Leading the Way

VoiceoverWelcome to Daa'ring Yarning, a gathering place for sharing stories of strength, culture, and connection from First Nations communities. Here, we will shine a light on ideas and programs that contribute to reducing violence against women and children, and healing practices for all who have been affected by family violence. We will also explore the culture that keeps our mob strong, and what it means to our communities. Hosted by First Nations advocates against family violence CEO Kerry Staines, Daa'ring Yarning is a safe space for storytelling, learning, healing, and community connection.

KerryWelcome to Daa'ring Yarning. I respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands I'm coming to you from today, the Gubbi Gubbi people, and pay my respects to elders past and present, for they hold the memories, traditions, and culture and hopes of Aboriginal Torrest Strait Islander people. I recognize their continuing connection to our land, water, and community.

KerryToday we welcome Sharell Egmoleis, who's coming to talk to us today about her experiences with being the CEO in an Aboriginal medical service on the Sunshine Coast. But before we get into the questions, Sharell, do you just want to introduce yourself and where you're from, and which mob country you're also representing today?

SharellUm, thank you, Kerry. Um, so I'm a proud Torres Strait and South Sea Islander woman with close family ties to the Gubbi Gubbi and Darumbal traditional custodians. Um, so I'm a fourth-generation, um, Egmoleis from the Sunshine Coast. So, I've been around for quite a while. Um, born in Toowoomba, one, um, the only sibling to be born outside of Nambour. Um, but, um, have grown up on the Sunshine Coast and continue to have those close connections um, with the traditional custodians here, um, related through our South Sea Islander um, side, but also um, our Rockhampton mob up at Darumbal um, through um, my mother's my mother's side of the family as well. So, yes.

KerryRight, well, it's the first time I think I've heard you explain it all, so, very interesting.

Sharell(Laughs)

KerryUm, and Sharell and I have worked together, you know, on and off through community for, I think it must be nearly 20 years.

SharellMm.

KerryNow it's going back.

SharellThat's pretty old.

KerryYeah, it has been a while. Okay, so if we just jump into your medical service now, and if you can start telling me a little bit about what your role is. Um, I guess it's the name of the organization, so you've kind of got two names, so maybe if you just explain both of those first, and then um, you know, kind of the geographical area that you guys serve as well.

SharellSure. Um, so our corporate name is North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health. Um, we are now trading as Maroochydore Aboriginal Health Services. Maroochydore um, are local Gubbi Gubbi name meaning 'place of doctors'. Uh, so Kerry, we're a hybrid um, um, model of care here, where we have a mix of, or a blend of, brokerage or commissioning services, as well as your traditional Aboriginal medical service. So what that means for us is we uh, have close partnerships and relationships with a number of mainstream health services, predominantly uh, general practices uh, and allied health services, but also with a range of other um, social and community services um, where we will not duplicate, but value or add to what services are already um, uh, happening within the community.

SharellAs a, um, for us, you know, we don't just look after our physical health, but we um, we're a holistic model of care where we go into social, emotional, cultural, and spiritual wellbeing as well. And we work with a whole gamut of um, individuals, families, and um, communities across multiple generations. Our service area is Sunshine Coast, Gympie, and the Noosa sort of council. So, that covers about 10,000 square kilometers, so quite a diverse um, area there.

KerryYeah. Um, and knowing the um, the Sunshine Coast area um, fairly well, um, probably explaining when you talk about the brokerage and commissioning model, for um, those that are listening they probably understand the AMS is really, you know, like a building that often has the one-stop that has lots of things in there. So, when you talk about allied health services and I guess with the lens of, you know, also family violence and how you might identify people um, who might need support, what do you call the allied health services, and I guess how does that, what's the rationale and why do you have kind of that brokerage system?

SharellIt probably started when we were first um, established back in 1997, um, where we realized back then there were a lot of barriers to um, to service providers or um, provision with across our service area. Um, so at that time, our board decided to to bring service delivery to our community. So, for example, the uppermost northern area is um, probably Tin Can Bay or Rainbow Beach, and if we were to have a central um, medical service in Maroochydore, it could take someone up to 3 hours uh, to get down into that medical service. Um, so that's where the brokerage or commissioning um, model of care uh, was developed, that we could take the services out to the community member, and in doing that, we were going to break down barriers, especially around transport infrastructure on the Sunshine Coast, which is quite poor. Um, and um, being able to offer soul uh, culturally safe service provision, means what is culturally safe for me is different to someone say like you, Kerry, where, you know, my um, values and um, how I see culturally competence um, especially if I'm transient and not from this area, or, you know, I've got different needs. I can actually go to a service provider that meets my needs, and not one that um, I'm um, you know, um, required to fit in with uh, because that's the only service that's been provided to me.

