Collaborative Care for Karenni and Karen Women in Illawarra

The collaborative initiative between STARTTS Wollongong and Women Illawarra recently concluded, yielding meaningful outcomes for a group of Karenni and Karen women from Myanmar. This pilot program, conducted over five weeks, provided psychoeducation in a relationally safe environment through a combination of therapeutic activities and facilitated discussion.

The program utilised the garden at Women Illawarra as a therapeutic environment. Participants engaged in gardening activities, which served as a practical and grounding complement to structured discussions on self-care strategies. The provision of this space facilitated a valuable opportunity for these women to connect and share experiences, fostering a sense of community.

Participant feedback underscored the program’s efficacy. Women in the group emphasised that whilst they are often busy at home with domestic tasks, attending the program provided them with a unique time and space to focus on themselves and their own wellbeing. Participants noted that the group provided a ‘safe place’ for them to ‘meet friends’ and share their experiences. Participants highlighted that this process calmed their worries and relieved their stress.

The program’s outcomes extend beyond immediate stress reduction. It demonstrated the efficacy of integrating horticultural therapy with structured group sessions to address the psychological needs of vulnerable populations. Karenni and Karen communities have strong traditional ties to gardening, meaning the setting of this program was more culturally appropriate for this cohort. Women engaged with the garden environment by watering plants, weeding, and harvesting vegetables. Participants increased their knowledge about flora that was novel to them and also shared their significant cultural knowledge about various plants in the garden. Elements of the garden including flowers, leaves and herbs were used in structured grounding techniques as well as collaborative social exercises.

Furthermore, it highlighted the critical role of community partnerships in delivering targeted interventions.

The collaboration between STARTTS Wollongong and Women Illawarra allowed participants to increase their knowledge of self-care as well as support services available. The program was also a learning process for the services involved, whereby STARTTS and Women Illawarra were open to learning from the participants about their experiences, preferences and hopes.

It is important to acknowledge that the challenges faced by these women are complex and multifaceted. However, this program represents a meaningful contribution to participants’ wellbeing.

The impact of this initiative underscores the importance of continued investment in programs that support the mental and emotional health of vulnerable communities. The program can be seen as part of an ongoing process in which services work together to provide support to women with a refugee background, in a way that respects communities’ strengths.