Luke’s Return to Country
Luke’s Return to Country
For Luke, a proud Yolŋu man living with Machado-Joseph Disease (MJD), returning to Country was more than a trip. It was a chance to be back where he belongs.
Luke currently lives in Supported Independent Living, away from his home in Galiwinku. As his condition has progressed, his care needs have become more complex, making travel back to community more difficult.
Machado-Joseph Disease is a hereditary condition that affects movement and coordination over time. As it progresses, people can become increasingly dependent on others for daily care. For many Aboriginal people living with MJD, this can also mean time away from family, language, and Country.
Through the MJD Foundation’s Kin Connect Program, Luke was able to return home.
The program supports people living in urban care settings to travel back to their remote communities. These trips require careful planning, coordination, and support, often involving multiple services, equipment, and trained staff.
For Luke, this meant returning to Galiwinku.
While on Country, he attended a bungul ceremony, an important cultural gathering of song, dance, and story. Surrounded by family and community, he was able to be present in a space that holds deep cultural meaning.
He also travelled to Gawa, his homeland. Luke said the visit was something he would like to do again soon.
During his time on Country, Luke spent time with family and support workers gathering bush tucker. He shared knowledge about the land and the sea, and took part in everyday cultural activities.
Support workers played an important role in the trip, helping manage Luke’s care needs so he could take part in these experiences safely.
MJD Foundation CEO Jacquie Hatt says the Kin Connect Program is central to the organisation’s work.
“Kin Connect is about making sure our clients can stay connected to their families, their culture, and their Country, even when they need to live away from home for care,” she said.
“When he was there, you could see the change. He was more present with family, more connected to everything around him. For people living with MJD, connection to Country and kin is not just meaningful, it is essential.”
When Luke returned to Supported Independent Living, he brought back time spent with family, time on Country, and the experience of being part of community.
The Kin Connect Program continues to support journeys like this, helping people stay connected to what matters most.
Story by Tom Hearn
The Kin Connect Program in 2025 was proudly supported by a generous donation from Catherine Gordon.