Empowering through culture

June 5, 2026

At CatholicCare, we believe that healing starts with connection – to community, to support, and to culture. For Aboriginal Community Engagement Manager Judith Murray, this philosophy is at the heart of everything she does. A key part of Judith’s role is guiding clients on their journey to connect with their Aboriginal culture and find a sense of belonging.

When 14 year old Emily came into CatholicCare’s Intensive Therapeutic Care (ITC) program, she was grieving the loss of her grandmother and the life she left behind on the Central Coast. Emily had spent most of her childhood in the care of her grandmother after being removed from her mother at a young age. In July 2024, Emily’s grandmother passed away and she was placed in one of CatholicCare’s Intensive Therapeutic Care (ITC) houses in Sydney. “Emily has struggled to settle in,” Judith says.  

Judith visits Emily once a week. “She has a strong interest in her culture. The day I met her she pulled out a bunch of papers with information about her family. She was so proud to have it and to show me,” Judith says.

Judith has been guiding Emily in understanding cultural respect. “She often uses language that’s not appropriate when speaking to our Aboriginal Elders,” Judith says. “When she shows disrespect, I remind her about cultural respect and she immediately corrects herself and apologises. She’s starting to experience a cultural understanding around communication.”

Plans are underway to take Emily to Aboriginal community events and ceremonies. “She really wants to know who she is, and this is something she’s deeply interested in,” Judith says. There are still a lot of trust issues to work through, but Judith is slowly building a relationship with Emily that is based on mutual respect. When Emily experiences outbursts of anger, she often tells Judith, “It’s not about you.” Judith understands that Emily’s anger is largely directed at her mother and the loss of her grandmother. “She needs someone to talk to, someone who can just listen while she vents. I can be that person for her,” Judith says.

In the coming weeks, Judith will begin looking through Emily’s paperwork to uncover more about her Aborginality and where she is from. “She desperately wants to know who she is, where she is from and how she can connect.” Judith says.

Another one of Judith’s clients is Lauren, a mother of three. Her journey has been one of courage, resilience and determination. Escaping a domestic violence situation and working hard to overcome addiction, Lauren has been sober for over 100 days – a major milestone on her path to restoration and healing. Judith meets with Lauren every Friday as part of her recovery journey and preparation for a potential reunion with her children, who are currently living with her ex-partner in regional NSW. These visits are informal yet vital – a time to talk, share resources and plan the next steps.

“Lauren is taking all the right steps,” Judith says. “She is staying in one of CatholicCare’s short-term accommodation properties, while attending a program that will support her case to have her children restored. She has been engaging with the local Aboriginal community and has constant contact with her children. The other day she hired a car to visit and spend some quality time over a weekend with them, with the intention of increasing these visits and building trust with her young family. She’s showing real initiative and commitment.”

Judith has helped Lauren connect with her culture by encouraging her to attend NAIDOC Week events, access Aboriginal services, and gather documentation that demonstrates her involvement with community. With court proceedings on the horizon, these efforts could be key to restoring custody of her children. “She’s proving she’s open to community, to culture and to support,” says Judith. “I just help her see what’s possible.”

For both Emily and Lauren, the journey forward is not without its obstacles – but it’s filled with hope, driven by their desire to connect with culture and build a better future. With Judith’s culturally informed, patient and compassionate approach, she is helping them embrace their Aboriginal identity and lay the groundwork for healing and personal growth.

We proudly share this blog to coincide with NAIDOC Week – an opportunity for CatholicCare, our staff and clients to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Through learning, reflection and community connection, we honour the enduring strength, resilience and contributions of First Nations peoples and reaffirm our commitment to reconciliation and respect.