Breakthrough Yumi Way

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PAM

“Disconnection is the disease, reconnection is the cure” Aunty Lorraine Peters, Marumali Healing Program

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Pamle Yarning Session

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NG CUL O R T

T R I BE

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today and pay respect to Elders past and present.

We also extend that respect to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who are with us today.

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Pamle Yarning Session

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today and pay respect to Elders past and present.

We also extend that respect to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who are with us today.

NOTE: Please enquire before commencing the session if there is a Traditional Owner or Elder in the community who would be prepared to do a welcome/ acknowledgment, or ask an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island participant in the group if they would like to do this acknowledgment.

TIP: A token of appreciation to the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person making the acknowledgment will be appreciated (a gift card or similar).

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Facilitator notes

Before we start...

Phones

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Toilets

Fire

Tobacco

Breaks

Pamle Yarning Session

Just a few reminders and information: • Phones – please make sure they are off or on silent • Toilets – you will find these…

• Fire – If there is a fire our closest exit is…

AIM OF SLIDE: Housekeeping…

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• Smoking – for the smokers in the room, the smoking area is…

• Breaks – We will have a break midway through the session.

Facilitator notes

Apunipima Cape York Health Council is a membership based, community controlled Aboriginal Health Organisation delivering high quality, culturally appropriate and comprehensive primary health care to 11 communities across the Cape York region.

Apunipima has five Primary Health Care centres in Aurukun, Coen, Kowanyama, Mossman Gorge and Napranum offering a range of services such as: GPs

Paediatrician

Nutrition and Diet Advice

Diabetes Care Podiatry

CAPE YORK

HEALTH COUNCIL

Maternal and Child Health Services Audiologist

In addition, Apunipima operates four Wellbeing Centres in Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge delivering social and emotional wellbeing support services including counselling and therapy along with a range of practical assistance delivering a more holistic approach to client care.

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Pamle Yarning Session

There are five service providers providing support and delivering Breakthrough Our Way sessions throughout Queensland. Let’s go through them now.

Apunipima service the Cape York region and have a range of services.

Breakthrough Our Way is just one of the many things they offer.

AIM OF SLIDE: To provide an overview of ‘what Apunipima do’.

TIP: The next five slides look at the service providers delivering Break Through Our Way.

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Facilitator notes

Bridges Health and Community Care offer: A range of interventions and treatment, such as counselling, day rehabilitation and withdrawal management (detox) for people of all ages who are experiencing problems with their drug and/or alcohol use Information, education and counselling for Pamle, siblings, carers and loved ones that are impacted by someones mental health, drug or alcohol use Allied Health services including occupational therapy, social work, counselling and psychological treatment by experienced practitioners

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Mental Health programs for children and families and young people in schools and communities Psychosocial support and care coordination for adults with serious and complex mental health issues and pre and post transition support for offenders A range of services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

Pamle Yarning Session

Bridges are delivering Breakthrough Our Way throughout the Wide Bay area. Bridges also offer a range of services as you can see here.

AIM OF SLIDE: To provide an overview of ‘what Bridges do’.

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Facilitator notes

Drug ARM Australasia is a not-for-profit organisation committed to reducing the harms of alcohol and other drug use. Our organisation provides compassion and specialist care through a range of programs and services that include education, outreach, prevention and treatment.

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At Drug ARM we take a holistic approach to recovery. We believe in treating all the factors that contribute to alcohol and drug use, not just the issue by itself. Our services are tailored to meet the needs of each client.

The ‘ARM’ in Drug ARM is an acronym that stands for Awareness, Rehabilitation and Management.

Pamle Yarning Session

Drug ARM are delivering Breakthrough Our Way in Mackay, the Darling Downs, West Moreton and the South West area. Drug Arm also offer a range of services tailored to meet the needs of each client.

AIM OF SLIDE: To provide an overview of ‘what Drug ARM do’.

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Facilitator notes

Lives Lived Well is a not-for-profit organisation, working to help people impacted by drugs or alcohol as well as mental health concerns. We work with people to help get their lives back on track by delivering a wide range of programs and services across Queensland and New South Wales, such as: Individual and Pamle Counselling Live-in Recovery and Withdrawal Support Indigenous services Mental Health services Diversion programs

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Pamle Yarning Session

Lives Lived Well are delivering Breakthrough Our way in Townsville, Cairns, Sunshine Coast, Metro North and Metro South. Lives Lived Well offer a large range of services.

AIM OF SLIDE: To provide an overview of ‘what Lives Lived Well do’.

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Facilitator notes

Who are we?

The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council is a peak organisation that is focused on strengthening the capability and capacity of our membership and improving the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.

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Why are we important?

We are a vital player in strengthening the capability and capacity of Members and ensuring that an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective is embedded into health service delivery.

We also review government’s actions.

What do we do?

The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council advocates, debates, builds capacity and links stakeholders to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status.

How do we help?

