Men’s Healing

For thousands of years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have upheld cultural practices that have contributed to the oldest living continuous culture in the world. However, colonisation and the forced removal of children has disrupted First Nations knowledge systems.

Many mainstream services that First Nations peoples interact with do not recognise or understand the impacts of trauma caused by colonisation, or the central role that culture plays in healing. Often issues are presented as chronically entrenched and not easily resolved.

However, The Healing Foundation’s work shows that solutions are not only possible, but readily available in the practices left to First Nations peoples by the ancient knowledge systems that have sustained individuals, families, and communities for the past 60,000 years.

When men’s healing programs are designed and led by First Nations peoples, remarkable things can happen. By reconnecting with cultural values, restoring identity, and building positive family and community relationships, community-led men’s healing programs are recognising the centrality of self-determination and the strengths of First Nations cultures.