Our Journey | Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice

2017: June Oscar AO is appointed as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner

Recognising that First Nations women had not been consulted with since the 1986 Women's Business Report, June made it her priority to focus her term as Commission on the needs and aspirations of First Nations women and girls - developing the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's voices) project.

Junes launch of the project, smiling at the camera

3 Photos - 1. A group of women at night at a consultation; 2. 3 women in front of a sign outside that says 'Closed until Tuesday 15th. Women's Voices Meeing'. 3. June Oscar talking to a group of young girls around a desk.

2018: June and the team begin a national consultation with women and girls

June and her team travelled to 50 locations in urban, regional and remote areas across every state and territory. They conducted 106 engagements and met with 2,294 women of all ages, including senior elders, girls from 12 to 17 years of age, women in prison and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Sistergirl and Brotherboy (LGBTQIA+SB) meeting at the ocean’s edge, around footy fields, inner city community halls, at campfires under expansive starlit skies, prisons, aged care homes, at bush meetings, and in Australia’s political centre to self-determine the way ahead.

Over 100 submissions and 300 survey responses were also received contributing to this collective yarn and sharing – becoming the most comprehensive and intersection engagement with First Nations peoples ever taken place. Each engagement was approached with no set agenda. The central aim was to look beyond the cycles of crisis that have come to characterise First Nations lives,and to make space for women and girls to determine the conversation and define their lives on their own terms.

2019: UN Exhibition: 'Hear Us, See Us'

Following the engagements, the project was documented as part of the UN Exhibition: ‘Hear Us, See US’ in Geneva from 24 June to 8 July 2019, that featured photos and video of the national engagements.

Watch videos featured in the exhibition

Women sitting down in colourful dresses from the Torres Strait

2020: The Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices): Securing our Rights, Securing our Future Report is tabled in parliament

The engagements culminated in a landmark Report: ‘Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices): Securing our Rights, Securing our Future —which provides a First Nations gender lens across all areas of life. On every page are the stories of women and girls—their strengths, wealth of knowledges and culture, and how to overcome entrenched issues and inequalities, and create futures we all dream of. It describes how First Nations women carry knowledge about sustaining existence, are doing the backbone work of society, and are at the forefront of driving economic and social change.

The Report is broken into five parts, each containing a number of chapters. Part One explores the major themes that emerged from the stories of women and girls taken together and sets out the ‘Way forward’—a comprehensive plan for structural reform. Part 2-5 are informed by the stories of women and girls across all aspects of life from education to child protection, health, community safety, land and Country, employment and housing. The Report calls for seven overarching recommendations to guarantee that First Nations women and girls’ voices are at the centre of decision-making. This includes the delivery of a National First Nations Women and Girls Summit, the development of a National Framework for Action, and the establishment of an advisory body (transformed into the First Nations Gender Justice Institute), so we can start to fundamentally shift the ways in which we operate for the better, and the solutions in Wiyi Yani U Thangani can be responded to and implemented over the long-term.

Read the Report Read the Community Guide

cover of the Wiyi Yani U Thagani report. The cover is purple with an artwork.

Cover of the Implementation Framework. Incldues an artwork of 2 women and a young girl

2021: The Wiyi Yani U Thagani Implementation Framework is published

Stage Two focused on socialising the findings of the Report and beginning the process of implementation of its recommendations. In addition to engaging with all governments, Commissioner Oscar and her team held a series of roundtables to inform the development of the Implementation Framework. Drawing on the evidence-base of the Report, the Implementation Framework puts forward the priorities, actions and structural changes that underpin the systems change work that First Nations women and girls are calling for. This was supported by a dialogue paper that explains key concepts and the vision forward.

Read the Implementation Framework Read the Dialogue Paper

2021: The Wiyi Yani U Thagani Animation 'From dreams, let's make it a reality' is published

To support the messages shared in the Report, the Wiyi Yani U Thangani team created an animation - in the Bunuba language, Yajilarra nhingi, mindija warrma means ‘from dreams, let’s make it reality’. This animation captures the story of Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) – the story of strength, resilience, sovereignty and power that has been told by the voices of First Nations women and girls. It is a voice for hope and change. By sharing this animation and the stories of First Nations women, we can move towards First Nations gender justice and equality in Australia. The animation is translated into several Aboriginal languages, accessed on YouTube.

Screenshot of the animation, it includes a map of Australia with the text 'Australia, come on this journey with us'.

Watch on Youtube

A collage of images. 1. 4 women on stage at the Wiyi Yani U Thagani Summit; 2. A large group of women smiling at the camera at the Youth Forum. 3. Matilda House and June Oscar during the smoking ceremony at the Summit

May 2023: The Inaugral Wiyi Yani U Thangani National Summit: We are the Change takes place

The Summit, preceded by a one day Youth Forum, brought together over 900 First Nations women delegates and non-Indigenous collaborations, for decision-making, innovation and celebration. It was the first ever national gathering of its kind. Over three days, delegates engaged with inspiring keynotes, panels and workshops, showcasing the innovative approaches and initiatives of First Nations women across key thematic areas: Leadership and Decision-Making; Language, Land, Water & Cultural Rights; Societal Healing and Intergenerational Wellbeing; and Economic Justice & Empowerment. The Summit put forward First Nations women-led solutions to some of the most significant challenges faced by First Nations women, communities and all of society.

April 2024: The Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute and Change Agenda for First Nations Gender Justice are launched

The Institute was welcomed into the Australian National University on campus through an evening of reflecting, celebrating and sharing. The Change Agenda was celebrated into being, centring the image of our grandmother tree visualising our path forward.

Read the Change Agenda Watch the Launch on YouTube

Includes a photo of June Oscar, Julia Gillard, Matilda House and Larrissa Behrendt on stage at the Institute launch. There is also a photo of the cover of the Change Agenda which includes a women and young girl looking at the night sky.

2024: The Institute goes international through representation at human rights conferences

In June, Banok Rind represented the Institute at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, USA learning and connecting with Indigenous groups across the world. In November, Terri Reid attended the COP29 Climate Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan speaking on panels about the intersection between First Nations gender justice and climate change.

Read Terri's reflections on COP