Deadly Reading and Viewing

A Question of Colour; my journey to belonging (2020)

Author: Pattie Lees with Adam C Lees

The removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families remains a dark chapter in Australia’s history. Pattie Lees was just ten-yearsold when she and her four siblings were separated from their mother on the grounds of neglect and placed into State Care. Believing she was being shipped and exiled to Africa, Pattie was ultimately fated to spend the rest of her childhood on the island once dubbed ‘Australia’s Alcatraz’ – Palm Island Aboriginal Settlement, off the coast of Queensland.

A Question of Colour; my journey to belonging provides a first-hand account of Pattie’s experiences as a ‘fair-skinned Aboriginal’ during Australia’s assimilationist policy era and recounts her survival following a decade of sexual, physical and emotional abuse as a Ward of the State. A Question of Colour is a deeply moving and powerful testimony to the resilience of a young girl, her identity and her journey to belong. For more information visit magabala.com

Living on Stolen Land (2020)

Author: Ambelin Kwaymullina Living on Stolen Land is a prose-styled look at our colonial-settler ‘present’. This book is the first of its kind to address and educate a broad audience about the colonial contextual history of Australia, in a highly original way. It pulls apart the myths at the heart of our nationhood, and challenges Australia to come to terms with its own past and its place within and on ‘Indigenous Countries’.

This title speaks to many First Nations’ truths; stolen lands, sovereignties, time, decolonisation, First Nations perspectives, systemic bias and other constructs that inform our present discussions and ever-expanding understanding. This title is a timely, thought-provoking and accessible read.

SNAICC COVID-19 resources

snaicc.org.au

SNAICC — National Voice for our Children have compiled a number of resources to help better understand the impacts of COVID-19, and to help children, carers and families get through this difficult time.

Visual Dreaming app

visualdreaming.com.au

The Visual Dreaming app is designed to help people strengthen their social-emotional health and wellbeing through digital story-telling and visual goal settings. It connects people with their dream team which can consist of family, friends, coworkers, mentors or trusted health care workers.

Leanne Sanders is the founder of Visual Dreaming an Indigenous female-tech company, she started the idea for the app three years ago after seeing mob struggle with access to mental health services and the NDIS.

“We wanted to create visual goal setting and communication for young ones to connect to Elders and knowledge holders to help build their connection to culture and spirituality,” said Leanne.

Different goals can be selected including spiritual and physical wellbeing, cultural, social and emotional and personal skills.