We provide support services to our Members so that they can achieve greater Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes.

Pamle Yarning Session

QAIHC will be delivering Breakthrough Our Way in various areas throughout Queensland. QAIHC builds capacity and links stakeholders to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status.

If you would like more details about any of these services please see us after the session.

AIM OF SLIDE: To provide an overview of ‘what we do’.

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Facilitator notes

Session Aims

Yarning and healthy minds

Seasons of Change Learning how to help pamle stay safe and healthy

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Using your strength to stay strong and safe

Where to get support

Rules and looking after yourself

Pamle Yarning Session

To give you an idea of what today’s session is going to look like, we’re going to take a quick look at basic drug information; we want to yarn about healthy minds and what that means for you and your family member; and, we’ll take a look at the Season of Change— this will help us understand the cycle of dependence. Then, we’ll take a break.

AIM OF SLIDE: To give an overview of session and time frame of session.

TIP: A good place to note when the break will be e.g. “We will take a short break after yarning Seasons of Change.”

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When we come back we’ll talk about ways to help our family stay safe and healthy. We will yarn about boundaries and think of ways we can look after ourselves. Lastly, we’ll talk about where you can go for more support.

Facilitator notes

Strong and healthy pamle

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Pamle Yarning Session

We are all here for the same reasons — our families.

We all need our households to be safe, strong and healthy, especially for our kids.

AIM OF SLIDE: To acknowledge the strength within families, that we are all here wanting the same thing—for our family to be safe, strong and healthy.

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Facilitator notes

Things to remember...

No carry yarn (confidentiality)

Yarn stories

Strong emotions

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Pamle Yarning Session

AIM OF SLIDE: Set group rules regarding confidentiality, sharing of stories and strong feelings.

A few things to remember: Confidentiality: We want this to be a place where people feel safe to share things if they want to. We do need to let everyone know that what is said in this room is confidential—unless we have worries about you harming yourself or someone else. Then we need to make sure you get the help you need and that others are safe.

Sharing Stories: There is a high chance that people will share personal information here today about themselves or their loved ones. Please try not to identify your family member or other people (this can be hard to do).

We also need to make sure we are respectful of each other and the stories we hear today aren’t repeated outside of this session.

For example, sharing what you hear today with a neighbour, “I saw Judy the other day at the Breakthrough Session and she said…” (we don’t want this).

We also have A LOT of information to get through so we might have to remind everyone of this as we go along—I usually have to, especially myself!

Strong Feelings: This is a tough yarn, and can bring up pretty strong feelings. We just want you to know this is okay and we are okay with this. Some of us might get upset, some might get a bit tense/angry—all of this is okay so long as we are being respectful of each other.

While this isn’t a counseling session—we will be available after the session if you would like to come see us. We can also help you find out what supports are here in your local area.

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Facilitator notes

E can be tough road when pamle member e use drugs and alcohol We sabe – drugs and alcohol change the way we THINK, ACT and FEEL

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Pamle Yarning Session

Most of us here know just how tough the road can be when there is a family member using drugs and/or alcohol. Drugs and alcohol affect the way someone behaves, thinks and feels and this can be really tough!

We also want to remember throughout this session that we all have very different ways of coping and responding to our loved ones. There really is no right or wrong way to ‘do’ this journey. We all do the best we can, with what we have at the time.

Hopefully, after being here today you will take away some extra ideas that will help you and your family.

AIM OF SLIDE: To get participant to understand that every Pamle and each individual’s response to having a loved one who is reliant on drugs and/or alcohol can be very different.

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One last thing to remember throughout this session: I/we may not have all the answers you are looking for. We are not drug experts, we are here to share information with you… but we can help find answers to questions and we can also arrange to have some one-on-one time together too.

Facilitator notes

What do you call drugs and alcohol?

Alcohol Grog

Tobacco Smokes Cigar Soogz

Cannabis Weed Smuss Mary J

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Meth Speed Ice

Heroin

Ecstasy Cocaine

LSD Magic Mushrooms Acid trip

Petrol Paint Glue Sniffing Chroming

Prescription Medications (Valium, Endone etc)

Pamle Yarning Session

Let’s share some knowledge about these drugs and talk about them one by one.

• What do you call them here, is there local language for these?

• Are these an issue here?

AIM OF SLIDE: Icebreaker, to get the audience participating and identifying what drugs are in community.

TIP: Once everyone is finished thank them for sharing and move to next slide.

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Facilitator notes

Types of drug and what they can do

DEPRESSANTS Drugs that slow things down

STIMULANTS Drugs that speed things up

(e.g. alcohol, heroin, sniffing)

(e.g. caffeine, speed)

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HALLUCINOGENS Drugs that can make us see and hear things (e.g. LSD, magic mushrooms)

Pamle Yarning Session

Following on from the previous slide, we know some of the different drugs that are out there, now we will take a look at the different categories.

