The Hints For Healing Podcast

چگونه والدین و مراقبین می‌توانند در دوران بحران از سلامت روان کودکان حمایت کنند How Parents and Carers Can Promote the Wellbeing of their Children in Times of Crisis (Farsi)

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:13:30 +1100

In this podcast, delivered in Farsi, a STARTTS Counsellor suggests what parents/carers can do to support their children during an international crisis, how to manage their children's exposure to media related to the crisis, and where to seek professional support for their children and themselves.

كيف يمكن للأهالي و أولياء الأمور تعزيز سلامة أطفالهم في أوقات الأزمات - How Parents and Carers Can Promote the Wellbeing of their Children during a Crisis (Arabic)

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 16:49:53 +1100

In this podcast, delivered in Arabic, STARTTS staff discuss what parents/carers can do to support their children during an international crisis, how to manage their children's exposure to media related to the crisis, and where to seek professional support for their children and themselves.

Season 3 Conclusion: Anti racism and Inclusion in Schools

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 15:13:08 +1100

Rafik Tanious returns to Hints for Healing to tie together the four episodes on racism and anti-racism leave you with some concluding remarks. We hope this season has been helpful in forming your conceptualisations of how racism impacts on students with refugee experience and what can be done to ameliorate its effects.

Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Eric Avery.

Season 3, Episode 4: Personal Racism - How Racism Impacts the Developing Individual

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 15:08:21 +1100

In this episode, STARTTS School Liaison Officer, Rafik Tanious, discusses how all forms of racism impact on the developing individual and highlights how schools can work against racism and toward inclusion, belonging and recovery for learners with refugee experience.

Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Eric Avery.

Season 3, Episode 3: All One Under the Sun - Opposing Interpersonal Racism through Music

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 13:33:15 +1100

Dianne Jacobus (STARTTS’ Coffs Harbour Youth Community Development Project Worker) discusses three arts-based anti-racism projects she has worked on in Coffs Harbour: All One Under the Sun, Change the Story and Stand Up/Stand By.

Show notes:

Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Eric Avery. Image from https://www.alloneunderthesun.com.au/

Season 3, Episode 2: Combating Institutional Racism in Schools

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 14:57:17 +1100

In this episode, Marica Stipanovic (Principal Policy Officer, Anti-Racism, NSW Department of Education) discusses how the NSW Department of Education is tackling racism and shares highlights from the Department's 2022 revision of their Anti Racism Policy.

Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Eric Avery. Image supplied by the NSW Department of Education.

Season 3, Episode 1: Structural Racism with Dr Virginia Mapedzahama and Rafik Tanious

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 12:57:01 +1100

In this episode, Dr Virginia Mapedzahama (African Women Australia) and Rafik Tanious (STARTTS) discuss structural racism in Australia and what is needed to combat it effectively.

Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Eric Avery. Image supplied by Virginia Mapedzahama.

Season 3 Introduction: Four Forms of Racism

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 12:07:46 +1100

In Season 3, Hints for Healing examines four forms of racism, how racism impacts on learners with refugee experience and what is being done to combat this. In this introduction, STARTTS School Liaison Counsellor, Rafik Tanious, introduces the four forms or racism: structural racism, institutional racism, interpersonal racism and personal racism.

Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Eric Avery. Royalty free image from Pixabay. Produced by Nicole Loehr.

Season 2, Episode 4: Navigating Year 12 in 2021 - Experiences of an Afghan-Australian Young Woman

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 12:42:11 +1100

In this episode, 19 year-old Afghan-Australian, Farzana Nazari talks about her experiences of transitioning from her Intensive English Centre to mainstream high school. Farzana also discusses what gave her strength and comfort during the turmoil of 2021, when the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan coincided with a prolonged covid-19 lockdown in Sydney, all while she was preparing for her Year 12 exams. Image supplied by Farzana Nazari.

