Table 2.
Focus group protective factors that support trauma recovery
| Participant | Personal Factors |
| 3 | Time and the opportunity to grieve |
| 3 | Working/keeping busy (staying engaged in life) |
| 6 | Having a purpose |
| 1 | Helping others |
| 1 | Having the opportunity to tell one’s story |
| 4 | Understanding the nature of the trauma one has experienced |
| 4 | Acceptance of what has happened (without self-blame) |
| 2 | Being able to acknowledge the injustice of past trauma and one’s innocence |
| 2 | Finding different ways to respond to the pain (i.e., coping skills) |
| 2 | Self-awareness and questioning the self and past experiences |
| 2 | Recognising that as children we use whatever way we can to survive |
| 6 | Having a sense of control over one’s story |
| 3 | Experiencing positive emotions (to help build self-esteem and confidence) |
| 2 | Insight into nature of the trauma, how one may be contributing to maintaining difficulties, and taking responsibility for change |
| 2 | Having a sense of control of one’s life |
| 6 | Impulse control |
| 2 | Expression of emotions related to past trauma in a safe environment |
| 4 | Anger as strength when understood and expressed in a healthy way |
| 5 | Emotional intelligence (managing emotions, understanding the emotions of others, knowing one’s biggest triggers and those of significant others) |
| 4 | Optimism |
| 2 | Persistence |
| 3 | Bi-cultural skills |
| 3 | Humour |
| 3 | Being able to trust one’s self and others |
| 3 | Having meaning and purpose in life |
| 6 | Self-esteem |
| 2 | Understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses |
| 1 | Being able to adapt |
| 6 | Feeling safe |
| 3 | Good social skills |
| 5 | Forgiveness |
| 2 | Acknowledgment of injustice from another |
| 4 | Self-acceptance |
| 1 | Self-responsibility for one’s own happiness |
| 5 | Having a good education |
| Participant | Relational factors |
| 1 | Breaking the silence about having experienced trauma |
| 4 | Having family that love unconditionally, are forgiving and non-judgemental |
| 4 | Having a family who can provide insights and be supportive |
| 4 | Support and empathy from partners |
| 6 | Partner relationships that provide a new way of being/doing in relationship |
| 1 | Peer support |
| 6 | Mentors who believe in you and push you to extend yourself |
| Participant | Community factors |
| 1 | Using Aboriginal community-controlled health services |
| 2 | Rebuilding community relationships and sharing |
| 1 | Support from Aboriginal staff to help build clients level of safety and trust |
| 1 | Confidence increases when clients engage with Aboriginal staff whom they know may have overcome their own trauma |
| 5 | Re-establishing community connections and community engagement |
| 5 | Support from Aboriginal staff who understand the cultural and historical context of client’s trauma |
| 2 | Validation from one’s own community members |
| 5 | Being able to access cultural-centred group work (sharing one’s story/pain) |
| 5 | Sharing the healing journey together with other community members |
| Participant | Cultural factors |
| 2 | Engaging in cultural healing practices |
| 2 | Strong cultural identity |
| 4 | Going back to country |
| 4 | Spirituality when it relates to one’s identity |
| 4 | Culture pride about one’s identity |
| 1 | Elders teaching local history |
| Participant | Societal factors |
| 1 | Society providing cultural education in schools about local Aboriginal history |
| 2 | Society providing education about cultural diversity |
| 5 | Society breaking down cultural stereotypes |
| 2 | Having non-Aboriginal Australians work together with Aboriginal people |
| 1 | Social justice and acknowledgment |