Through a partnership with the local council, the involvement of Rotarians, and thanks to the support of a Rotary Foundation Grant, Rotary Flemington Kensington provided a culturally and linguistically targeted Mental Health First Aid program tailored especially for those in their community who have experienced life in war-torn Africa and for many, years in refugee camps.
Flemington Kensington members were well aware of the challenges faced by residents of the social housing estate in the area, where a majority of the residents are refugees from the Horn of Africa diaspora having experienced trauma due to drought, famine and war, often spending many years in a refugee camp.Rotary was asked for help: Rotary provided what was needed.
A priority was a culturally and linguistically capable person to present the program. Dr Francis Aquah OAM, Past President Rotary Greensborough was selected and agreed to modify the existing Mental Health First Aid program to suit the target audience. As part of the project, connections were made with Council which provided a venue and access the means to promote the program to a community where up to 15 languages are spoken. Part of the modification related to meeting the needs of the mothers with school children to enable them to participate.
The Rotarians who took part in the project, provided support, assistance, care on exposure to challenging content and boxes of tissues. Considering the background of the participants, there was considerable focus on the welfare of the participants, with breaks for prayer, tea and coffee and snacks throughout the four days of the program.All of the 21 participants from 12 cultural backgrounds completed the program and provided positive feedback which included:
- It had an impact on the community
- It reached into the community
- There was participant engagement
- And there was the ability to adapt the program to suit the community
