Page 3504 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 12 September 2017
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manageable by the assessment panel; any mental illness is manageable; they are stable on medications; and there are no pending charges or criminal sentences which in the opinion of the service manager will interfere with the client’s participation in the program or the conduct of the service.
A client may be referred to other programs and supports if: there are criminal charges still pending; there is chronic self-harm; they are not stable on medications; or there is any other factor which in the view of the evaluation panel would pose a risk to self or others or to the good conduct of the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm.
With this said it is important to note the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm will take a no wrong door approach. Those who are not deemed suitable for the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm will be guided and supported by the staff of the bush healing farm to other services to support their needs with the view that in time, when they are ready, they will be welcomed back. Once a client has been deemed eligible and offered a place at the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm, they will commence working with support staff in the development of their individual plans for success.
To assist clients of the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm to meet their goals, ACT Health, in consultation with the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm advisory board, has identified a number of key areas which are necessary for the success of the program. These areas include: reconnection to country and culture; a foundational skills program; a life skills program; and a relapse prevention program. To deliver on these key areas ACT Health has contracted with a range of service providers who will deliver programs to support the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm. In particular they have engaged with the Canberra Institute of Technology, Nutrition Australia, the healthy country program run by parks and conservation services and the alcohol and drug service of ACT Health.
ACT Health is planning for the first intake of between 10 and 15 participants initially in day programs transported from Canberra to the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm each day. As the programs develop, they will move to become residential programs with participants staying at the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm.
As I have mentioned, the key feature of the farm is to reconnect to culture and to land and to restore pride and identity among Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm clients. To deliver upon this, ACT Health has engaged the healthy country program of ACT parks and conservation. This is a well established and respected program. Through this program clients of the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm will take part in visits to sites of significance around the ACT and be given insights into the cultural importance of these locations to local Aboriginal people.
Clients will also being given an understanding of local plants and the Ngunnawal plant use guide and they will also engage in activities to build a range of traditional tools and structures. Finally, clients will participate in yarning circles with local elders and other role models to talk about local culture both in the past and in the present. Through these circles elders will be able to engage with the clients and reinvigorate local cultural protocols and promote healing.
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