Possum Skin Cloaks

The cloak came about with the funding from Dhelk Dja: Safe Our Way – Strong Culture, Strong Peoples, Strong Families.  Dhelk Dja is an Aboriginal-led agreement to address family violence in Aboriginal communities. GCASA (Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault) applied for funding to create three Possum Skin Cloaks for our current and future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients to use on their healing journey with GCASA. Clients who have been impacted by sexual assault and family violence can have the cloak with them during their counselling sessions at GCASA knowing that the cloak has been made for them by their community to support and protect them while they are with us.

The cloak has been made over three days by community members and completed, with guidance and assistance of our well known and respected elder and artist, Aunty Gina Bundle.

The project has seen our staff and organisation connecting and consulting with First Nations community over the last 12 months and three separate cloaks have been created. Each of the three cloaks will take pride of place in our Warragul, Morwell and Wonthaggi offices and made available to our First Nations community while at GCASA.

The celebration and presentation of the completed cloak for Latrobe will take place at Lake Hyland, Mathison Park Churchill on Tuesday April 22 from 4pm. There will be a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony followed by some formalities and activities, finishing with a light meal.

To register your attendance please email prevention@gippscasa.org