INDIGENOUS Men in Redfern and Waterloo are rediscovering a sense of purpose
and community through Babana, a group that is encouraging them to speak out
about health and violence in the community as a first step to taking control of
their future reports Inga Ting in Central of 4 June 2008.
The group, which has grown rapidly since becoming incorporated
12 months ago, said the participation and input of indigenous men is critical
to the success of any strategy to tackle health problems, assault, domestic
violence, drugs and crime in the area.
“We have a bit of a philosophy here in Babana that if
men are part of the problem, they-haw
to be part of the solution,” the organisation’s treasurer, Don Clark said.
“But for us to do anything about it, we need to
organise.” From humble beginnings as an informal discussion group of eight
men, Babana – meaning “brother” in the Dharuk language – has expanded
its core membership to about 60 men. More than 100 attended its most recent
event: a health information day last month at which 15 men registered for their
first Medicare card. Mr Clark linked the reluctance of many men in the
Aboriginal community to issuers or problems with violence to a history of
exclusion and abuse that has destroyed much of their self-confidence.
“There’s the trauma of the stolen generations, which
many men in Babana were part of,” he said. “There’s the trauma of
their own upbringing and the abuse there.
“There’s [also] a lack of education, a lack of
employment opportunities, a lack of good, consistent health.”
By encouraging men to share their experiences, Babana cuts
through the frustration and isolation and demonstrates to members that they are
part of a wider community confronting common demons. “What we do is
encourage them to get up in front of a group and talk,” Mark Spinks, Babana’s founder and current chairman
said.
“I’ve [seen] blokes that stand up the front and cry
when they tell their story. And you’re looking over thinking, ‘Jesus, he’s
never said that to me’.
“But in that environment, it’s like they want people to
know. When it’s out in the open, we can deal with the issues,” Mr Spinks
said. “When you give them the floor, it’s the men themselves who say, ‘we
need to talk about domestic violence in the community, we need to do something
about the state of our health’.” To contact the group visit www.treocom.net/babana/
Source: Central 4 June 2008