For assistance with visa applications, the following services may be able to assist:

RACS – Refugee Advice and Casework Service. Call +61(2) 8317 6500
Legal Aid Refugee Service. Call - +61(2) 8713 6725
Jesuit Refugee Services. Legal Support. Call – +61(2) 9356 3888

Season 2, Episode 3: Supporting the Recovery of Afghan Youth through Online Platforms

Tue, 10 May 2022 15:20:42 +1100

In this episode, STARTTS Youth Program Team Leader, Lina Ishu discusses how she and her team used flexibility, creativity and consultation to adapt to the needs of Afghan Young People in the context of the 2021 Taliban takeover and the COVID-19 lockdown in Sydney, Australia. Lina explains how a range of supports including small online groups, large forums, fundraisers, art competitions and social media communication channels were offered to minimise isolation and reach out with pathways to mental health support.

Find out more about STARTTS Services for Children and Young People here.

Season 2, Episode 2 - Supporting the Resettlement of Afghan Evacuees in NSW

Tue, 03 May 2022 13:04:41 +1100

In this episode, STARTTS Community Development Group Worker, Rohullah Rahimi, spoke with Nicole Loehr about how recent evacuees from Afghanistan are being impacted by their ordeal. He discusses what educators can do to support the resettlement and recovery of young Afghans and also talks about the various groups and forums, he and STARTTS colleagues have been facilitating for their Afghan clients.

Groups that Rohullah and colleagues are involved in facilitating at STARTTS:

Australian Citizenship Test Preparation group for Permanent Residents
Women’s yoga group (run by a colleague)
Excursions
Afghan Youth Gathering – Afghan Young People are on Steering Committee – aimed at 12-24 year olds.
Community Groups and Forums – Afghan Community RoundTable Discussion and also a support group for recent evacuees.
If you would like to discuss Community Development Programs for Afghan members of the community, please call STARTTS on (02) 9646 6666 and ask for Rohullah Rahimi.

Links to where to donate to support Afghans:

People seeking information about the immigration status of recent arrivals from Afghanistan or information about pathways for Afghans to resettle in Australia, are advised to consult The Department of Home Affairs Afghanistan Update and the Refugee Advice and Casework Service Afghanistan Crisis Response Clinic.

Season 2; Episode 1: Resettlement of Recent Afghan Evacuees in Victorian Schools

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 11:59:51 +1100

Welcome to Season 2 of the Hints for Healing Podcast! In this season we welcome guests to share their experiences and insights into supporting the resettlement and mental health of Afghan members of the community at a time of enormous upheaval, uncertainty and worry for Afghan people all around the world.

My first guest this season is Greg Gow. Greg leads the Melbourne-based Foundation House Education and Early Years Program, which is a Victorian statewide service supporting schools and early years service providers to respond to children and families with refugee experiences. Since August 2021, Greg has been coordinating Foundation House’s response to supporting school-age resettled Afghans in Victoria in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and the humanitarian crisis that has followed.

Show notes:

Foundation House’s Integrated Trauma Service Recovery Model
School’s In for Refugees: Supporting Students and Families of Afghan Background
Supporting students and families of Afghan background is a tip-sheet which provides details of how school staff can provide assistance to students and families by prioritising their wellbeing and connection.
The Over/Under Involvement Continuum is a useful resource to support school staff to reflect upon their levels of involvement with students and families of refugee backgrounds. It illustrates the healthy dimensions of ‘ideal range’ involvement, the excesses of ‘over involvement’ and the dangers of overly detached ‘under involvement’

Season 1; Episode 15 - The Sacred Territory: Using the Methodologies of Eco-dialogue to Open Minds to the Interrelation and Interdependency of Nature and Humanity

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 22:02:40 +1100

On 10 September, STARTTS School Liaison Team Leader, Shaun Nemorin chaired the 2021 conference of the International Society for Health and Human Rights (ISHHR). One of the distinguished speakers was psychologist, activist and social arts facilitator, Hector Aristizábal. In this recording, Hector, himself a survivor of civil war, trauma and torture, speaks about his work on the “Reconectando” project in Colombia. This project combines deep ecology, social theatre and ritual to support ex-combatants and victims of Colombia’s civil war to heal through their connection to themselves, each other and the earth. The project accompanies the work of the Truth Commission in Colombia.

