The Kunga Stopping Violence Program is the only Australian designed and culturally based program being delivered to First Nations women in prison to break cycles of violence in their lives and to keep them out of prison. Developed in partnership with Emeritus Professor Judy Atkinson and Dr Caroline Atkinson (We Al-li), the program is delivered to women in the Alice Springs Correctional Centre. The Kunga Stopping Violence program runs a 4-week course in prison, exploring trauma, grief, loss, violence and anger. The program continues working responsively with women through intensive pre- and post-release supports, home visits referrals, mentoring, a drop in space and social programs.

The Kunga Stopping Violence Program and the Australian Childhood Foundation partnered to develop a culturally strong and trauma informed framework. The goal of the framework was to articulate and build upon the existing practice of Kunga Stopping Violence Program. This presentation explores concepts of Safety and Connection as foundational to the framework’s theory of change. The program provides women with repeated invitations to a place of felt safety. Through this experience of relational safety the women are invited to connect.  To connect and reconnect to  thought processes, emotions, memories, history, sense of future, ancestors, and country. 

Connection is about relationships, being with, connection to children, family, community. A felt sense of belonging. Safety to connect to the past, present and future which is not linear, there is no beginning and no end.