THE HON LINDA BURNEY MP
MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER
MINISTER FOR WOMEN

THE HON AMANDA RISHWORTH MP
MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES

WORLD FIRST GENDER JUSTICE INSTITUTE FOR FIRST NATIONS WOMEN

The Albanese Labor Government is proud to support the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice at the Australian National University with a funding contribution of $3 million over four years.

The Institute is the first of its kind in the world and will bring together First Nations researchers to develop and design initiatives to improve life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls.

The Institute will continue the ground-breaking work of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO, elevating the voices of more than 2,300 First Nations women and girls.

It will provide a dedicated space for First Nations research on a range of issues including health and wellbeing, family violence, housing, education, child removals, financial security and environmental conservation.

Minister Burney attended the Institute’s launch last week with Commissioner Oscar, the former Prime Minister and Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership Julia Gillard and ANU Chancellor Julie Bishop via video link.

The following day the Institute hosted a summit with more than 80 women from Indigenous community controlled organisations from across the country about how best to ensure the work at the Institute makes meaningful change in communities, that is evidence based and informed by the lived experiences of First Nations women and girls.

The Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice will continue to champion the voices of First Nations women and ensure they help shape the development of policy and programs that affect them and bring about the changes they want to see.

Quotes attributable to Minister Burney:

“The Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender will carry forward the work of the Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO and the voices of First Nations and girls.

“The Institute will harness the aspirations and strengths of First Nations women and girls and ensure they form the foundations of initiatives that respond to their needs and ambitions.

“I congratulate the outgoing Commissioner June Oscar AO for her work and I look forward to seeing the results of the Institute’s work so that together we can achieve sustained and meaningful change for First Nations women and girls.”

Quotes attributable to Minister Gallagher:

“The Government has recently released Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality, which builds on the important work June Oscar AO led through the Wiyi Yani U Thangani project to drive First Nations Gender Justice.

“Working for Women acknowledges the considerable foundations set by Wiyi Yani U Thangani, and seeks to be a Strategy that responds to the needs of First Nations women and girls, while working alongside actions and frameworks for First Nations gender justice.

“I thank Commissioner Oscar for her extensive work, and look forward to seeing how the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice at the Australian National University will continue to drive First Nations gender justice, and support our efforts to achieve gender equality across Australia”

Quotes attributable to Minister Rishworth:

“One of the first major pieces of policy I released since coming to this portfolio was our National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 where, along with states and territories, we committed to ending violence against women and children in one generation.

“I released two Action Plans under that National Plan, including the first ever dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan. We’re now beginning our important work on the development of a standalone First Nations National Plan.

“I thank Commissioner Oscar for her important work in this space, including as Special Advisor on the dedicated Action Plan, and look forward to continuing to progress our shared goals to achieve the change we must see for First Nations women and girls.”

WEDNESDAY 27 MARCH 2024