Warning: This recording contains descriptions of sexual violence, torture and other human rights abuses.

Produced by Shaun Nemorin and Nicole Loehr. Music by R.E.M. (performed by Troy Reilly) and Eric Avery. Image from the 2021 ISHHR Conference.

Find out more:

ImaginAction - https://imaginaction.org/artists/hector
International Society for Health and Human Rights - https://ishhr.com/

Season 1; Episode 14 - Supporting Students and Families with Afghan Backgrounds

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 12:07:20 +1100

In this episode, Nicole Loehr speaks with STARTTS Senior Clinician and Clinical Trainer, Nooria Mehraby. Nooria trained as a medical doctor in her native Afghanistan before completing a Master of Counselling in Australia. She has more than 30 years experience working with refugees both overseas and in Australia and that includes over 25 years working at STARTTS.

In this podcast, Nooria provides some context for the unfolding crisis in Afghanistan and explains how the situation is impacting on the Afghan diaspora around the world. Nooria also shares her tips on how educators can best support students and families at this time while also maintaining their own self-care.

Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music by R.E.M. (performed by Troy Reilly) and Eric Avery. Image supplied by Nooria Mehraby.

Find out more:

STARTTS - https://www.startts.org.au/
Nooria on Owl Talks - https://lectures.owltalks.org/Speaker/nooria-mehraby/
SBS Afghan Cultural Atlas - https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/afghan-culture

Support for Dari-Speaking Parents Affected by the Crisis in Afghanistan: How parents can promote the wellbeing of their children and themselves during COVID-19 restrictions (Language: Dari)

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 22:34:41 +1100

In this special edition podcast in Dari, STARTTS Senior Clinician/Clinical Trainer, Nooria Mehraby, MD, addresses Afghan parents across NSW. In this podcast, Nooria provides:

An introduction to STARTTS services
An outline of some common symptoms of acute stress and retraumatisation
Advice on how parents can get some relief from their symptoms while adhering to COVID-19 restrictions in NSW
Tips on how parents can support the wellbeing of their children and adolescents during the crisis in Afghanistan and COVID-19 restrictions
Suggestions on how to avoid exposure to graphic content amongst children and young people
Guidance to parents who are concerned about their children falling behind with their schoolwork
Warning signs to look out for in themselves and in their children that indicate the need to seek professional support
Contact details for STARTTS, RACS (Refugee Advice & Casework Service), TIS, Kids Helpline, Lifeline and 000.

Nooria is a senior clinician and clinical trainer at STARTTS. Herself a former refugee, Nooria has more than 30 years experience working with refugees both overseas and here in Australia. This includes over 25 years experience at STARTTS. Nooria first trained as a medical doctor in her native Afghanistan and later obtained a Master of Counselling with Distinction in Australia. Her particular interest is in developing cross-cultural therapeutic interventions with refugees, especially with Muslim clients. In 2015 she was the recipient of Australian Muslim Professional of the Year Award.

Season 1; Episode 13 - Supporting Refugee Children Survivors of the Beirut Blast: Reflections from Trauma Specialists in Lebanon

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 12:15:56 +1100

In this episode, Nicole Loehr speaks with Clinical Psychologist Joelle Wehbe and Social Worker Celine Yasmine from RESTART, which is the Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture in Lebanon. Joelle and Celine discuss how they have supported young survivors of the blast that occurred at the Port of Beirut on the 4th of August in 2020. Of the 1026 survivors of the blast that RESTART has assisted, 55% are refugees. Celine and Joelle explain how children, already impacted by refugee trauma, were further impacted by the blast and they outline the protective factors that they’ve observed to be contributing to these children’s psychological recovery. Both guests also spoke candidly about how they’ve personally been impacted by the blast, and by the broader crises Lebanon is facing and how they manage their own psychological self-care.

Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music by R.E.M. (performed by Troy Reilly) and Eric Avery. Image of Joelle Wehbe with a client supplied by Joelle Wehbe and Celine Yasmine. Parent consent for publication of the photo was obtained by RESTART.