As you can see here the first fella here is looking a bit slow. ‘Depressant’ drugs like alcohol, heroin and Valium ‘slow people down’.

Then the next one she is looking pretty wired, pretty buzzing! ‘’Stimulants’ like caffeine that you find in coffee or in energy drinks, meth/ICE ‘speed people up’.

AIM OF SLIDE: To provide an understanding of the different types effects that drugs can have.

And lastly there are ‘hallucinogens’ (that’s a mouthful… hey). Hallucinogens such as LSD, magic mushrooms can make us see and hear things that aren’t there.

Some drugs can have a few of these affects, like cannabis—this can be a depressant, a stimulant and hallucinogen. Ecstasy can have a stimulant and hallucinogen effect. This can be useful to remember.

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Facilitator notes

Ask yourself, Why?

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Pamle Yarning Session

Now we know the different types of drugs and categories they fall into and we know they can have different effects. For those of you who have had one of these in the last day or so, ask yourself why? Let’s take a minute to think about why…

Give an example here, have a bit of fun with this slide! For example: AIM OF SLIDE: To create a shift in participants thinking, to help them understand there are many reasons people might be using drugs/alcohol and continue participant involvement.

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My kids know not to be asking me for too much in the morning until I’ve had at least one coffee! Coffee is a stimulant, I have it every morning to help get me moving.

Facilitator notes

When drugs and alcohol hurt our pamle

...e might be sign that the person depends on that drug

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Pamle Yarning Session

AIM OF SLIDE: To get participants thinking about reliance on drug and or alcohol and how it affects on relationships to Pamle and community.

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You can see here this fella is looking isolated and alone. Some signs that someone is reliant on drugs and/or alcohol might be: isolating themselves from healthy activities like watching the kids play, going fishing/hunting, getting together with family and friends yarning and going to social things like men’s and women’s groups. They are choosing to spend time alone or with people who may also be using drugs or alcohol.

I’m sure you all would have your own experiences here too….would anyone like to share?

Facilitator notes

There are many reasons why people use drugs Reduce physical and emotional pain

Cope with trauma

Stop the voices that some people hear

Peer pressure

Go to sleep

Cope with grief and loss

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Relax

E boring

Lower stress

It’s a lifestyle

Stay awake

Reduce the effects of withdrawals

Escape sadness and feelings of hopelessness

Slow down Lose weight

Take away stress of pamle issues

Relying on it to feel good

Raise energy/ to keep going

Pamle Yarning Session

Let’s spend a few minutes looking at some of the reasons why people use drugs and alcohol.

Generally, using drugs and alcohol is meeting a need for the person: • Reduce physical and emotional pain that could be present and past trauma related, stresses of family issues, coping with grief and loss.

AIM OF SLIDE: To provide participants with just some of the reasons why their loved one might be using drugs and or alcohol and that there could be a whole combination of reasons for using too.

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• Could be simply to help them sleep or because they are bored or needing to belong.

Facilitator notes

Whatever the drug...

Try understand why the pamle member e use the drug.

Wanem e do por em?

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Por em, the drug might nor go be “a problem” but e da only “thing em sabe”

Youmpla need por help e thempla find a better way…

Pamle Yarning Session

[Read slide]

Try to understand why the family member is using the drug. What does it do for them?

For them, the drug may not necessarily be “the problem” but actually a “way to cope”.

We just need to help them find a better way to cope…

AIM OF SLIDE: To conclude and summarize ‘Why people use drug and alcohol’.

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We can only help them if we are looking after ourselves and keeping ourselves strong – sometimes, this might be saying no, it might be taking a break from them for a while.

Facilitator notes

The way we see things can be different The way you might see things

The way they could see things

That’s silly and wrong

I right... I fine... I’m all good

Em following wrong people

Everyone mekem

Em nor care

I cruz my way

How come?

Kasa por fun... I nor care

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Pamle Yarning Session

Now we understand that each of us here have different ways of coping with and responding to family members.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways we see things differently...

[Read slide] The way you might see things The way they could see things

AIM OF SLIDE: To remind participants of the different perspectives that we can have.

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That’s silly and dangerous

I’m alright... I’m fine... I’m good

They are copying everyone else/following the crowd

Everyone’s doing it – it’s how I fit in

They don’t care about what they are doing to everybody else

I’m just doing my own thing

Why?

Why Not!?

Facilitator notes

Looking at Meth / ICE a little closer...

All are methamphetamine, but vary in strength:

Higher Strength

Lower Strength

Crystal Powder

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Base

Pamle Yarning Session

Because methamphetamine is becoming more common in communities, it’s important we educate ourselves to help keep our communities safe.

Here is a visual for those who may not have seen it before. If you come across it now, you will know what it looks like.

AIM OF SLIDE: For participants to have a visual of what methamphetamine looks like.

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You can see the lower strength is in powder form, then the next ‘stronger’ type of methamphetamine is base, then crystal or better know as ICE.

