Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are welcome at all our services. Some locations have programs run by and specifically for Aboriginal people. We have Aboriginal staff at each branch across Noongar Boodjar including Whudjuk, (Fremantle, Perth, Armadale, Thornlie) Bindjareb (Mandurah, Rockingham) Goreng (Katanning) Menang/Minang (Albany) Wardandi (Bunbury, Brunswick Junction) and court diversion services provided by Aboriginal staff at Fremantle, Rockingham, Mandurah and Armadale courts.
Palmerston Farm residential rehab is situated on Nyoongar Whudjuk Boodja. Our Kwinana Elders have advised that the land was once traditional hunting grounds and does not have any traditional sites such as men’s or women’s business.
As part of our commitment to truth telling and a journey of cultural safety for Aboriginal people, Palmerston undertook a number of cultural immersion tours to help improve our cultural safety. Building staff’s cultural safety by experiencing how Aboriginal people’s health, physical, social and emotional wellbeing is linked to spirituality, connection to land and culture, will by extension support clients in the cultural healing and building their spirit (Wirrin) and support enhanced health outcomes for clients. This is intrinsically linked to a reduction of AOD and other impacts of overrepresentation across other social issues such as reducing offending, family and domestic violence as overall outcomes.
