Dear Friends,
We hope you're holding yourselves and each other with care and kindness. As we approach NAIDOC Week 2025, we're reminded of the importance of gathering, sharing stories, and of the connection that binds our communities together across the continent- from the tropical warmth of the north to the crisp air of the south.
With NAIDOC Week approaching, we're celebrating not just our past achievements, but the incredible strength and vision of our next generation - the young women and gender-diverse people who are already shaping our future with their bold voices and unwavering commitment to justice.
This edition takes you on a journey from the global stage of the United Nations to the groundbreaking work happening in our communities. Throughout these stories, you'll see the thread that connects all our work- the understanding that change happens through relationship, through centring care, and through the lived experiences and ancestral wisdom of First Nations women, girls and gender-diverse people.
We'd also love to hear from you - if you have stories of First Nations women, girls and gender-diverse people doing incredible things that you'd like us to share in future newsletters, please let us know via wyut@anu.edu.au.
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week, this year's theme "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy" honours not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors. This theme speaks to the heart of who we are and resonates deeply with our commitment to intergenerational action- one of our Ways of Working that guides everything we do.
The voices of our girls and young women have shaped Wiyi Yani U Thangani from the very beginning. In 2018, we listened to 594 girls aged 12-17, knowing that any conversation about our future must include those who will live it and lead it.
These young women didn't just share their experiences - they shared their visions. They told us they want systems that reflect their values, honour their knowledge, and create space for their leadership. They want to be architects of change, not just witnesses to it. Our engagements with young women have continued ever since, ensuring their insights and leadership remain central to our work.
NAIDOC Week Education Resources
2025 National NAIDOC Award Finalists
Our Change Agenda recognises this truth: supporting the next generation means transforming the systems they'll inherit.
Our Ways of Working include Intergenerational Action because we know that when we sow seeds of care today, they will grow into the tomorrow our children deserve. As our Change Agenda reminds us, we're planting knowledges and practices for our young ones, sharing stories across generations, and working towards a world where our children, forever, thrive and prosper.
Through our Institute’s Strategic Priorities - peacebuilding, recognising cycles of care, and developing tools for generational knowledge - we're ensuring young First Nations women and gender-diverse people inherit tools to build care-centred systems.
This NAIDOC Week, we celebrate not just 50 years of recognition, but the strength, vision, and legacy our next generation carries forward. The future isn't something that happens to our young people - it's something they're creating.Our Ways of Working include Intergenerational Action because we know that when we sow seeds of care today, they will grow into the tomorrow our children deserve. As our Change Agenda reminds us, we're planting knowledges and practices for our young ones, sharing stories across generations, and working towards a world where our children, forever, thrive and prosper.
Through our Institute’s Strategic Priorities - peacebuilding, recognising cycles of care, and developing tools for generational knowledge - we're ensuring young First Nations women and gender-diverse people inherit tools to build care-centred systems.
This NAIDOC Week, we celebrate not just 50 years of recognition, but the strength, vision, and legacy our next generation carries forward. The future isn't something that happens to our young people - it's something they're creating.
In April, Banok Rind and Terri Reid represented the Institute at the 24th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in New York, focusing on the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
The Institute delivered a statement calling to fund Indigenous-led gender justice initiatives, recognise unpaid care as a form of labour in national policy and budgets, and the implementation of UNDRIP through co-designed, gender-responsive plans.
In partnership with the Kimberley Aboriginal Women’s Council, South West Aboriginal Women’s Collective and Thamarrurr Development Corporation, and Dr Hannah McGlade, we also co-hosted a side event that highlighted Indigenous women’s leadership in community governance, unpaid care and cultural continuity.
Banok Rind and Terri Reid at the UN Headquarters for the 24th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
The connections and advocacy at UNPFII supports our strategic prioritises and ongoing commitment to this work. We will continue this international advocacy and look forward to bringing First Nations women, girls and gender-diverse people as part of future delegations to ensure their voices are directly represented on the world stage.
Are you a researcher or innovator working to turn big ideas into real-world impact?
We’re working with the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership- ANU and CSIRO’s ON novation Program to make the innovation sector more inclusive, equitable and accessible, and we want to hear from you.
Whether you’re in government, academia, or the startup or innovation space - your insights can help shape a better innovation ecosystem for all.
This month, we're focusing on "Respect and Relationality"- one of our Ways of Working that reminds us that we are all interconnected, and that our relationships with each other, with Country, and with our more-than-human kin are fundamental to who we are and how we work.
Before diving into our team meeting, we took time for each team member to share what they are connected to - the places that ground them, the people who sustain them, the spiritual practices that nourish them, and the Country that holds them. This isn't just a warm-up activity; it's recognition that we bring our whole selves to this work, and that our connections are our strength.
When we recognise the interdependence between all human and the more-than-human, we are able to leave our egos at the door and tap into our heart space, creating relationships of mutual respect and trust, where we act in an exchange of care and support.
This practice of sharing our connections reminds us that our work doesn't happen in isolation - it emerges from the web of relationships that sustain us and flows back into the communities and Country we serve.
With support from conference delegates and AES members, a limited number of Conference Support Grants are available to assist emerging Indigenous evaluators from the Australasian region to attend this year's conference and workshops. The grants cover conference attendance and workshop registration fees. Additional support may also be available to cover travel and accommodation expenses.
Applications close: COB Friday, 4 July 2025
Conference dates: 15-19 September 2025
Location: Canberra, Ngunnawal & Ngambri Country
SNAICC’s biennial National Conference will bring together mob from across the country to share knowledge, experiences, and strategies to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. The program includes keynote speakers, panel discussions, cultural workshops, performances, and more.
When: 7–9 October 2025
Location: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Meanjin / Brisbane
WOW is heading to Gladstone this October for a vibrant celebration of women and girls across the mid-coast region. The program includes thought-provoking panels, intimate conversations with local changemakers, creative performances, speed mentoring, wellness sessions, and workshops on podcasting, bystander action, and more.
When: 17–19 October 2025
Location: Gladstone Entertainment and Convention Centre
The purpose of this event is to explore solutions to solve real-world community challenges in Australia and to share and educate participants and partners on traditional and digital technologies. Previous Success Stories include:
When: 31 October – 2 November
Location: Nguma-bada Campus of James Cook University in Cairns
Cost: Free, travel subsidies available
Join Indigenous Allied Health Australia on the lands of the Kabi Kabi people for the 2025 IAHA National Conference. The conference recognises the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and interdisciplinary actions within the allied health sector. Experience professional development, networking opportunities, growth and learning opportunities, a Gala celebration, and enriching cultural experiences.
When: 24-26 November 2025
Location: Novotel Resort Twin Water and Sunshine Coast Convention Centre
Scholarship applications close: 2 July 2025
Early Bird Registrations close: 31 July 2025
.svg)