Objectives

The goal of Maya is to reduce the incidence of addiction, family breakdown, poor health and contact with the justice system by creating a safe environment for people to come to and the implementation of programs that will strengthen the identity and heal the spirit of the Aboriginal people.

The Maya Living free Healing  association recognises that for the process of healing to be effective that the trauma, grief and loss that has been suffered by aboriginal peoples must be addressed. This will be done through workshops and counselling.

Training will also. be provided for Aboriginal workers in other organisations so that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to deal with and assist in the healing process of people suffering from trauma, grief and loss.

History

During 1999 a group of Aboriginal men in recovery from addiction began holding AA and NA meetings at the Minajalku Aboriginal Corporation in Rossmoyne Street Thornbury.  From these meetings the need for more programs and support, in particular a healing centre, were identified as necessary to assist people to overcome their addiction.

Calls for a healing centre were also made by Aboriginal women in community meetings in response to high rates of alcoholism and domestic violence.  These calls were later documented in the Indigenous Family Violence task force, which in its 2003 report stated the need for “the establishment of healing centres within all regions of Victoria.” 

In 2003, Ross Morgan together with Lester Green and Justin Coburn developed the first strategic plan, a committee was formed and the Maya Healing Association was registered.  The name ‘Maya’ was chosen because in the Yorta Yorta language it means, ‘cure of sickness.”  Shortly after that the Minajalku Aboriginal Corporation generously offered the use of the centre to create the Maya Healing Centre and with some pilot funding from Oxfam Australia, the Maya Healing Centre began operating in early 2004.