These are acts of resistance.
Speaking at Djirra's 16 Days of ACTIVEism Festival in Naarm, Antoinette Braybrook AM delivered a clear message: "Too often, Aboriginal women are overlooked, invisible and excluded from the decisions about our lives."
Australia's 16 Days of ACTIVEism — the national campaign against gender-based violence — has sparked marches across the country and renewed calls for greater visibility and support for those most affected.
Djirra, an Aboriginal community-controlled family violence service in Victoria, marked the campaign with a walk in Canberra last week and a festival in Naarm on Thursday, drawing 400 women and children.
The event, held on the Aunty Patricia Ockwell Court at Narrandjeri Stadium, was pitched as a "welcoming and fun space for Aboriginal women and allies to come together to celebrate culture, strength and our proud ACTIVEism".
"Too often, Aboriginal women are overlooked, invisible and excluded from the decisions about our lives," Ms Braybrook, Djirra's CEO, said.
"Djirra's ACTIVEism campaign calls on our supporters to stand with us as we demand the urgent change and investment Aboriginal women deserve."
A broad range of stalls — from children's and women's activities to legal services — highlighted the strength and resilience of First Nations women: mothering, nurturing, surviving, and thriving. Women and Elders of all ages took part, with live music, face painting, tote-bag workshops and quiet spaces creating a culturally safe environment.
Throughout the 16 days, Ms Braybrook says the organisation "draws national attention to the men's violence that continues to devastate the lives of Aboriginal women and children, and to the systems that target, overlook and harm us".
"When we bring Aboriginal women together, we are organising, agitating and demanding that governments invest in our self-determined solutions," she added.
"The solutions led by us that will make a difference to Aboriginal women and children's lives."
After a warm and humorous welcome by Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Annette Xiberras, Djirra received a $60,000 cheque from Shape Australia — an endorsement of the organisation's committed, daily work supporting First Nations women across Victoria.
"Real change will only come when Aboriginal women are able to lead and when we are visible, heard and backed with meaningful, sustained investment in our self-determined solutions," Ms Braybrook said.
Ms Braybrook pointed to the "appalling and despicable" statistics which shape Aboriginal women's lives, who are 45 times more likely to experience family violence.
"For more than two decades, Djirra has been advocating to turn this devastating reality around," she said.
"Our ACTIVEism is about getting louder, refusing to be ignored, and demanding the change our women deserve. At every turn, Aboriginal women are at risk. We are at risk of losing our lives, at risk of having our children taken, and at risk of being criminalised and incarcerated.
"It's time to back us in, to invest in us, and for us to lead so that the safety of Aboriginal women and children is prioritised."
This year's campaign underscored a simple truth: visibility and collective action save lives.
It is something Djirra have been doing for more than two decades.
