Aboriginal Family Legal Services is commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Ochre Ribbon Campaign, a national initiative dedicated to raising awareness of family and domestic violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The peak body noted on Monday that family and domestic violence continues to have a devastating impact on First Nations families, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women 35 times more likely to be victims of domestic violence and seven times more likely to be victims of domestic homicide than other Australian women.
Between 1989 and 2023, 476 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women were victims of homicide, highlighting a rate up to seven times the national average.
97 per cent of these victims were killed by someone they knew, most by an intimate partner.
Aboriginal Family Legal Services said these figures underscore "the urgent need for a proactive, culturally informed approach to address the overrepresentation of Aboriginal women as victims of violence and homicide".
AFLS chief executive Corina Martin said the prevalence of family and domestic violence in Aboriginal communities is "devastating, and addressing this requires a serious commitment to investing in community-led organisations".
"It's time to get real about how we, as a community, drive the change we want to see," the Kija, Jaru and Gooniyandi woman said.
"Family and domestic violence isn't just a statistic—it's a reality for so many of our women and children. The prevalence in Aboriginal communities is devastating, and addressing this requires a serious commitment to investing in community-controlled organisations."
The Ochre Ribbon Campaign, launched in 2015, serves as both a call to action and "a symbol of resilience, urging individuals, communities, and institutions to address family violence with urgency, compassion, and cultural sensitivity".
The campaign was inspired by the tragic death of women in Meekatharra in 2014. Her family, supported by the AFLS Kalgoorlie Office, honoured her memory by creating ribbons for her funeral—a moment that sparked a movement to address family and domestic violence in Aboriginal communities.
In choosing February 12 as the start of Ochre Ribbon Week, the campaign also honours the memory of a young Aboriginal girl who tragically took her own life on February 12, 1999. Her death led to significant inquiries, including the Sue Gordon Inquiry, which highlighted systemic failures in addressing family violence and child abuse in Aboriginal communities.
Out of respect for the wishes of the families involved, the names of both victims are not published here.
Wilman/Goreng Noongar community leader Angela Ryder said "Violence is not part of our culture".
"It will take the combined efforts of communities and organisations to reduce violence in Aboriginal communities," she said.
Kurin Minang human rights expert and law academic Associate Professor Hannah McGlade echoed the call for greater awareness and understanding, highlighting the need to address overlooked elements of abuse and violence while supporting survivors through education and collaboration.
AFLS said it "invites the public to stand with them" during Ochre Ribbon Week, from February 12–19.
Ms Martin said that under the symbol of the Ochre Ribbon, "we can educate, collaborate, and work towards a safer community".
"I am incredibly proud of the work the AFLS team and supporting organisations have done to challenge family violence, and I hope we can continue to raise awareness and build stronger, safer futures for all Aboriginal families," she said.
