What is Des Bowen's Place?
Des Bowen's Place (Formerly Yungee Healing Place) is where community Elders, led by Uncle Des Bowen, can bring at-risk youth to connect with country and culture. The basis for this is outlined in The Issue, but it is a place away from alcohol, marijuana and now methamphetamine where youth can be engaged through experiential learning, their mindset can be shifted to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
"The Healing Place gives an opportunity to youth to deviate from the path they are on, so they don't end up in a place where we visit them in the end" - Hopevale Elder Estelle Bowen 2015
Des' place is in an interesting location, wedged between both freshwater and salt water which allows for a variety of activities. This method of experiential learning is important to change mindsets of youth, to avoid the spiralling effects of the problems within the community.
"The Healing Place gives an opportunity to youth to deviate from the path they are on, so they don't end up in a place where we visit them in the end" - Hopevale Elder Estelle Bowen 2015
Des' place is in an interesting location, wedged between both freshwater and salt water which allows for a variety of activities. This method of experiential learning is important to change mindsets of youth, to avoid the spiralling effects of the problems within the community.
The Rebuild
Devastatingly, Des Bowen's Place was destroyed by Cyclone Ita in April 2014, and the community doesn’t have the means to rebuild it on their own. Through Culture is Life, they asked for help which you can see in the video below.
We have a unique opportunity to tackle this head on through this collaboration. Our team is comprised of Nursing and Medical Students, along with a dedicated group of tradespeople, and we are travelling to Hopevale, not only in rebuilding the communities healing place but also engage the youth in a meaningful way, something that medical and nursing students we are well equipped to do.
We have a unique opportunity to tackle this head on through this collaboration. Our team is comprised of Nursing and Medical Students, along with a dedicated group of tradespeople, and we are travelling to Hopevale, not only in rebuilding the communities healing place but also engage the youth in a meaningful way, something that medical and nursing students we are well equipped to do.
Suicide prevention
Through increased connection with community members, Elders and The Royal Flying Doctor's Service in Hope Vale, we will improve outcomes for Indigenous youth in Hope Vale, not only through the rebuild of the Healing Place, but also through our long term commitment to Hope Vale. These will seek to improve mental health and wellbeing in the community and thereby reduce rates of youth suicide. This is through increased connection to indigenous culture, cultural practices and the land, also acting as an activity for youth. These have been shown to improve mental health and wellbeing.
Yungee Healing Place from Culture Is Life on Vimeo.