Facilitator notes

The good news - there IS hope People do slow down or give up People do heal and return to pamle E gad help Help does work E gad proof e speak when pamle stay strong together por help e em e gor be good por everyone.

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Pamle Yarning Session

It can be hard sometimes to be hopeful on this journey but please try and remember – there is hope!

[Read slide]

• People do cut back or quit • People do heal and return to family • Help is available • Treatment works AIM OF SLIDE: To remind people there IS hope!

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The evidence shows that when families are involved in treatment, the outcomes are better for everyone.

Facilitator notes

Seasons of Change LE

A

I RN

NG

5.

Pamle

Sticking to it

lapse/ relapse

lapse/ relapse

4.

Trying

1.

Not worried Behaviour to change

(e.g. drug and/ or alcohol use) lapse/relapse

3.

2.

Thinking

Decis

ion

Getting ready

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Pamle Yarning Session

AIM OF SLIDE: The Seasons of Change segment is to give family members an understanding what their family member is going through and some ideas about what THEY can do in each of these stages.

Some of you may have seen the Stages of Change model, developed in the Northern Territory, from the Living with Alcohol program. We have used this resource as the basis for this next part of this session and will look at each stage in more detail. We will look at ‘what you can do’ when your family member is in each of the stages too. It’s really important to remember that while our family members will most likely shift through each of these stages, they may not shift through in an ‘order’. They may jump from one stage to another, they may revisit a stage more than once.

Who has seen this before? We will go through this now and then we will look at each stage in detail:

• ‘Decision...’ – the person has decided to changed their behaviour.

• ‘Trying...’ – the person may have made some changes like cutting down or moved to drinking light beer or not drinking/using drugs on certain days.

• In the ‘Doing...’ season the person is getting up real close to their family here. Changes have been made, it’s early days but they have cut down or stopped use.

• The ‘Sticking to it...’ season, the person is no longer reliant and they are sticking to the plan. The problem drinking circle has been left and the person has moved back to family.

• The first season is ‘Not worried...’ the person is not concerned about drugs/alcohol. They are not ready for change here.

• The ‘Lapse / Relapse’ stages can be scary for family members.

The person has stopped using drugs/alcohol but hasn’t learnt to say “NO” or found ways to be strong around other people who use drugs and alcohol. The person here might start using drugs/ drinking alcohol again. The person is learning ways to stay strong, this is a learning for the family too.

• In the ‘Thinking...’ season the person has started to think about what life might be like without drugs and/or alcohol but is not quite ready for change (just yet).

Lets look at each stage in more detail. Please stop me along the way if you have any questions. We will take a few minutes when we have finished going through all of this to have a yarn about it.

• The islands in sea represents the family members and the turtle is the person who is reliant on drugs or alcohol. The markings on the shell show the seasons of change.

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Facilitator notes

1. Not worried The person (em) e nor ready por change yet, e can cause disagreement and seperate ol pamle.

Pamle feel frightened and angry.

WANEM YOU CAN MEKEM?

Build on your relationship Try nor por growl and argue Learn about the drug Look por more safe ways por help em.

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LE

N AR

ING

5.

Sticking to it

lapse/ relapse

lapse/ relapse

4.

Trying

1.

Not worried Behaviour to change

(e.g. drug and/ or alcohol use) lapse/relapse

3.

2.

Thinking Decis

ion

Getting ready

Pamle Yarning Session

[Read slide]

Stage 1: Not worried The person is not ready for change, which can cause conflict and chaos. Families often feel scared and angry.

WHAT YOU CAN DO? Build on your relationship. Avoid arguing and growling, learn about the drug. Look at ways to help keep them safe.

[Discussion] AIM OF SLIDE: To look at the ‘Not worried...’ season of change in detail.

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What can you do to build your relationship?

Avoid growling and arguing, pick the time to yarn, learn about the drug – it will be less scary for you both and knowledge is power. Showing you care by having a safe environment for them, while looking after yourself.

Facilitator notes

2. Thinking

The person (em) e wande change but e prapa hard por em por make up em mind.

Sometimes pamle e prapa tired from ol lie blo em.

LE

WANEM YOU CAN MEKEM?

Keep yarn wer em Keep the relationship strong Nor hurry up em, might em nor ready yet But still support em, because change is possible.

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N AR

ING

5.

Sticking to it

lapse/ relapse

lapse/ relapse

4.

Trying

1.

Not worried Behaviour to change

(e.g. drug and/ or alcohol use) lapse/relapse

3.

2.

Thinking Decis ion

Getting ready

Pamle Yarning Session

[Read slide]

Stage 2: Thinking The person is struggling between wanting to change and wanting to stay the same.

Families often feel frustrated, or that they are being lied to.

WHAT YOU CAN DO?

AIM OF SLIDE: To look at the ‘Thinking...’ season of change in detail.

