk of contact with child safety and youth justice.

38

Enhance data on system-related harm to better inform responses and actions and prevent
traumatic experiences.

Strengthen community-led and place-based initiatives

This strategy is committed to strengthening communities’ capacity and capability to reduce the impact of trauma and foster healing. This approach recognises that communities themselves are best placed to lead localised and tailored approaches that reflect and respond to their needs.

39

Actively engage with communities impacted by trauma to design and develop community-led and place-based activities, focused on building mentally healthy and resilient communities, through existing infrastructure such as neighbourhood centres, men’s sheds, local sporting clubs and faith-based organisations.

40

Enhance the resources, capacity and capability of the community non-government service system to provide trauma-informed responses appropriate to the people they work with, and in the communities they are based.

Trauma-informed justice systems

Comprehensively integrating trauma-informed approaches across systems in Queensland will help improve outcomes for individuals, groups and communities impacted by trauma.

41

Continue to implement in full the Queensland Government response to the recommendations of
the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce series of reports, Hear her voice, as well as the Commission of Inquiry into Police Responses to Domestic and Family Violence as a Queensland Government priority.

42

Review and evaluate existing restorative justice activities and opportunities for expansion with
a trauma-informed approach.

43

Increase access to navigation and advocacy supports for victim-survivors and people in contact with the criminal justice system.

44

Explore options for peer and lived-living experience-based support approaches within the criminal justice, court and custodial systems.

45

Expand delivery of trauma-informed and culturally appropriate supports tailored to children and young people in detention, particularly for First Nations children and young people who are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system.