What next for First Nations gender Justice?

Posted on 15 February, 2024

Next month in Canberra, outgoing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO will highlight the ways in which First Nations women will help find a path forward following the failure of The Voice referendum.

June, a proud Bunuba woman from the remote town of Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, began her five-year term as Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner in 2017, and in April 2022 was reappointed for a further two years. She published the landmark Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) Report in December 2020 and continues to pursue its full implementation to advance First Nations gender justice and equality in Australia.

On 27 March, June will present a National Press Club Address on behalf of Women in Media to mark stepping down from her post. “Throughout my term, I’ve brought to light the experiences of First Nations women and girls around Australia, the vital role we play as matriarchal holders of knowledge, and our potential to drive change in our communities,” she said.

“The multi-year systemic change project I have led, Wiyi Yani U Thangani, based on thousands of conversations with First Nations women and girls, shows we need holistic, healing-oriented, culturally intelligent and gender responsive systems that embrace and are built upon our women’s knowledges and lived experiences.”

June noted that her term as Commissioner and heading the the Wiyi Yani U Thangani project had coincided with major events that had affected Indigenous women and their communities, often in ways that had gone unnoticed.
“Throughout this turbulent seven years of global history, we’ve traversed #MeToo, the Voice referendum, Black Lives Matter, Parliament rape allegations, murdered and missing Aboriginal women, and COVID.

“It’s clear that millions of people around the world are desperately searching for alternative ways to construct the mainstream systems and structures that have marginalised the voices of women and girls for generations.”

As she left the role, June said it was important to reflect on the ways in which First Nations women and girls are able to elevate solutions that are responsive, and which centre justice and transformative change for all.

“It is also important to highlight the way forward, both for the Wiyi Yani U Thangani project, which has been the major work of my term, and for First Nations communities more broadly – particularly at this critical time following the referendum.”

While stepping down as Commissioner, June would help drive the development of the First Nations Gender Justice Institute, which will carry on the legacy of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Project.
“Through strong partnerships and collaborations with First Nations women, governments, the private sector and philanthropists, the Institute will design and scale-up First Nations gender-informed approaches and initiatives.

“Projects run by the Institute will put forward the evidence to reform systems and develop policies that are responsive and supportive of women and girls, are holistic and capable of dealing with multiple needs to deliver far-reaching solutions which reflect the reality of our lived experiences.”
She noted that her speech would reflect on her seven-year term as Commissioner, the major themes of her work, and what she has heard from Indigenous communities, about how they can best be supported to overcome the challenges they face.

“The speech will reflect on the outcome of the referendum result and discuss opportunities for First Nations peoples to move forward, and the important role of our women and girls in shaping the future we want to see.

“And of course, it will highlight my major project, Wiyi Yani U Thangani, which charts the way forward for First Nations Women to help drive systemic change and promotes First Nations Gender Justice.”