BREAKTHROUGH

Keep yarning with them. Keep the relationship strong. Do not rush them. Accept they may not be ready just yet, but let them know that change is possible. Be supportive.

Facilitator notes

3. Getting ready

The person (em) try por meke the change por em self, e take time.

WANEM YOU CAN MEKEM?

Talk por em, speak em, we ya por

help, em prapa important to pamle

E gad help por support you

(e.g. pamle, friends, health services).

LE

N AR

ING

5.

Sticking to it

lapse/ relapse

lapse/ relapse

4.

Trying

1.

Not worried Behaviour to change

(e.g. drug and/ or alcohol use) lapse/relapse

3.

2.

Thinking Decis ion

Getting ready

BREAKTHROUGH

Pamle Yarning Session

[Read slide]

Stage 3: Trying The person has decided that they want to make the change one step at a time.

WHAT YOU CAN DO? Remind them you believe in them and how important they are to the family. Help with problem solving. Identify who can support them (e.g. family, friends, health services).

AIM OF SLIDE: To look at the ‘Getting ready...’ season of change in detail.

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Facilitator notes

4. Trying

The person (em) e meke the change.

Pamle feel good and happy but still nor sure because anything can happen.

WANEM YOU CAN MEKEM?

Esso em por how far em be come por meke da change

Help keep thempla busy (e.g. return to

Island and culture, time out for yourself, good kaikai, exercise, hobbies and music).

BREAKTHROUGH

LE

N AR

ING

5.

Sticking to it

lapse/ relapse

lapse/ relapse

4.

Trying

1.

Not worried Behaviour to change

(e.g. drug and/ or alcohol use) lapse/relapse

3.

2.

Thinking Decis

ion

Getting ready

Pamle Yarning Session

[Read slide]

Stage 4: Doing The person is making the change.

Everyone is feeling hopeful and nervous— this is shaky ground.

WHAT YOU CAN DO?

AIM OF SLIDE: To look at the ‘Trying...’ season of change in detail.

BREAKTHROUGH

Acknowledge the steps they have taken towards healing and the strength it’s taken to get here. Help keep them busy (e.g. return to Country, nature and cultural practice, self-reflection, good food, exercise, hobbies and music).

Facilitator notes

5. Sticking to it The change is lasting.

Pamle feel more confident.

WANEM YOU CAN MEKEM?

Always praise and encourage

thempla, remind them they are important to pamle on their journey for change

LE

N AR

ING

5.

Sticking to it

lapse/ relapse

lapse/ relapse

4.

Trying

1.

Not worried Behaviour to change

(e.g. drug and/ or alcohol use) lapse/relapse

3.

2.

Thinking Decis

ion

Getting ready

BREAKTHROUGH

Pamle Yarning Session

[Read slide]

Stage 5: Sticking to it The change is lasting.

Families are feeling more confident.

WHAT YOU CAN DO? Praise them, continue to encourage them on their healing journey. Remind them they are an important connection to the family.

AIM OF SLIDE: To look at the ‘Sticking to it...’ season of change in detail.

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Facilitator notes

6. E right! We larn...

The person (em) be meke mistake.

Pamle members feel disappointed and worried. “Oh no... here we go again!”

WANEM YOU CAN MEKEM?

Try nor panic, no quick por wild and growl. Youmpla larn from this one.

Keep encourage and support thempla to get back on track.

BREAKTHROUGH

LE

N AR

ING

5.

Sticking to it

lapse/ relapse

6.

lapse/ relapse

4.

Trying

1.

Not worried Behaviour to change

(e.g. drug and/ or alcohol use) lapse/relapse

3.

2.

Thinking Decis

ion

Getting ready

Pamle Yarning Session

[Read slide]

Stage 6: Lapse / Relapse The person has had a slip-up.

Family members may feel scared and/or angry, “Here we go again!”

WHAT YOU CAN DO?

AIM OF SLIDE: To look at the ‘E right! We larn...’ (Lapse/ Relapse) season of change in detail.

Try not to panic, try not to get wild and growl. This is a learning curve for everyone.

Continue to encourage and support them in THEIR journey to get back on track—everyone makes mistakes.

[Discussion]

Are there any comments or questions about this? Did this make sense to you all? Do you have an idea where ‘your person’ is at?

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Facilitator notes

Time for a short break!

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Pamle Yarning Session

Phew! We’ve covered a lot of ground so far and I think now’s a good time to stop for a short break—I know I need one!

AIM OF SLIDE: To pause for a break and refresh.

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Facilitator notes

Remember, our journey is not always straight forward Drugs & Alcohol

Counselling

Drugs & Alcohol

Rehab Clinic Pamle Ilan/ Community Drugs & Alcohol

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Pamle Yarning Session

This image represents someone’s journey back to wellness, it’s not a straight forward road.

There are many paths someone can choose to take, there can be slip ups along the way, as well as many supports. Change is not straight forward, it can take time and THERE IS HOPE! AIM OF SLIDE: To give participants a visual understanding that change is not a straight forward process and it can take time.

