Bravehearts building strong bonds in the outback

The heavy Australian wet season did not deter intrepid Bravehearts trainer Angie Derrett from delivering important child protection workshops in Alice Springs this month.

Hoping to build a strong relationship between Alice Springs based Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and Yirara College, Angie delivered child protection workshops to 60 boarding school and academic staff as well as advising the SARC on the role, training and support services provided by Bravehearts.

“Both the SARC and Yirara College staff were so enthusiastic and grateful for the information I was able to provide them with,” says Angie.

“They were all just so keen to apply the knowledge they had received, which is really gratifying.”

Yirara College provides accommodation and education for rural and remote Indigenous students in the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia whilst the SARC provides counselling, information and support to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous victims of child sexual assault.

“I was also able to learn more about the local Indigenous culture in the region as well as cultural aspects to be mindful of when working with Indigenous Australians to improve child protection in their local communities,” says Angie.

“Our workshops were very well received and both the SARC and Yirara College expressing a desire for Bravehearts to return to Alice Springs to provide further training, education and support.”