Bunjilwarra: Stronger in Aboriginal Hands

Pete Dawson understands that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have often been excluded from decision-making that directly impacts them.  

That’s why the transition of the Bunjilwarra Aboriginal Youth Residential Rehabilitation Centre from YSAS to the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) was so significant. “To be in the transition meetings with the VAHS team, with a really strong Aboriginal presence and wisdom around the table, it felt like things were right,” says Pete, the Clinical Lead involved in the transition. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people aged 16 to 25 can stay at Bunjilwarra and receive treatment for alcohol and other drug issues, with wrap around cultural mentoring and support. The service follows an Aboriginal-defined notion of healing and is the only one of its kind in Australia. 

Uncle Pat Farrant, a proud Muthi Muthi Elder and Cultural Lead at Bunjilwarra, says the team works hard to establish trust with the young people there. 

“I see the young people when they come in, and let them know you’re in a safe place here,” he says. “This is a place where you can engage with our culture.” 

Pete Dawson says the importance of transitioning Bunjilwarra to an Aboriginal organisation cannot be overstated. “This country owes a lot to Aboriginal people. It takes genuine partnerships, listening to Aboriginal people and working alongside, not imposing or directing things from a white perspective.” 

While it was always the intention for YSAS to hand over the lead agency role of Bunjilwarra to VAHS, the process took many years of hard work and encountered several challenges including the pandemic. The failed 2023 Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum proved to be an important catalyst. Pete says: “it started a renewed conversation about what it might look like”. 

From that moment the hand over process took over two years to finalise and involved significant work across both organisations. “There are a lot of moving parts at Bunjilwarra, and there are differences in approaches between VAHS and YSAS, so coming together to problem solve was really important,” says Pete.  

The transition was completed at the end of 2025. Many Aboriginal staff remain working there, including Uncle Pat. “He’s still talking about retirement, but we’ll see,” says Pete. Uncle Pat says the service is working well to support young people. 

“These young people don’t know the way forward unless they’ve got a place where they can do some work on themselves and make a better day for tomorrow.” 

There are also some exciting projects on the horizon, including two new units for families and cultural practitioners. “They’ll also be used by young people transitioning out, to provide a level of independence for moving between Bunjilwarra and the community,” says Pete. 

Pete now works at headspace Rosebud but still stays in touch with Bunjilwarra. “Having that direct experience at Bunjilwarra for the last 8 years was incredible for me, it is more than just going to work” he says. 

Uncle Pat says there needs to be more places offering culturally safe support for Aboriginal people, by Aboriginal people. 

“It’s clear to see we need more places like Bunjilwarra, because this is the only one in this country that operates the way we do.”