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Facilitator notes

Ways you can help your pamle member stay safe and healthy

Choose a time when Yarning you are both calm. Listen, be patient and try to right way/ understand* good way Kaikai Water

Healthy environment

*When yarning, be aware of your body language, voice tone and words

BREAKTHROUGH

Healthy kaikai and plenty water Safe place Sleep Set e good example Be strong and healthy yourself

Let em sleep

Pamle Yarning Session

Ways we can help family members stay safe, healthy and on track. We can sometimes feel lost and not know how we can help our family members. Here are some things that we ‘can control’, because so much of this journey is totally out of our control.

• Healthy meals—at least one good meal a day.

• Let them sleep—just leave them to sleep! Being woken can often agitate people. I always think while they are sleeping, their bodies are repairing!

AIM OF SLIDE: Harm Reduction—what families can do.

TIP: Read through the slide—give a simple example of body language, tone of voice and words—trying to help participants to understand the impact of tone and body language. A simple example of this might be greeting someone with a friendly tone and happy face to greeting someone with arms folded, frowning and with an angry tone (there will be loads of things you can use to demonstrate this).

BREAKTHROUGH

• Be strong and healthy yourself—this is the biggest one and sometimes the most challenging for people because you are spending so much time and energy on your loved one, you have forgotten about yourself. We will look at this in more detail soon and ways you are looking after yourself and ways you can look after yourself.

• Healthy environment—some thoughts on this?... My idea of a healthy environment is everyone in my home feels safe and secure, there is no fighting (yelling, screaming, hitting) the home is clean (enough) so we don’t get sick.

Facilitator notes

Drug use and emotional wellbeing E can be hard por sabe wis one come pas...

Drug use can meke emotional wellbeing worse...

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Wiswei...

Wis one come pas?

OR

Ol might use drugs to help thempla deal with stress and pressure

Pamle Yarning Session

What is mental health?

Good mental health is when our way of thinking is healthy and strong and we feel good inside.

Poor mental health is the opposite—it’s when our thoughts are not as healthy and we aren’t feeling good feelings inside.

AIM OF SLIDE: For participants to gain an understanding of the coexistence of mental health issues and drug use.

Sometimes there is no way to tell which one comes first... Did the drinking come first and cause poor mental health, or did the person decide to use drugs and alcohol to cope with poor mental health? There is a good chance that someone will have both poor mental health and be using drugs. It’s really important to get support for both of these.

[Read slide]

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Facilitator notes

Psychosis

WANEM E LOOK LIKE?

Talk nor meke sense Fright por no reason Feel stressed out and WANEM DIS ONE? When you gad mixed and strange thoughts, lisen voices and look things that nobody else e look... dis one can be psychosis.

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paranoid about everything

Think thempla e invincible (nothing can harm them)

Sleeping problem Meke strange things like

digging holes or running away

Pamle Yarning Session

Let’s have a look at what psychosis is and what it can look like...

[Read some or all of the slide]

If you come into contact with someone in a state of psychosis and you feel unsafe or the children in the home are unsafe, call 000 or someone to help you.

AIM OF SLIDE: To provide basic understanding of psychosis to participants.

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If you are feeling safe enough, you may be able to manage it at home with food, sleep and reassurance.

It’s important to talk to someone if this is happening or has happened.

Facilitator notes

Supporting Social and Emotional Wellbeing

Visit the CWC

Talk por somebody – pamle, friend, Elder, someone you look up to, health worker

Talk por Mental Health Service

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Talk por Alcohol and Drug Service

Join the local men’s/women’s groups

Talk por SEWB services

Pamle Yarning Session

Some ideas on where you can go for support or where you might be able to take your family member are: • Talk to someone – family, friend, Elder, someone you look up to, health worker • Join the local men’s/women’s groups • Visit the clinic • Talk to SEWB, mental health or alcohol and drug services AIM OF SLIDE: To remind/inform people of where they can go for support.

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The more we are open to having support with our mental health the stronger and healthier we will be.

Facilitator notes

Managing attitude and bad behaviour Signs of behaviour include:

Going off Change of voice

Being unsettled

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Pacing

Jealous

Paranoia/ Suspiciousness

Body language

Threatening others

Growl for little or no reason

Easily upset over small things

Pamle Yarning Session

We are now going to look at some tips on managing aggressive behavior.

Firstly, these are some signs that someone is becoming agitated: • Being unsettled or pacing • Being paranoid, suspicious or acting jealous • Arguing for little or no reason • Being easily upset over small things AIM OF SLIDE: To provide ideas to participants on ways to identify the signs someone is becoming agitated or aggressive.

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• Threatening others What signs might you see in your family member when they are aggressive or agitated?

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How to act when...

