The Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice launched its inaugural Strategic Plan 2026-2030 at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday, marking what it described as "a shift from years of consultation to coordinated national action".

Established in 2024 as a legacy of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices) project, the Institute is now moving to implement a national framework designed to "embed the voices, leadership and lived experience of First Nations women, girls and gender-diverse people into policy, research and decision-making".

The Strategic Plan sets out how this work will be put into operation across government, community and research systems; "positioning lived experience as evidence to inform reform".

June Oscar AO, founder of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices) project and former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, said the Strategy is about "ensuring that the voices of First Nations women are not only heard, but reflected in the decisions that affect our lives".

"We are moving from consultation to implementation — from listening to coordinated action," Ms Oscar said.

"This work carries the knowledge and strength of First Nations women from across this continent. What we are building here is not only for Australia, it has lessons for the world about how to listen, how to heal and how to build stronger systems.

"It ensures the voices of First Nations women are not only shaping change here in Australia, but contributing to global conversations about policy, care and systems reform."

The Strategy establishes a national approach to: strengthening women-led movements and their influence on decision-making; embedding culturally informed approaches to care and healing in social and economic systems; and enabling First Nations women to lead, own and apply data and research.

It positions the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute as a coordinating body "connecting community knowledge with national policy processes", in the Institute's words.

The Strategic Plan outlines how local priorities will be elevated into national policy discussions, and how collaboration across sectors — including government, civil society and research — will be strengthened to support long-term reform.

The work is intended to support and inform key national priorities, including Closing the Gap, gender equality and responses to family and domestic violence.