Identity
In Home Stretch WA, identity is a cornerstone of Aboriginal ways of working, shaping
how support is provided to young Aboriginal people as they transition out of care.
Recognizing and respecting each young person’s cultural identity is essential to
building a foundation of trust, belonging, and self-worth, all of which are crucial for
resilience and positive outcomes.
By honouring cultural connections to family, Country, and community, Home Stretch WA empowers young people to embrace who they are, fostering pride in their heritage and strengthening their sense of self.
This culturally aligned approach helps young people maintain vital ties to their culture and community, even as they navigate new paths into adulthood. Through identity-affirming practices, such as yarning, storytelling, and connecting with Elders, Home Stretch WA ensures that cultural heritage and individual strengths are celebrated, reinforcing a sense of continuity and purpose. Ultimately, supporting identity within Home Stretch WA promotes holistic well-being and self determination, empowering young Aboriginal people to walk confidently into their future grounded in who they are and where they come from.
The Complexity of Identity: Supporting Aboriginal Young People in Their JourneyFor Aboriginal young people in Western Australia, the journey of identity is a deeply personal and evolving experience. It can be influenced by a range of personal and collective factors, including:
The Strength of Connections:Identity is often shaped by ties to kin, Country and community critical sources of cultural knowledge, belonging, and grounding.
Experiences of Disconnection: Factors like out-of-home care or historical policies of removal, such as the Stolen Generations, can disrupt these connections, leaving many young people with feelings of uncertainty or loss.
Individual Choices: Each young person has the right to self-determine how they identify, engage with their cultural heritage, and navigate the complexities of their identity.
Recognizing and respecting these influences is key to supporting young people through their identity journey. For some, this journey might include exploring fragile or in-flux connections to culture; for others, it involves reclaiming or strengthening a sense of belonging.
When you're connected to culture, you have a better sense of who you are and where you're going. It’s foundational to personal growth and confidence. Culture isn’t just about ceremonies—it’s also about language, history, and identity. It’s a broad spectrum, and I aim to plant seeds while letting the young person navigate their own journey.
" A few of our goals that we want to work towards with our young people are that by the time our young people exit our service at 21 years old, they’ve got a confirmation of Aboriginality, so they have a connection to the community where they're from, and they're recognized as an Aboriginal person through their community. That they have extensive genograms and family trees where, you know, maybe through their time in care, they might not have had that sort of work done or limited work done. We really want to emphasise that family finding work and making sure that when the young people leave our service, they know where they belong, they know their family, and they know their family lines."
Home Starch Acco Audio
Acknowledgement
The Home Stretch WA – Community of Practice would like to Acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we use. We would like to pay our respects to our Elders past, present and emerging. We are privileged to be a part of the longest living culture in the world.
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For any ideas, feedback or other comments on the website: homestretch@anglicarewa.org.au
