Elizabeth

 Mum finds strength in spiritual connection to ancestors

Warning - The following story discusses child removal, which may be distressing for some readers.​

*Elizabeth, a courageous Northern Territory mum, has overcome incredible challenges to stay strong for herself and her children, says ANFPP Wurli Wurlinjang home visiting team Andrea McDonald and Margaret McBean.

Andrea is Elizabeth's Family Partnership Worker and Margaret is her Nurse Home Visitor. “We support Elizabeth, who's had involvement with Child Protection Services or Territory Families, as we call them up here,” says Margaret.

"When she had her first child, she did it alone but this time she has had Wurli Wurlinjang ANFPP support and feels she was at the right place at the right time," she says.

Resilience is mum’s strength

Elizabeth says the key to making changes in her life and staying strong are her two children. Her Nanna, who she has deep affection for, but who is sick, also helps keep her on track.

“Elizabeth's just the most amazing, resilient, incredibly strong young woman. She just every day continues to amaze us," says Margaret.

“She’s almost ready to graduate and we have just seen such a huge change, just positive changes that she’s made herself, to be able to embrace what just she has to, to make sure she is able to be reunified with her children.

“She’s jumped through that many hoops and had kept her head and she’s had so many opportunities where she might, any of us, might be breaking under the pressure. But she’s just able to hold it together under incredible stress and circumstances."
 
Parenting course to get kids back

“We’re just so proud of her and she is currently undertaking a parenting course. She wants to do the entire course so she can get the certificate - one of the tick boxes for Territory Families," says Margaret.

Andrea adds, “She’ll get the certificate after that, so she can get her children back. She does it all, just on her own, without us telling her what to do. She’s coming out from herself, like she wants to make herself better. She can get her kids back, just by participating in the parenting course - it’s all coming from her."

Spiritual connection to ancestors

Margaret and Andrea explain where their client’s strength comes from. "She has an inner strength,” says Margaret.

“Yeah, just from within herself,” says Andrea. “Like being a part of our program too. I reckon it’s helped her out a lot.”

Margaret continues, “And I think there’s a spiritual connection with her ancestors. When she’s been really down, she can talk about her reaching out to her ancestors. She’s a very spiritual young woman and that is her strength - to be able to connect to that spirituality."

Juggling ten different things

“She has to juggle so many balls - to check in with - well this doesn’t have to happen now because there’s been a wonderful outcome - but she was checking in with her parole officer, she was going to counselling, she was doing her access visits," says Margaret.

“There were ten different things she had to be juggling, and the circumstances are not very positive coming from Territory Families, with people trying to shove her here and push her there."

Elizabeth found that when she is stressed and upset, yarning to her home visiting team helps her cope.

“And she’s just amazing. She’s just a beautiful woman, inside and out, and she’s got an incredible love and devotion for her children," says Margaret.

Encouragement and trust

Andrea and Margaret are modest when asked how they have contributed to their client’s success and what she has achieved.

“We’ve given her just that encouragement, but not pushing her. I think she knows that one of the things that Andrea and I have been able to foster is that she knows that we’re here for her, regardless of what mood she’s in, regardless of whether she wants a complete meltdown.

"You know, just call it for what it is, what’s happening, and regardless of her mood and how angry she might be at that point. She knows that we’re here for her, completely. And that’s really nice to feel that she…” says Margaret.

“…she trusts us,” finishes Andrea.

She’s adopted us forever

Andrea and Margaret have known Elizabeth for about two and a half years. "Elizabeth says she appreciates everything we've done for her children and that she has learnt a lot in the time we've have known each other." says Margaret.

Elizabeth expressed she has gotten some good advice from her home visiting team and others along the way.

"She says she would like to stay in touch and we assured her that we will follow through until the Territory Families issues are resolved," says Margaret. Elizabeth is due to graduate this month but Margaret says with a laugh, “She’s pretty much adopted us forever, I think.”

*Name has been changed to protect privacy

If anything you have read in this story has caused you distress and you need someone to talk to, please contact one of these helplines:
Lifeline - 13 11 14
Beyond Blue - 1300 23 4636
Parentline - 1300 30 1300