Dear Friends,
As we wrap up 2024, we take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we’ve shared. From the launch of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute to the many milestones we’ve reached. It has been a year of growth, learning, and connection. With our vision for First Nations gender justice as our guiding light, we’re entering 2025 with full hearts, ready for another year.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the amazing First Nations women, girls, and gender-diverse people who inspire and guide us. Your voices hold the wisdom, strength, and solutions that this world so desperately needs. And to our allies, thank you for walking beside us, advocating for systemic change, and sharing in this journey. Together, we’re creating a future that uplifts and supports us all.
As we approach the holiday season, we encourage you to take a moment for yourself. This time of year can be busy, and sometimes challenging, but remember: you can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself and we hope you find the time to connect to Country, culture, community, and your own wellbeing—these are the foundations that allow us to keep moving forward together.
Here’s a look at a few highlights of what we’ve accomplished in 2024:
Our most significant milestone this year was the launch of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice at the Australian National University. It was a powerful moment to gather as a community—both in person and online—celebrating the beginning of something transformative. We also took a moment to honour our time at the Australian Human Rights Commission, where the foundation for this journey was laid. This launch was the culmination of years of conversations and efforts, ensuring that the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Report (2020) recommendations are not left on a shelf, but continue to drive systemic change.
Watch the Institute launch event
Alongside the launch of the Institute, we introduced the Change Agenda—a ‘blakprint’ for transformative change. Grounded in the voices and visions of First Nations women, girls, and gender-diverse people, the Change Agenda outlines the pathway needed to create the future we all deserve. It is the first national outcomes framework of its kind, designed for and by First Nations women, girls and gender diverse mob. It highlights the importance of embracing the Ways of Working central to everything we do, ensuring systems reflect our strength, values, and needs.
A proud achievement this year was the formation of our inaugural Advisory Committee. These incredible women guide our journey, ensuring we remain accountable to the First Nations women, girls, and gender-diverse people who have supported us from the very beginning. Their wisdom is essential as we build for long-term success and sustainability.
We are committed to seeing more First Nations women, girls, and gender-diverse people in international decision-making spaces. Currently, our underrepresentation harms not just our communities, but society as a whole, as the rich knowledges and solutions we hold remain under utilised.
This year, we made a strong impact on the global stage by representing the Institute at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP). These engagements are crucial in amplifying the voices of First Nations women and gender-diverse people and ensuring our perspectives are included in shaping global policies.
Read Terri Reid’s reflections of COP29
We know that lasting systemic change can only happen if those within systems are willing to work differently. That’s why we’ve been supporting system actors to shift their practices. Through our workshops, we’ve been guiding government, corporate, and other organisations to understand and adopt the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Ways of Working, which are rooted in ancestral knowledges and cultural practices. These workshops are helping create more responsive, equitable systems that reflect the values and needs of First Nations women and gender diverse peoples.
Our team had the privilege of speaking at numerous events, including powerful keynote speeches by June Oscar, our Chair. We’ve shared your stories, your wisdom, and your calls for justice with thousands of people, inspiring others to join us in this collective movement for change.
Watch June Oscar’s Press Club Speech
We also launched our first collaborative research, the Caring About Care Report, alongside researchers from the Australian National University and the University of Queensland. This research is a direct response to what we heard in the Wiyi Yani U Thangani engagements: the critical role of care in First Nations women’s lives, and the need for more culturally appropriate and accessible care systems. It’s research like this—grounded in the voices of First Nations women—that will continue to drive the systemic change we are all working toward.
Read the Caring About Care Report
We’re so proud of what we’ve accomplished together in 2024, and we couldn’t have done it without you. As we move into 2025, we’re excited for all the work still to come, and for the continued journey we’ll take together.
We wish you a peaceful, restorative holiday season. Take care of yourselves, and we can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together in the new year.
With heartfelt gratitude,
The Wiyi Yani U Thangani Team
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