Banga-la-ma-nha

Banga-ma-la-nha is a project that draws together the learnings of previous research into the needs of young Aboriginal women in prison, and uses them to transform the thinking and actions of people working in prisons and prisoner health. Banga-ma-la-nha means ‘to share’ in the Wiradjuri language of two of the project leads, Megan Williams and Juanits Sherwood, and reflects their aim to share throughcare data, insights and service delivery responsibilities between all partners. 

The studies relate to:

• the Connections program – run by the NSW Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, it offers support to some people with drug use issues on leaving prison
• the Network Patient Health Survey Aboriginal People’s Report – published by the Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network
• SCREAM – the Social and Cultural Resilience of Aboriginal Mothers in Prison project, which aimed to understand how Aboriginal mothers in prison understood their health and their social and emotional wellbeing, experienced cultural safety in prison healthcare and saw mothering.
• Returning home – research examining pilot programs in Aboriginal community service settings that aim to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal women leaving prison
• the NSW Access 3 project – examines access to and navigation around health services for young people.

Mark is providing writing, editing and strategic support.

The research is funded by the National Health and Medical research Council, and runs from 2018 to 2023.