A new national body, Our Ways Strong Together, will launch in Canberra on Wednesday to address family and sexual violence toward Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children. The organisation’s creation follows years of advocacy from Indigenous women’s safety advocates.
A Disproportionate Impact
First Nations women face a significantly higher risk of violence. According to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, they are seven times more likely to be killed and 27 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family violence than non-Indigenous women. Reducing these rates is a key target within the Closing the Gap framework.
Advocates have long pointed to the under-reporting of violence and the fragmented nature of funding for prevention and support programs as key challenges. Our Ways Strong Together is intended to address these issues by serving as the central hub for a stand-alone First Nations plan.
A Holistic Approach
The organisation, led by inaugural director Aunty Muriel Bamblett, will bring together the lived experiences and expertise of First Nations women, men, and gender-diverse people. It aims to improve systemic responses to violence by influencing policies across policing, courts, housing, child protection, and frontline services.
Our Ways Strong Together will collaborate with existing services and operate through the Coalition of Peaks, the organisation responsible for redesigning and steering Closing the Gap policies. Bamblett noted that media attention on cases of violence against First Nations people is often inconsistent.
She also highlighted a lack of data regarding sexual violence and assaults, stating, “Current data is very patchy and unclear. If we don’t record it, we don’t understand it.”
The Albanese government has committed $218.3 million toward the national plan to reduce violence toward First Nations women and children, with Our Ways Strong Together as a key component. Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, stated the organisation will strengthen the community-controlled sector and contribute to achieving Closing the Gap targets, including halving rates of family violence by 2031.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary goal of Our Ways Strong Together?
The primary goal is to reduce rates of family and sexual violence toward Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.
What makes First Nations women particularly vulnerable to family violence?
First Nations women are seven times more likely to be killed and 27 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family violence than non-Indigenous women.
How will Our Ways Strong Together work to achieve its goals?
The organisation will bring together lived experiences and expertise, influence policies across multiple sectors, and collaborate with existing services through the Coalition of Peaks.
How can communities ensure that the voices and experiences of First Nations people are truly centered in efforts to address family violence?
