Today’s conversation on ‘Talk The Walk’ has many gems, but particularly for counsellors and social workers interested in developing an evidence based program that is also culturally safe. Doug Dunlop is a senior counsellor with the ‘Holding Children Together’ program based in Alice Springs and working with surrounding town camps. Doug is part of the team leading a rigorous evaluation process, developed and mentored by the Australian Childhood Foundation and a Cultural Advisory Group. In episode 17 of Talk the Walk, we also get a glimpse into the man behind the work; his historical roots, his life experience, the values and principles he brings to his trauma-informed, culturally-safe practice framework.
There is nothing quite like ‘Holding Children Together’ elsewhere in Australia and other organisations are starting to take notice of the Care Team model adopted by this child and family counselling service. The road to evidence-based practice is long, requires collective good-will and a large investment, but like Doug says “every child is worth it”.
In this episode, we explore:
- Considerations for Doug arriving from New Zealand to work in Australia’s Central Desert communities
- the stark differences working with Maori and Aboriginal children beginning with engagement in therapy
- understanding trauma informed practice with Aboriginal children and their families
- the Care Team model integral to ‘Holding Children Together’ (HCT)
- a typical day in the life of a counsellor
- how HCT is upholding cultural safety and working towards evidence based status
- a sparking story that makes the work all the more worthwhile and why great outcomes cannot be tied down to one intervention
- the challenges of working within a Care Team model
- insights into the complexities of reunification with family when a lot of intervention has focused on establishing relationships with carers
- what makes Doug so passionate about his work and the values he holds most precious
- important considerations of cultural world views in cases of Aboriginal children in foster care which has implications for reunification
- awareness of white privilege and seeing the world through the eyes of others
- Moments from Doug’s early life that have influenced the values underpinning his practice
- How Holding Children Together manage the exposure to trauma in counsellors
- Hopes for the future of evidence-based counselling services and why it’s a good process to undertake
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Contact Doug Dunlop at doug(at)ra-nt.org.au
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