Avoid quick movements or moving suddenly towards em

Managing attitude and bad behaviour

Keep a safe distance Avoid growling Speak in a low, controlled voice

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Avoid stirring or teasing

Avoid physical contact

Nor look em straight

Pamle Yarning Session

Here are some positive ways to respond: • Avoid arguments • Keep a safe distance • Speak in a low, controlled voice • Avoid stirring or teasing • Avoid physical contact • Minimise direct eye contact • Avoid quick movements or moving suddenly towards the person AIM OF SLIDE: To provide participants with ideas on how they can respond to challenging behaviour.

What has worked for you in the past? Would you like to share some ideas?

**There are two slides to this section.

How would you avoid an argument? For example, do you take a deep breath and walk away? What works in your situation?

ACTIVITY SLIDE: Ask participants for their input, what the responses ‘look like’. Unpack the ideas as you go.

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Facilitator notes

How to act when...

Get help as soon as you can.

Managing attitude and bad behaviour At this time, am I the right person por help or nor?

Listen por the person (em)

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E nor time por disagree or argue

Explain por the person wanem e happening, ask e em wanem wrong.

Reassure and support em

Make sure pamle e safe.

Try nor por teke behaviour blo thempla personally

Pamle Yarning Session

Here are some more positive ways to respond: • Listen to the person • Now isn’t the time to disagree or argue • Be reassuring and supportive • Explain to the person what is happening, what you’re doing and why you’re doing it • Check in with yourself—how are you feeling?

• Get help as soon as you can—make sure you look after other people around you • Try not to take their behaviour personally AIM OF SLIDE: To provide participants with ideas on how they can respond to challenging behaviour.

ACTIVITY SLIDE: Ask participants for their input, what the responses ‘look like’. Unpack the ideas as you go.

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Just like the last page, let’s yarn about what it looks like when you respond in these ways and whether it works for you. What other ideas do you have?

Facilitator notes

What are Rules?

Flexible Rules I will only give you money for a good cause.

When you are in trouble, I will listen and we will talk about it.

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NOT Flexible Rules (Safety)

Feeling safe at home

Repect for yourself and others

Pamle Yarning Session

Most of us know what a boundary is... and that they can look very different from home to home, and from person to person. What works for me may not work for you or the person sitting next to you. Again, I will say we all do the best we can with what we have!

The same thing applies to setting boundaries. Some of us will stand firm on our boundaries and others might be able to be more flexible—there is no right or wrong way.

AIM OF SLIDE: To get people to understand the importance of having NON-NEGOTIABLE boundaries/expectations when it comes to safety and that there can be ‘NEGOTIABLE’ boundaries/expectations too.

For participants to understand that everyone’s ideas about boundaries might be VERY different.

Flexible boundaries are boundaries we can move. The great thing about ‘flexible boundaries’ is that we can move them about to make them achievable or ‘reachable’. We all feel good about ourselves when we achieve things and flexible boundaries helps us do this. If our family member is struggling in meeting the ‘flexible boundary’ then we can think about shifting it to help make it achievable. Just the same for when our family member becomes stronger, we can move the boundary to a higher expectation.

However, when is comes to SAFETY—our safety and the safety of our young people, our children—it is important to have non flexible boundaries – the ‘brick wall’ boundaries.

[Read slide examples and discuss]

TIP: This is a good time to remind people to be respectful of each others ‘ ideas’ of this topic of boundaries. It can raise some strong and intense feelings and opinions.

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Facilitator notes

Bottom line is...

Be clear wanem you need

Ensure you and pamle e safe

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Pamle Yarning Session

In summary, with boundaries ensure your safety and be clear on what YOU need as a family.

AIM OF SLIDE: To conclude and summarise the boundaries slide.

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Facilitator notes

ST

Looking After Yourself

R

“Disconnection is the disease, reconnection is the cure”

U

NG CUL O R T

E

Aunty Lorraine Peters, Marumali Healing Program

PAM

LE

TI

ES

T R I BE

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Pamle Yarning Session

AIM OF SLIDE: To get participants thinking about what they are DOING or not yet doing to look after themselves in this journey. What are things ‘in their control’ that they can do to keep themselves strong (referring to the Taigai image). This can also be used to help family members on their healing journey.

Looking after yourself! We have spent time talking about ways to help our family members, now we are going to look at how you can look after YOURSELF and keep YOURSELF strong on this journey!

It’s so important to be looking after your own needs, to help you be strong enough to help and support your family member who is reliant on drugs or alcohol.

It is important for us to connect with all of these steps on the rainbow. This is how we connect back to ourselves, each other and country/nature. So, looking here at this rainbow lets think of some everyday ideas for each band that will help us look after ourselves.

[You could break into groups and write on butchers paper or do as one group and write ideas on whiteboard/butchers paper.]

Family Ties and Kinship: e.g. Spending time with the family who love and care about you, who build you up and help you feel good about yourself.

Community/Our Mob: e.g. Get involved with the local men’s/ women’s group—find somewhere you feel a sense of ‘belonging’, somewhere that will help you be the person YOU want to be.