KerrySo you guys um, almost, I guess, vet a service first to make sure it's um, above board and it's going to do, and then you've got a number of services that could be available to someone say in the Tin Can Bay area, if we're using that example, and so they could just, you know, access those services from there as opposed to coming in. So, that that includes like counseling and um, other those types of supports outside of direct GP kind of that physical health you were talking about before?

SharellThat's right, Kerry. We look at uh, health needs analysis and gaps um, part of that is um, we do a community survey every year with our clients. So, as a community-controlled health organization, we want to make sure we're meeting the needs and gaps that our community feel that they require, but also taking into consideration the local hospital and health service data, and any other data that um, we feel that we can um, benefit from. Um, and the main service provision from that, predominantly um, ongoing has been your general practitioners or your doctors, mental health, dental, physio, podiatry, and dietician and nutrition.

SharellUm, interestingly though, um, you know, with the um, I think around the Closing the Gap indicators, but more so around self-determination for our mob, um, and an increase in young people within our area, we've seen an increase um, in need for um, our other services, such as speech therapy, um, you know, occupational therapists, and more around that child health uh, sort of service delivery um, and which is something that we're working um, quite um, uh, strongly on, and with that also comes within that, you know, you you learn more around those social determinants with um, and that's where your uh, family violence fits in, making sure that we're offering support services to our young men, women um, to to make sure that they know what healthy relationships are and to be able to build on that um, and provide that referral pathway to those mainstream providers offering those services.

KerryWell, that leads uh, nicely into um, my next question which is, you know, how important it is for Aboriginal services to be leading the conversations around family violence. So, you know, why do you think it's important to hear from our mob um, about addressing family violence?

SharellI think for me, the conversations need to be led by our own people in our own way. We need to make sure that our cultural context, our history, especially the impacts of intergenerational trauma, we need to make sure that that's at the forefront, especially when we are uh, um, when we're talking about brokerage or commissioning and uh, building on those relationships we already have when we're talking about family violence, and how does that fit in with who we are as people, and within our cultural context to make sure that the uh, service that's being offered is culturally appropriate and right for us. Um, and we can do that from a place of care. We can also take on accountability for ourselves in as well, and making sure we're taking ownership of, you know, this intervention prevention in the services that are happening. Um, and along with that goes healing. We can help to not only heal each other but heal ourselves along the way as well. So, it's not about placing blame or shame, but it's about how we can come together in a safe environment to listen, to speak up, and to seek support, not only from each other, but from those external um, services um, and available options um, that are out there for us.

KerryYeah, that's a good point, I think, about, you know, it's not a, we often think about healing other people as opposed to healing ourselves, it kind of comes second. But you're right, they go together, but we don't, we need to not forget that we also have to heal ourselves through through this journey. So, in terms of looking at what your service and how your service responds to need um, and family violence affects women and children differently, how does your service respond to those differing needs?

SharellI think for us, women and children are often most impacted by family violence, but it's not just physically, it's both emotionally, psychologically, um, and in other ways as well. Um, and as a a community-controlled health organization, it can affect safety, housing, health, parenting, connection, family, and culture. So, what we try to do is uh, with our multitude of different service delivery, we train our staff to pick up on some of those signs, and make sure that they are aware of the available services um, that are out there, that we can refer into. But also for us, Kerry, it's not just about uh, referring them into an external agency, it's about how do we help them along that journey, and how do we step with them um, along that journey to make sure that they have a positive outcome, and then we're there to make sure that the impacts um, that can be lifelong, and they can, especially for the children affecting development, um, and the way that they interact and uh, uh, I guess, see relationships moving forward, how do we create a positive um, a way for them to do that.

SharellBut also, we need to make sure that anything we're offering ourselves is culturally safe, it's a trauma-informed care approach, and it allows our um, not only our women and children, but also our men as well, we need to remember that they can be part of that, um, in feeling believed and supported, making sure that the children themselves are safe and nurtured and connected to strong cultural supports as well, as those external mainstream services that can support them um, in what they need.

