Community Development

Community Development work at STTARS builds on the connections, strengths and resilience of refugees to help communities to overcome their trauma, empower themselves and create a better life in Australia

Trauma impacts on communities as much as it impacts on individuals. When groups of people are exposed to organised violence and terror, the bonds of trust that hold a community together are damaged. Added to this, the considerable challenges for a community in settling into a new country may threaten pre-existing connections. Therefore, whilst it is important to work on an individual’s symptoms of trauma, a vital element of the recovery process is to increase community capacity and help clients to find meaning and purpose by facilitating new connections and fostering in them a sense of belonging in their new home.

Community Development work at STTARS aims to build on these connections and use the strengths and resilience of refugees to help communities collectively overcome their trauma, empower themselves and create a better life in Australia.

STTARS actively seeks opportunities to work in partnership with community groups and associations to undertake projects, events and initiatives to promote better support of survivors of torture and trauma within their community.

For more information, contact Amritha Aparnadas at STTARS on 8206 8900 or via email: community@sttars.org.au