Find out more:

RESTART website: http://restartcenter.com/restartcenter/
You can support RESTART’s work here: https://restartcenter.com/restartcenter/what_you_can_do.php

Season 1; Episode 12: Neurofeedback Counselling for Children with Refugee Experience

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 22:30:41 +1100

In this episode, Nicole interviews STARTTS Child and Adolescent Neurofeedback Counsellor Jacqueline Tow. At STARTTS, Jacqueline practices neurofeedback counselling with children, young people and their families both in STARTTS clinics, and, when COVID restrictions allow, in schools.

Jacqueline explains what neurofeedback counselling is, for which trauma symptoms it’s particularly effective and how it affects change in the brain, and ultimately in the mental wellbeing of her clients.

Jacqueline holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) as well as a Master of Counselling & Applied Psychotherapy. Prior to being at STARTTS, she worked in private practice and across rural and regional NSW in a range of settings.

Find out more:

Australian Neurofeedback Institute https://www.anfi.org.au/
Neurofeedback at STARTTS https://www.startts.org.au/services/clinical-services/neurofeedback/

Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music by Eric Avery and R.E.M. (performed by Troy Reilly). Image supplied by STARTTS.

Season 1; Episode 10 - Physical Activity for Health Among young Torture and Trauma Survivors: An opportunity for treatment and prevention

Fri, 28 May 2021 12:33:44 +1100

Dr Simon Rosenbaum is an internationally recognised pioneer in the field of physical activity, mental illness, sport for development and global mental health.

Scientia Associate Professor in the School of Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney, he has worked with a variety of groups including youth, veterans, emergency service workers and refugees. Simon has overseen various international research and capacity building projects, including working in the Rohingya refugee crises in Bangladesh and with those fleeing the Syrian conflict in Gaziantep, Turkey

In this talk with Shaun Nemorin, they discuss the impact of sports and physical activity as an effective biopsychosocial intervention for young people in contexts of forced displacement and the barriers to participation for some, including women and those with physical disabilities. They similarly discuss everything from the need to resource scalable community based initiatives, neo colonialism in the field of global mental health and hints for practitioners and educators in promoting physical activity with young survivors.

Find Out More:

Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music by Eric Avery and R.E.M. (performed by Troy Reilly). Image supplied by Simon Rosenbaum

Season 1; Episode 9 - Third space and Intercultural Learning: Providing pathways for safety and healing in the classroom

Tue, 18 May 2021 14:55:35 +1100

Rafik Tanious is an education and mental-health professional and film maker, who specialises in cross-cultural therapeutic interventions and inter-cultural learning. In this discussion with Nicole Loehr, they address the specific needs of learners with a refugee experiences and ways in which schools, teachers and counsellors can support in more culturally sensitive and trauma informed ways.

Rafik talks intimately about his personal journey in Australia and how it would later influence his work over the last 25 years, both in Australia and internationally. More recently through the complexities and opportunities in working with young people with a refugee experience who have been resettled in rural and regional areas of Australia.

Find Out More:

Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music by Eric Avery and R.E.M. (performed by Troy Reilly). Image supplied by Rafik Tanious.

Season 1; Episode 8 - Windows and Mirrors: Teaching and Sharing Refugee Stories in the Classroom

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 17:21:19 +1100

Teacher, psychologist and writer Jemima Shafei-Ongu talks to Nicole Loehr about how texts with refugee themes can be used in the classroom in a way that respects the psychological safety of all students. Jemima also shared her tips on how to support students who express their wish to share aspects of their refugee experience with the school community.

Find out more:

Sitti's Secrets by Naomi Shihab Nye. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter.
My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald. Illustrated by Freya Blackwood

Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music by Eric Avery and R.E.M. (performed by Troy Reilly). Image supplied by Jemima Shafei-Ongu.

