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Connecting to culture through the didgeridoo

01 September 2020
Safety and Wellbeing
A group of men sit in a circle on chairs in a well-lit room. Each holds a white pipe pointed at the floor on which is a red and black covering. On the walls are images, a book shelf and other items. There are two roller doors on one wall.

Thirty men and youth in the Shoalhaven of NSW recently attended the Didgeridoo Experience Men’s Workshop to connect to their culture and build resilience.

A collaboration between the Didgeridoo Academy and the South Coast Medical Aboriginal Service Corporation (SCMASC) has had positive effects on 30 Aboriginal men and youth in the Shoalhaven of NSW.

At the Didgeridoo Experience Men's Workshop, a series of face-to-face classes that began in July 2019, the men learned how to play the didgeridoo.

Mark King is Founder of the Didgeridoo Academy.

‘The Didgeridoo is by far the most popular and important Aboriginal instrument,’ Mark said.

‘The Didgeridoo teaches men and youth how to build their capacity and resilience within. Most importantly, the men and youth were eager to engage, practice and maintain cultural knowledge.’

Those who attended are dealing with mental health issues because of transgenerational trauma. The group includes victims of violence and those recovering from alcohol and substance misuse. Some have criminal records and are at risk of re-offending.

SCMASC provided case management support to the participants during and after the workshops. Evidence shows that the workshops reduced the risk of participant’s mental illness, drug and/or alcohol abuse.

‘One of the participants was a survivor of drugs and alcohol abuse and a very serious car accident that left him with severe traumatic brain injuries,’ Mark said.

‘He was able to participate in the program. Adam was able to use the didgeridoo program to assist him to reconnect with his Aboriginal culture to feel stronger, healthy and “Deadly”.’

‘Another member of the group is still moving through Sorry Business with the recent loss of his son.

‘Suffering from grief he was able to turn his attention away from drugs and alcohol to participate in the program. He commented that he was really happy to learn some new skills and techniques that he can now share with his family.’

The participants felt they were connecting with their Ancestors by reconnecting to Culture and Country. They felt their Ancestors were looking over them as they were learning to play.

‘The men and youth stated they felt a sense of mental and emotional calming,’ Mark said.

The workshops are expected to reconvene after the Covid 19 pandemic.

Watch a video of the workshops at Didgeridoo Academy Mens Healing 2020 on Vimeo.

Find out more

The Didgeridoo Academy is a NSW Creative Kids Program Provider. Workshop participants can purchase a life-time license to online learning resources which help them learn to play the didgeridoo.

The NIAA supported the workshops through the Regional Manager’s Discretionary Fund. It worked with the SCMASC sponsored Men’s Group and the Didgeridoo Academy to develop the workshops that were completed in June 2020.