Mangka – raising strong, happy and healthy kids
Tracks
SANFL Chairman room
| Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
| 1:30 PM - 2:10 PM |
| Adelaide Oval - SANFL Chairman room |
Overview
Presented by:
Tina King - Indigenous Healing Service Counsellor,
and
Rochelle Williams - Indigenous Healing Service Counsellor.
MacKillop Family Services.
Details
90% of the families MacKillop Family Services work with across the Pilbara region of WA and the Northern Territory are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Historically, there has been limited access to parenting support programs in the regions, and the few services that did exist were rarely culturally appropriate. In response, MacKillop Family Services consulted with families engaged with MacKillop, Elders, ACCOs and community members to explore areas that families wanted to know more about and would benefit from knowing more about. This consultation ensured the voice of families and community remained at the heart of the project and the Mangka was developed as a flexible and holistic approach to parenting support. Mangka means nest in Kariyarra language and recognises the nurture, strength, perseverance and connection needed to build a good nest - symbolic of the caregiving role. Mangka also acknowledges the safe place and strong and supportive foundation needed to raise strong, happy and healthy kids.
Mangka offers foundational support to First Nations families to strengthen the safety and wellbeing of children, raised within family through the themes of; Culture, Caregiving & Engagement, Routines & Boundaries, Protective Behaviours, Healthy Relationships, Mental Health & Wellbeing, and Safe Healthy Homes. Mangka draws upon generations of cultural wisdom, lived experience knowledge and storytelling to stimulate yarning, reflection and learning.
The Yarning Circle presentation will engage participants in experiential learning with a sample of the interactive content and resources from the Mangka program. The facilitators will invite participants to engage in activities to gain an understanding of how the resources could be used with families and adapted to best suit each family’s needs. Facilitators will also share stories and videos that were created in community, specifically for the program, using local people and staff to ensure a sense of ownership and place-based relevance. The insight and strength that comes from deep listening and how the learning materials, videos and interactive activities can be used with families will demonstrate the power of collective influence.