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On country: e.g. Getting out on country, how incredibly healing and nurturing can this be!! Whether it’s the beach, the bush, rainforest or your own backyard. Spending time connecting to the land on which you are living can be so very healing and ‘grounding’.

Spiritual Healing: e.g. Are you able to access traditional healing— can you ask someone to help with this. If religion is important to you, make sure you are making the time to keep connected to this.

Is there support for you at your local health center, do they offer healing opportunities ?

Strong Culture: e.g. Ways you can strengthen your relationship with culture—family, friends, Elders. Where and who are the cultural services here that can support you in reconnecting with culture.

Note: We won’t/might not have the answers for this for you but can absolutely support you in finding out where to go.

This image can also be helpful in reminding us to keep connected to the things that make us whole and can also be so helpful when supporting our loved one on their recovery journey, teaching and connecting them to the steps.

Facilitator notes

Supporting yumi piknini

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Pamle Yarning Session

We are now going to look at supporting our young people in our household.

AIM OF SLIDE: To introduce the next section ‘Supporting our young people’.

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Facilitator notes

Supporting yumi piknini f a S

a l P e

P e o e p f l e a , S F eel S , ce

Piknini e gad the right to FEEL AND BE safe and protected

af e

WE all need to look out for our piknini and keep thempla safe

Piknini e NOR SAFE when exposed to drug use

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Pamle Yarning Session

It can be a really scary, lonely and unsafe place for children exposed to drug use.

• Children have the right to be and FEEL safe and protected • Children are UNSAFE when exposed to drug use • WE all need to look out for our young people and keep them safe AIM OF SLIDE: To acknowledge the rights of children and young people.

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Let’s look at ways we can support our young people to be safe...

Facilitator notes

Ways por support e yumi piknini Lisen por how thempla feel

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Meke time por yarn about wanem e going on por thempla

Remind thempla e gad ol other pamle and supports thempla can talk por

Pamle Yarning Session

Here are some strategies for supporting our young people: • Find time for those small yarns about what is going on for them • Listen to how they are feeling • Tell the truth but remember they are young and need to be kids • Acknowledge this is hard for them too

AIM OF SLIDE: To provide practical strategies to use with the young people / children affected by drug use.

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• Remind them they have other supports they can talk to Does anyone have any more ideas to add here? How do you support your kids?

Facilitator notes

Alcohol and drug treatment E gad services ya por help e you.

Different things work for different people.

Not everybody needs rehab!

Mepla can’t force people por access alcohol and drug

treatment services in Queensland. Thempla need to be ready por meke change.

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Pamle Yarning Session

There are services out there you can access to help YOU. Different things work for different people—not everybody needs rehab!

We can’t force people to access alcohol and drug treatment services in Queensland—people need to be ready for change.

AIM OF SLIDE: The next three slides are to inform participants of available options for themselves and their loved ones.

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Facilitator notes

Where por go por more help Your local Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Health Service

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Cracks in the Ice

ADIS Queensland

Counselling online

An online toolkit providing trusted, evidence-based, and up-to-date information and resources about crystal methamphetamine (Ice) www.cracksintheice.org.au

Free 24/7 alcohol and drug support – 1800 177 833

Free 24/7 alcohol and drug counselling offered

by Turning Point www.counsellingonline.org.au

Clients and pamle members can self-refer www.adis.health.qld.gov.au

Pamle Yarning Session

Here are some support services that can offer further support to you and your family members. You will find these pages in your ‘take home booklet’.

AIM OF SLIDE: For participants to know where to go for further support (two slides).

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Facilitator notes

Where por go por more help Pamle Drug Support

Lifeline

Kids Helpline

Mensline

Free 24/7 telephone support line, pamle support meetings and information sessions – 1300 368 186

Free 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services – 13 11 44

Free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5–25 – 1800 55 1800

A 24/7 telephone and online counselling service for men with pamle and relationship concerns – 1300 78 99 78

www.fds.org.au

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www.lifeline.org.au

www.kidshelpline.com.au

www.mensline.org.au

Pamle Yarning Session

Here are some support services that can offer further support to you and your family members. You will find these pages in your ‘take home booklet’.

AIM OF SLIDE: For participants to where to go for further support (two slides).

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Facilitator notes

QAIHC in partnership with Torres Health has developed and contextualised the Insight Breakthrough for Families Queensland package.

Breakthrough for Families Queensland is funded by the Queensland State Government’s Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women. ©This resource was produced by the QAIHC Communication and Marketing Unit in the Corporate Services division of QAIHC in June 2020.

Thank you to everyone for coming along and sharing your stories.

We would love your feedback on the session. Would you mind taking a minute to fill in this feedback form?

And remember, if you would like to speak with us we will be here for...... (e.g. another hour).

AIM OF SLIDE: To thank participants and gain feedback

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Facilitator notes