Ms Ryan explains that the system that’s’ currently in place is not set up to provide effective support, resulting in inadequate cultural competency training leading to pervasive and ongoing life-threatening consequences for First Nations peoples, including chronic poor health, high psychological stress and high suicide and incarceration rates.
“These issues are compounded in times of high stress, such as when dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters,” Ms Ryan said.
February and March 2022 saw extreme flooding in Queensland and New South Wales that devastated entire communities, with towns on Bundjalung Country, including Lismore, Coraki and Cabbage Tree Island, some of the hardest hit.
