Landmark report offers ‘roadmap’ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls

A landmark report on Australia’s First Nations women and girls, Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) — Securing Our Rights, Securing Our Future has been released, highlighting an ambitious, female-led plan for structural reform. 

 

The comprehensive, whole-of-life document is the result of over a hundred engagements with thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls of all ages in remote, very remote, regional and urban communities, and will be of interest to early childhood education and care (ECEC) services who are seeking to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of, and connection with, First Nations communities.

 

The Report calls for the urgent establishment of a National Action Plan, an advisory body and targets and benchmarks for women and girls to lead in all areas of life – something which begins in the early years, where children are encouraged to develop a sense of their connection and contribution to the world around them. 

 

“What we have here today, is not a report for the shelves; it’s a call to action. It’s a strengths-based message for all Australians to see, to hear, to learn of the remarkable resilience and capabilities of our women and girls, who have the solutions but lack a seat at the table,” Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar said.  

 

“The voices of our women and girls are on every page of this Report. This is their Report.” 

 

“When my team and I embarked on this journey, we had no set agenda, no imposed framework. 

 

“We gave Indigenous women and girls the space to say what they wanted, to share their ideas, without fear or favour. That’s exactly what they did. My team and I have been moved by the sheer resilience of our First Nations women and girls, who despite ongoing disadvantage across all areas of life, continue to hold their communities and families together.” 

 

Through the report First Nations women and girls “have been heard and will make a difference,” the Commissioner said. 

 

The Report includes principles to guide change, seven overarching recommendations and a series of priority actions to enable communities to thrive and overcome profound disadvantage. 

 

Wiyi Yani U Thangani has been supported by a multi-year partnership with the National Indigenous Australians Agency, and represents the first national engagement project of its kind since the Women’s Business Report in 1986. 

 

To access the report, please see here.