KerrySo, you just mentioned also, you know, supporting men, which I think is really important. So, do you, or your service, um, to have specific supports available that uh, for men?

SharellWe do, Kerry, yeah. So, um, we have our um, our men's group um, which is a culturally safe um, it's a monthly group, um, that's informal, um, it's confidential space where we have our indigenous outreach worker, we have our health workers, we have guest speakers, our um, doctors will also go in there and have a chat to them um, about um, anything that they um, are going through at that point in time, um, some of their pain points, some of their stresses, but also, it's an open um, time for the men to have conversation and dialogue about, okay, so what's happening in our community? How can we empower ourselves to take control? Um, and what can we do as a group to move forward and mentor our young men into making sure that if we've gone through, you know, some trauma in our lives, well, how can we use our experiences to then teach them what not to do or how to positively influence their relationships and who they are as young men moving forward from there.

KerryYeah, that that probably leads into um, you know, that early intervention for children and young people. And do you have, do you often have um, or do you have like kind of older men that are able to mentor younger men on what those healthy relationships are?

SharellWe do, predominantly um, the um, uh, the participation rate within our men's group are older um, community members. Um, I must say though, we haven't um, taken that step forward to create or develop a formal program, a mentorship program. It is something that I know the men have discussed, it's just about how do we do that effectively. I guess, in collaboration with those other services that can support um, us to do that successfully moving forward. And I think that's something that we can do ourselves as well um, by taking ownership and developing a program that we think is right for not only our community, but it can um, be uh, translated into other communities as well, that are, you know, sort of um, close by uh, our area.

KerryYeah, and just thinking about, you know, obviously working in with services that provide or already have links in, you know, whether it's Murri Court or other service um, to be working together to kind of get that community response to addressing family violence is really important. And I guess in understanding your role within that, um, because obviously um, you guys have multiple programs across the geographical area, um, so it's all working together, you know, is really positive. So, what does strong Aboriginal-led responses to family violence look like?

SharellFor me, um, as a community-controlled health organization, um, we having a culturally grounded and holistic response is really really important. Um, what does that look like? Well, it may look um, different to us here on the Sunshine Coast to what it would what it would in another um, area, but I think fundamentally, I think that um, carries across no matter where you are. I think it also brings together um, those other aspects like your healing, your health, your housing, your justice, and your cultural aspect as well. It centers um, I believe safety, while it's also addressing those underlying um, causes, like trauma, disconnection, isolation, and, of course, those systemic barriers um, which with that, um, is is a major for us here on the Sunshine Coast that we've seen, it can be a major issue um, in regards to how that looks. But most importantly, I think it also comes back to community, we need to listen, and as a community health organization that's led by Aboriginal people across every level, I think that that's um, very important for that to um, to showcase and to to carry through um, in what that response looks like.

KerryMmm, yeah. I totally agree with community-led responses. And you've talked about a couple of programs or approaches that are making a real difference. Is there, I guess, in terms of um, if people are listening and a family violence might be something that's happening in their community, how have you been able to engage or create programs, where did you start from, and how did you know it was kind of the right thing to start trialing or testing?

SharellSo Kerry, for us, um, our programs, um, we like to combine cultural healing, um, as well as practical support, because we um, we we feel that they make a real difference and moving forward. Some examples of those are our social and emotional wellbeing programs. Um, we've got yarning groups that are attached to our cultural men's and women's programs. Um, we've got our great relationships with our family support services. Um, we do have an indigenous outreach worker and he is part of the Murri Court system as well, so uh, he does a lot of work in that space. Um, and just to preface as well, like we want all of our mob to feel culturally safe and respected um, because we feel that that engagement improves, and um, uh, you know, makes our outcomes even stronger.

SharellUm, a couple of examples are we have a hope and healing, um, and it is a it was a pilot program actually, um, that we only just ran last year. So, uh, this was a bit of an offshoot from our social and emotional wellbeing program where part of that program, what we um, found in our evaluation, um, was we felt that we had to target and um, develop a more um, I guess, uh, informed practice when it comes to uh, our community and the participants and exactly what they are there and what they're wanting to achieve. Um, so part of that is what we found, Kerry, is a lot of that intergenerational trauma and some of those ocean other um, issues that they're going through, um, we needed to create a space that um, showed connection, reflection, healing, but also shared story storytelling, and um, that strength strengthens belonging, it creates resilience, um, but also, it improves the wellbeing of the participants. Um, so, um, it is uh, quite tricky in the sense that you need to make sure the group that you're bringing together are going to value add and really support each other um, and make sure that we're doing that in a um, a culturally safe way.

