Voicing Aboriginal Experiences of Funerals: Examining the contemporary financial, cultural, social and emotional impacts to wellbeing

As part of a Master’s candidature confirmation, this presentation will discuss a research project for Aboriginal people in the Kimberley. The experience of laying loved ones to rest is an ongoing process – sometimes it seems that funerals are continuous, leaving people emotionally, spiritually, culturally, socially and financially drained. While this is a Kimberley-wide issue, this study is a small research project which will focus on one Aboriginal community in the West Kimberley. The Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community is situated 200km south of Broome and home to the Karajarri, Nyangumarta, Mangala, Yulparija and Juwaliny people. It is the largest Aboriginal community in the Kimberley. This research will look at ‘Voicing the Aboriginal Experiences of Funerals’ in the Bidyadanga Community, particularly around the health and wellbeing of families in the preparation of funerals, and the resulting stress and associated pressures such as the financial, cultural, social and emotional impacts to wellbeing. It is hoped that this research can support changes to policy and practice in remote communities, opening discussions about what the stresses are, but also positive actions that may be taken in Bidyadanga to minimize these burdens during these already difficult times