Author: The Sanctuary of Embracing Difference

May 2014

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“I am now more aware that giving back is more than I had envisaged and its ok to give back what no longer serves me for my highest good” Lillian “Amazing nutritious and deli-cious food even though it was vegetarian :)” Lillian

“Consciously Programming Workshop was really challenging, still getting my head around the actual difference of ‘word’ & ‘feeling’” Julie

“I feel like my journey to a balanced me has begun and I wanted to make that change.” Ingrid

“Colour and Sound Journeying was my favourite it helped with releasing emotions.” Natasha

“Physical Centre’s of Consciousness workshop was extremely interesting & I would like to learn more.” Julie

“I enjoyed the ACTivating the sacred space workshop. I enjoyed the physical activity and the environment and being part of that amazing experience” Ingrid

“The food was great I am not vegetarian but I never missed a thing the whole time I was here” Natasha

Email following the retreat:

“Hello Leanne, Debbie, Yvonne and Alicia, I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for helping me start my journey of a new me. I know that it will take a while but knowing that I CAN make the positive changes to live my life and shape who I am, is very satisfying. When I got home my children said I look different and radiant and I feel my eyes are open wider too. I love my necklace more every day I wear it. Blue has always been my favourite colour but none of the blue ones grabbed my attention and I was drawn to this purpley one. Funny enough blue keeps shining through from the pearly beads on it. Anyhow, thanks again for everything.” Ingrid

Elder abuse

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Elder abuse is any act within a relationship of trust which results in harm to an older person. It can be emotional, psychological, financial, physical or sexual abuse, or neglect.

Many people do not discuss their concerns with others because of feelings of shame, fear of retaliation, the involvement of family members or fear they will be institutionalised. Some people may not realise what they are experiencing is abuse, or feel that somehow it is their fault.

Elder abuse can include…

  • frightening someone by threatening to hurt a pet or break belongings
  • intimidating, humiliating, or harassing a person
  • threatening to evict someone or put them in a nursing home
  • stopping a person from seeing family or friends
  • denying someone the right to make their own decisions
  • pension skimming
  • selling belongings without permission
  • misusing an Enduring Power of Attorney by taking money or property improperly
  • forcing a person to change their will
  • denying someone access or control of their own funds
  • not allowing services to help someone
  • neglecting a person’s physical, medical or emotional needs
  • slapping, hitting, pushing or restraining
  • making unwanted sexual approaches or behaving indecently

>> Read the rest of this article on Queensland Government website, which includes some helpful resources

Numbers of Indigenous children in state care a national disgrace, SNAICC says

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The growing number of Indigenous children being put into government care is a national disgrace, a group representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families says.

Figures indicate one third of children in care are from Aboriginal backgrounds, which the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) says risks creating another Stolen Generation.

A forum held today in Adelaide has looked at the issue of Indigenous children in care.

Sharron Williams of the SNAICC told delegates something must change.

“It’s a national disgrace when we allow for Aboriginal children, all children, to come into care at such high levels,” she said.

>> Read the rest of this article on the ABC news website here

Addressing women’s victimisation histories in custodial settings

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The profile of women in prison

The rate at which women are being incarcerated in Australia has increased dramatically in the last 20 years (Baldry, 2008; Mitchell, 2005). Reviewing data collected between 1995 and 2002, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) calculated that the female imprisonment rate had more than doubled (58%) over those seven years. One quarter of those women were on remand.1 In 2010, the ABS reported that the last 10 years (1999-2009) had seen an increase of 60% in the female prison population. Between the 2009 and 2010 Prisoner Censuses, the number of female prisoners increased by 5% (ABS, 2010). In short, there has been a significant increase in the number of women in Australian prisons since 1995, a situation that is not unique to Australia. Internationally, the rate of female imprisonment is also increasing (Corston, 2007; Gelsthorpe, 2010; Martin, Kautt, & Gelsthorpe, 2009).

Sentencing outcomes

A report on the gender differences in sentencing outcomes by the Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council (2010) indicates that “data from higher courts show both an increase in the proportion of women being sentenced to imprisonment and an increase in the average length of imprisonment terms” for women (Sentencing Advisory Council, 2010).

>> Read more on the Australian Government Australian Institute of Family Studies Sexual Violence Research website.

December 2013

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“I got more than I came for, I finally have some sense of direction for my life. The retreat was better than what I could have expected” Aly

“My favourite workshops; giving something back, the awakening of the spirit the journey home, physical centre’s of consciousness” Ana

“I participated in the August retreat, my life has been changed as I have forever. Leanne this is your gift to the world I love that 4 months down the track I am still shifting changing growing and loving me. Thank you” Sally

“My most favourite workshop was the hardest the drawing/ colour and sound. This allowed me to let go of things I did not know I was holding on to” Melissa “Thank you for helping me find the True Me” Melissa

“I enjoyed the conscious programming, I got rest, healing, space, ability to share, empower self and others from a point of vulnerability” Alicia

“I came with openness to experience what I needed at this time. It was a very moving and cleansing experience” Gwen

Gallery

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August 2013

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“I wasn’t sure what the Re-treat would entail but what a pleasant surprise, more than I expected. Excellent, embrac-ing, loving, rejuvenating, refreshing happy, ready to go” Toni “Aboriginal Dance; Great stuff I have always wanted to try it and today I did it. The mosquito dance and emu dance loved it.” Toni

“There are three workshops I linked equally because they are all interwoven and instigated change: Giving something back, chakra energy the power of you and colour and sound journey. (I actually also really liked singing in the last session)” Sally

“Creating a sacred space made me feel a part of some-thing it gave me a sort of buzz, it was truly an experience. Looking Forward; I see a stronger me and focus more on my life.” Lorraine

April 2013

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“Thank you so much for an inspirational week-end. The Bunya Mountains was truly a spectacular and quiet place to release and reflect on many aspects of one’s life. I especially enjoyed the session on judgment and have implemented many of your teaching from the week-end into my everyday life. Many thanks for your wisdom, patience and guidance throughout the sessions, I can’t believe how ‘LIGHT’ I feel throughout this past week since the course week-end and how the trip back to Brisbane seemed to take 1 hour not 4.” Glenda Laughlan

When we travel this journey with others we are privileged to share in such an intimate space with them and they with us. I loved the respect that everyone had for each other and how everyone participated. “I loved the sacred intimacy of the small group and the sharing between the women. You created a safe place for mine and other women’s deep healing” Karen Langford

Gallery

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