I was inspired into the field of trauma healing by a remarkable woman, Judy Atkinson.
Emeritus Professor Judy Atkinson is a Jiman (central west Queensland) and Bundjalung (northern New South Wales) woman, with Anglo-Celtic and German heritage. She lives in Goolmangar, New South Wales. Judy is Founder of the remarkable healing initiative, We Al-li.
Judy’s book Trauma Trails Recreating Songlines: The transgenerational effects of trauma in Indigenous Australia quite simply changed my life. The book provides context to the life stories of people who have been moved from their country in a process that has created trauma trails, and the changes that can occur in the lives of people as they make connection with each other and share their stories of healing.
As a result of reading Judy’s book, I developed the educational initiative Sharing Culture, which focuses on the healing of historical trauma. [I no longer post content on this website.] Judy and her daughter Carlie agreed to become Advisors of Sharing Culture and wrote moving Testimonials.
I was lucky enough to meet Judy in Katherine when I was meeting new friends (including Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann) in the Northern Territory. Later, a group of us spent three days together at the Barunga Festival. I learnt so much in those days, and the time that I drove back to Darwin with Judy. I look forward to seeing Judy again meeting Carlie one day.
Here is a powerful presentation that Judy made at a TEDx meeting in 2017.
Judy Atkinson is an expert in understanding inter-generational healing and recovery from trauma in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. At the core of this moving talk, she describes her approach to healing. It’s about listening. In order to heal, the stories behind the trauma must be heard. 2 August 2017 [16’15”]