Leading Issues Journal

Section A:

(click on the title of the article to view)

Holistic Healing for Survivors of Abuse –

How to be a Survivor not a Victim

By Liz Mullinar AM

Liz Mullinar at the age of forty-eight recovered memories of being sexually abused when she was five. In this Paper, which she presented on 11 March 2001 at the Australasian Holistic Health Conference hosted by Monash University and held at the Pinnacle Valley Resort, Mt Buller, Victoria, Liz Mullinar describes her painful journey from recovering her memories to wanting to help other survivors of child abuse. Realising that there were no organisations available to help survivors of child abuse, she founded ASCA, Advocates for Survivors of Child Abuse, and established Mayumarri Retreat.

Using a therapeutic inter-modal approach developed by Margaret Williams who now works at ASCA, guests who stay at the Retreat are shown that healing comes from within. For six years, healing survivors of child abuse has been about empowering them to respect themselves again, to reclaim their emotions and to approach life positively with hope.

"We initially heal the child who suffered the abuse by unlocking the emotions the child blocked in the traumatised state... people have the capacity within themselves to transcend current difficulties through positive constructive change, given the right environment, opportunities and freedom. This healing model involves the whole person in Systems of Being, Doing and Becoming. The approach is to facilitate a transcendent beginning through a healing programme in an effective environment for change... The key to this process is the recovery of spontaneity, the energetic life force and the reinforcement of personal power.. The guests recognise there are alternate ways of living and have the opportunity to choose. The choice is not only about doing things a new way - it is also about who to be with in their new life."

Liz urges the medical and counselling profession to "not prescribe sedatives and tranquillisers quite so quickly, so that all victims are given the chance to release their pain." She challenges us all to help survivors of child abuse break the silence, so that they can reclaim their lives. "We want to change the belief that we are better off not feeling."

You can also view her interview here: Interview with Liz Mullinar AM

Section B:

(click on the title of the article to view)

The Cities or the Bush: Is that the real problem?

Barton Lecture by Rick Farley

Rick Farley is the Managing Director of the Farley Consulting Group, which specialises in land use agreements. He is the chairman of the NSW Resources and Conservation Assessment Council, the chairman of the Lake Victoria Advisory Committee, an Ambassador for Reconciliation and Co-chair of the NSW State Reconciliation Committee.

The Barton Lecture by Mr Farley entitled, "The Cities or the Bush: Is that the real Problem?" was presented on 6 March 2001 at the Bathurst Entertainment Centre as part of the Centenary of Federation. To the question, The Cities or the Bush: Is that the real Problem?, Mr Farley's response is, "I don’t think so. I think the real issue is how Australia manages the forces of inevitable and ever faster change." An answer that Mr Farley thoroughly qualifies with his considerable experience of living and working in rural and regional communities and being at the forefront of local and national changes.

"During my 20 years with farming organisations, I saw and learned a lot. I saw the face of rural poverty up close ... I saw the class differences and bitter splits between the established graziers... I saw fierce internal farm sector debates about protection and tariffs... I saw the sector come to understand and accept that protection was the trade-off for centralised wage-fixing... I saw the pain that goes with industry deregulation – in the sugar industry, the dairy industry, the grains industry, the citrus industry and finally in the wool industry... I saw industries grapple with the impact of changing from a fixed to a floating exchange rate and the rapid development of a much more international market place, propelled by the communications revolution."

Outlining changes in Australia's landscape, employment and population, the three "practical" and "inter-related forces" that shape our communities, Mr Farley argues that " Change always has occurred in Australian society, but the pace now is accelerating... As change continues to accelerate, groups in the community have been left behind – not only in rural areas. They are concentrated around primary and manufacturing industries, where employment has fallen in relative terms."

Given that the real problem is how we all shape and manage the impact of change and internationalisation on our communities," Mr Farley addresses key issues in six areas which need to be on an agenda that aims to address how the impact of change can be managed. The key areas are: Sustainable use of natural resources, Infrastructure, Communications, Adjustment, Local ownership and delivery and Native title.

He urges that The Centenary of Federation provides an opportunity for us all to debate, look forward, concentrate on solutions and outcomes, not revenge. With leadership at all levels of our society, a holistic approach needs to be developed to manage change. This is within our reach, he affirms as, "The national spirit in which we all responded to the Olympics, particularly the huge volunteer effort, shows our capacity to pull together."