SharellBut the big thing as well is making sure that we've got quality and supervision. And what I mean by that is having either staff or mental health um, health professionals there providing that regular clinical supervision um, that support, because what you may yarn about in there may trigger, um, or um, traumatic um, experiences, and you need to make sure that we're offering mob the ability to go away into a safe space and maybe just, uh, talk about that a little bit more with a specific professional that's there to support them, and not just leave them to take home with them and deal with them themselves.

KerryMmm. And that's the the power of um, storytelling can creep up on you um, you know, when you are just, either whether you're sharing yourself um, and you find yourself getting, you know, whether emotional, um, sometimes that you can be surprised yourself. So, it's great, you know, if there's other people there that can, you know, take you through that journey and give you that extra support, particularly when you didn't know it was coming.

SharellExactly.

KerryOtherwise, yeah, yeah. So, that's great.

SharellExactly. And sometimes, it's a bit of a, um, it's it's one of those moments in time where, you know, under very traumatic experiences, sometimes your brain blocks it out, and it's not until you start talking about it in that, you know, sort of narrative way that it does trigger, um, certain things, um, for you, um, especially when it comes to that family violence um, because that does happen quite a lot where as a child, you know, you're blocking it out and then you sort of make sure that it's a body's defense mechanism. It's not until you're older and you come to, uh, I guess, situations like this where it actually comes out again, and then, but making sure that you have those, um, specialist providers or those referral pathways in place to be able to support, um, them to go into, you know, those support services to get the help that they need.

KerryYeah, and start that recovery journey, it's really important.

SharellThat's right.

KerryYeah, yeah. So, what's, I guess one of the things is we've talked a lot about the community-controlled sector and the services that um, you partner with would be other ACCHO services. What mainstream or how do you think mainstream services could better partner with Aboriginal medical services or the ACCHO sector?

SharellI think the main thing for me, Kerry, is mainstream services, they need to genuinely respect our leadership and our expertise. We are specialists in Aboriginal health care and what we do for our community. I think they need to recognize that first and foremost, because unless that happens, um, there's always going to be, um, this disconnect between what we see as, and what we know, I should say, um, as a culturally safe practice, uh, again, um, what a mainstream service thinks we need, or they don't, um, consult with us. So, I think that's one of the biggest, um, I guess, points I'd like to make, but also, it's about them listening, it's about a shared understanding, and um, a collaborative piece. Um, and what I mean is true collaboration, where we're both going to benefit from whatever that relationship looks like.

SharellUm, long-term funding, I think that's really important as well, because too often, we're getting short-term funding, whether it's through us as an Aboriginal service or a mainstream service, and it only gives you enough time to trial something and then the funding's cut off, you can't get true outputs or outcomes when you're only uh, funded for a specific period. But I think the most, uh, another important thing for me is allowing us to be part of that design and delivery um, phase, and um, being able to participate in that, so, then it's, you know, it's based on trust, it's not on one organization controlling the other, it's about working together to do that. And also recognizing us as an Aboriginal medical service again, that we're the experts in our community and we should be um, you know, sort of respected and shown that that's uh, where that should be coming from, is grassroots level.

KerryYeah, I think it's well said. You touched on, you know, a number of ways of doing it, but if you've got respect to start with, then those other things will just fall into place because, you know, the funding parameters would be understood and the consultation and the developing or designing something um, should be at the front end. So, if you're really respecting um, an organization and that community, you would know to be asking those questions first as opposed to, you know, designing something and then consulting. So, I know I'm preaching to the converted. Um,

Sharell(Laughs)

SharellSorry, Kerry, there's probably one thing as well that just pop into mind is following cultural protocol. That is probably that first very most in first important thing is, as a mainstream provider or even individual when you're coming into a community, you can't just go in there um, and just think that you can start doing a service, uh, without following cultural protocol, meeting with those traditional custodians or, you know, the community-led organization or agency in that area and going introduced yourself. That's probably the first and biggest mistake a lot of um, you know, sort of mainstream agencies make unfortunately. But, you don't know what you don't know, so, you know, being able to um, to educate mainstream services on what that cultural protocol is, is very important as well.

