Songlines trace the journeys of ancestral spirits as they created the land, animals and lore. They are integral to Aboriginal spirituality and deeply tied to the Australian landscape. Songlines provide important knowledge, cultural values and wisdom to Aboriginal people as well as recognising their kinship, relationships and social responsibilities. It is a way of sharing stories and passing wisdom through generations.

 

Understanding Aboriginal Peoples’ cultural and family connections can help inform the development of culturally appropriate End of Life Care through Sorry Business in an innovative Palliative Care model. The Songline gives clinicians a perspective of the importance of a person’s culture and family supports through their care into bereavement.

 

This creative workshop will educate the participants on Songlines and the importance of keeping story to help improve the outcome for our Aboriginal clients. Participants will be given the opportunity and support to create their own Songlines followed by discussion of how this may change their practice. Within a yarning circle format participants can raise and share experiences in a culturally safe space. It is important to allow everyone to share and reciprocate experiences and knowledge, building truth telling within the group to reflect a trauma informed model to take back to their clinical work. 

 

The workshop will finish with a self-reflective exercise to build self-awareness and self-compassion. It will allow an opportunity for participants to review the information learnt so far and provide them with more skills to add to their ‘culturally safe tool belt’.