The final image Rick Farley leaves us with is powerful and evocative. "Finally though, Australians should think about the soul of our nation. Our future is not just about economics and population trends. The country – the land and waters – sustains us all. If the country is sick, it can’t support us as well. If we don’t care for it, it can’t care for us. If the country is sick, the soul of our nation also is sad and diminished. Our enthusiasm and energy as a nation fall. Our faith in ourselves and our national confidence are sapped."

Section C:

Supporting Women to enter Politics through Networking

Speech by Dr Shirley Randell AM

for International Women's Day in Port Vila, 8 March 2001

Dr Shirley Randell AM is a leading expert in Public Sector and Institutional Reform in Developing Countries. Dr Randell has provided specialist technical assistance to several governments in the Asia Pacific Region over the last three years. Born on 8 March 1940 in Perth, she was educated at Perth Modern School and the Universities of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), Canberra, New England and London where she took degrees in education and philosophy. After teaching Aboriginal children in isolated schools in Western Australia, she had four children before moving with her family to Papua New Guinea where she lectured at Uniting Church teachers colleges and was Director of the Teaching Methods and Materials Centre at UPNG. Returning to Australia, she began a 15 year career in the Commonwealth Public Service, including the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Public Service Commission. She was made a Fellow of the Australian College of Education for contributions to the administration of major national initiatives in rural education, disadvantaged schools and professional development as Director of Commonwealth Schools Commission Programs. While Director of Programs in the Australian Capital Territory Department of Education, she became a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and the Australian Institute of Company Directors and was awarded membership of the Division of the Order of Australia for contributions to public service, particularly in education. Dr Randell is based in Sydney between overseas assignments.

Dr Randell, currently working in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Vanuatu presented a speech, "Supporting Women to enter Politics through Networking" for International Women's Day in Port Vila on 8 March 2001. Her speech delivered in Bislama, one of the national languages in Vanuatu, is inspiring in the context of a country where there is not "even one woman in politics at national, municipal or local government level." Presenting Networking as a necessary strategy to achieve political change and equality, she delineates that, "women need the support of men in this struggle, which requires perseverance to change the current political situation. Because women give life they are in a position to be especially committed to changing the way of leadership around the world. And what is important to and improves the lives of women is also important to and will improve the lives of men." With hope she reflects on the new developments for women in Vanuatu and encourages "young women to continue their education, especially in the fields of science and technology, which is another key to change. And for older women to return to learning."

Translated in English by Dr Randell, the speech is preceded by a detailed biography and a brief, but interesting background to Vanuatu which Dr Randell wrote for the Centre in relation to the progress of women in Vanuatu.

Section D:

Millennium Peace Prize

By United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

The winners of a new award -- the Millennium Peace Prize for Women -- were announced by Noeleen Heyzer, Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), on International Women's Day.

The purpose of the prize was to recognize leadership that was often neither recognized nor rewarded, yet was essential to holding communities together and to building peace from the community to the negotiating table, Ms. Heyzer explained. While UNIFEM supported women’s leadership in times of peace, it also believed such leadership must be supported in times of crisis and in times of war. The award winners, through their life stories and their commitment, had been at the forefront of peace efforts in their countries, in their communities and worldwide.

Section E:

Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts

Speech by UN Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette

for International Women’s Day

In commemoration of International Women’s Day, a special event entitled “Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts” was held at the United Nations Headquarters on 8 March 2001, with speakers highlighting such issues as the lack of women in peacekeeping leadership positions, empowering women as a development policy and the connection between protecting women’s rights and peace.

In an opening statement, Louise Fréchette, Deputy Secretary-General, said that no strategy, in any United Nations effort, was going to work unless it involved women. Empowering women was a development policy that worked and no peace was likely to last without the involvement of women at all levels of peacekeeping and peace-building. In recognition of those facts, the Organization was beginning to take strong measures towards gender equality in all areas, but much more needed to be done. She urged Member States to put forward qualified women candidates for posts at all levels.

"Women can be a powerful force for peace and reconciliation and must be integrated more effectively in peace processes world-wide," said Louise Fréchette.

Click on the title in this section for the speech by Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette that was delivered at the “Women and Peace” panel at United Nations Headquarters on the occasion of International Women’s Day.