KerryMmm, ask lots of questions. Start start with asking questions, yeah.

SharellYes.

KerryYeah, great. So, if there's one message that you would like um, the listeners to take away today, what do you think that would be?

SharellI guess for listeners to know that family violence has not always been part of our culture. I mean, our culture is strong, we're we're respectful, you know, we center on care, we're nurturing, you know, we're all about family and community and bringing that together. Um, we it's it's something that I feel, even though law, L-O-R-E, for our mob, it we do have, um, you know, that instilled within our culture and traditionally, but it's been done our way, um, not specifically because there's been external influences that have been introduced and created this to happen. Um, so for for that to happen, we need to um, make sure that, you know, so help is available. We need to be strong in what we're doing and being able to be courageous enough to step up and step forward, um, and um, walk this journey together. You're not alone in this and um, we can do this and we can do that successfully um, for not only ourselves, our family, but for our community moving forward.

KerryYeah, you're right. There's there's no shame in putting your hand up to say I need some extra help with this, and there's there's no judgment to come with that. It's about how we all get through this kind of at the together.

SharellYeah.

KerryYeah, you're right. So, if people are wanting some more information around this conversation in your area, where can they go to get some more support?

SharellUh, so they can um, contact us here, um, at Maroochydore, um, on our website www.ncachh.org.au, um, or even whatever area you're in, contact your local Aboriginal medical service. Um, we'll be able to to link you in, connect you, or even just to have a yarn about what's available um, and how we can um, work together uh, to to meet the needs of our community and to hopefully do something about, you know, um, family violence in our communities.

KerryYeah, great. And I guess um, just want to circle back a bit more um, personally to you now, and um, and you've got a very big role um, being the CEO of quite a large organization. Um, and I guess the two questions I have for you is one around what keeps you connected to country, and then how do you keep, I guess, what does culture mean to you, and how do you keep it present um, in your journey?

SharellI keep connected by country through my community, Kerry, and my family, um, especially the elders. Uh, you know, our mob can be very unforgiving at times, um, and they keep me very grounded. Um, (laughs) So, you know, and uh, for me also, it's not only community, I mean, I love community, that's it's embedded in me, that's the way I've grown up culturally um, as well, um, so, you know, um, but for as a CEO, it's not for me to sit in our office here um, and uh, do all the work, it's it's about me getting out into community, connecting, and making sure I'm still present, because that's what our mob need to see. You know, they need to see a leader that's out there um, and walking alongside them and not uh, you know, working within the ivory tower approach, I guess, if you want to call it that, um, and sort of, you know, dictating um, what happens in our community. So, I'm very conscious of that.

SharellSo, culture means for me is about staying connected with not only myself, my family, but also my community, and being able to to leave a legacy that our young people can then pick up and carry forward, um, and improve on and making sure that they are going to be the next generation to make a difference for our for our mob.

KerryYeah, well said. And look, I know from um, working with you and around with you for a very long time now, that you set an exemplary example of how you leave your egos at the door and um, your integrity is second to none when it coming comes to putting community at the center, and you I've I've never seen you even think about this is about you, it's always about the people that you're serving and understanding the role that you're in, and that you've got the ability to be able to use that in a way that helps other people, and you've never been self-serving. So, I think um, in terms of leadership, you provide a great example to community about about how to do that really well. Um, and I guess, you know, just thank you so much for your time today. I've learned more about you today than what I knew before, which is great, and hopefully if there's someone, you know, around the Sunshine Coast area that's looking for some support, Gympie, hinterland, Tin Can Bay, etc., that they jump onto your website and then they reach out for some support. So, thanks. Thanks, Sharell.

SharellNo, that sounds lovely. Thank you.

VoiceoverIf you or someone you know is looking for culturally safe support on the Sunshine Coast or Gympie regions, please reach out to the team at Maroochydore by visiting ncachh.org.au. Remember, you don't have to walk this journey alone. Help is always available through your local Aboriginal medical service. If you or anyone you know is experiencing family violence, call 1800RESPECT for a referral for a service in your area. Thank you for listening to our Daa'ring Yarning podcast. If you found something valuable in this episode, please follow, rate, and share with a friend or colleague who would enjoy it too. Until next time, take care. If you need any adjustments or a deeper drill-down into specific technical aspects of this discussion, just let me know!