Season 1; Episode 7 - Occupational Therapy Approaches to Trauma Recovery

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 13:23:24 +1100

Nicole Loehr interviews Occupational Therapist and fellow STARTTS School Liaison Officer, Rachelle Coe about the role that occupational therapy can play in recovery from refugee trauma. They discuss how a knowledge of sensory processing can be harnessed to support students with co- and self-regulation in the classroom and illustrate the important role that the physical environment plays in supporting calm and alert states of arousal. Rachelle also reflects on her experiences of facilitating and providing consultation for play-based groups and supports for learners with refugee experience.

Find out more:

Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music by Eric Avery and R.E.M. (performed by Troy Reilly). Public domain image from piqsels.com.

Season 1; Episode 6 - On Country: Belonging and Culturally-Relevant Therapy

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 11:30:47 +1100

Shaun Nemorin interviews social worker and psychotherapist Sue-Anne Hunter, a proud Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman. They discuss connection to ancestors and the intersections of trauma healing amongst First Nations Peoples and people with refugee experience who have migrated to Australia. Through Shaun's personal experiences of being welcomed on Aboriginal land, Sue-Anne and Shaun explore the power of welcome and connection with First Nations Australians and the critical importance of supporting First Nation’s people's healing.

Find out more:

Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music by Eric Avery and R.E.M. (performed by Troy Reilly). Photo supplied by Sue-Anne Hunter.

Season 1; Episode 5: Sydney Soccer Stories: Social Connectivity and Narrative Approaches to Trauma Recovery

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 12:29:21 +1100

Shaun Nemorin swaps roles and hops in the guest seat! In this episode Nicole Loehr interviews Shaun about the importance of social connectivity in overcoming adversity and his personal and professional experiences of people finding a sense of belonging and purpose through sport, writing and narrative therapeutic approaches to healing.

Shaun made reference to the following texts during the interview:

Tribe by Sebastian Junger http://www.sebastianjunger.com/tribe-by-sebastian-junger
Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam http://bowlingalone.com/
Laurie Pearlman https://dartcenter.org/bio/laurie-anne-pearlman-phd
Sydney Soccer Stories - https://www.facebook.com/sydneysoccerstories/
Books by Frantz Fanon - The Wretched of the Earth and Black Skin White Masks

Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music by Eric Avery and R.E.M. (performed by Troy Reilly). Photo by Helene Caux.

Season 1; Episode 4: Cultural Chameleons and Creative Therapies

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 11:11:10 +1100

In this episode Shaun Nemorin talks to STARTTS School Liaison Officer, Nicole Loehr. They discuss how the most unsuspecting paths can lead to working with survivors of refugee experiences and explore how a knowledge of cross-cultural identities and creative expression in a therapeutic environment, can support healing and recovery. Produced by Nicole Loehr. Music written by R.E.M and performed by Troy Reilly. Artwork "Now you see me" by Nicole Loehr

Season 1; Episode 3: Sandplay - Expressing and Understanding Through Sand and Miniatures

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 14:37:31 +1100

In this episode Shaun Nemorin talks to STARTTS Child & Adolescent Counsellors Chiara Ridolfi and Sanja Stefanovic about how they apply Sandplay to working with children with refugee experiences. Sanja and Chiara reflect on how key aspects of Sandplay Therapy, such as freedom of expression, safety and a person-centred approach, support clients’ psyche to work toward healing.

Produced by Karen Collier. Music written by R.E.M and performed by Troy Reilly. Photo and staging by Nicole Loehr.

Season 1; Episode 2: Jungle Tracks - HealingThrough Stories

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 15:46:37 +1100

Shaun speaks with STARTTS Psychologists Pearl Fernandes and Yvette Aiello about the how story books from the Jungle Tracks Kit have been used to support children's recovery from refugee trauma.

Season 1; Episode 1: Working therapeutically with learners with refugee experience in a COVID reality

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 18:30:19 +1100

Shaun speaks with Julie-Anne Younis who is the Senior Child and Adolescent Counsellor/Trainer at STARTTS. A registered psychologist who has provided therapeutic services to learners with refugee experience for almost 20 years, we talk about how we might better support young people in the time of Covid 19.