Leading human rights campaigner Antoinette Braybrook AM has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Deakin University.
The chief executive of Aboriginal family violence prevention service Djirra and co-chair of Change the Record was recognised for her commitment to social justice and advocacy, as well as her service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples for more than 20 years and her leadership and vision in helping to establish Djirra.
Addressing the graduation ceremony, Ms Braybrook reflected on her journey since graduating with a Bachelor of Laws from Deakin's Institute of Koori Education more than 30 years ago.
"Here I am again in this room, somewhat nervous and overwhelmed, but feeling deeply honoured and truly grateful to receive this recognition which in truth is not about me, but instead this recognition is about the many Aboriginal women in Victoria who continue to put their trust in me as an Aboriginal woman and as the CEO of Djirra," she said.
Born on Wurundjeri country, Ms Braybrook's grandfather and mother have ties to North Queensland's Kuku Yalanji peoples.
She has held the position of chief executive at Djirra since it was established in 2002.
The Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation provides holistic, culturally safe legal and non-legal support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who experience family violence—the majority of whom are women.
Every Indigenous woman "deserves to be safe, respected, and to have choices," Ms Braybrook said this year in calling for more people to listen to First Nations voice.
"Aboriginal women deserve a service for their safety; one without judgement, and one that validates and acknowledges their Aboriginality."
Ms Braybrook has been outspoken in her advocacy against the scourge of violence perpetrated against First Nations women, calling for more urgent funding for specialised services like Djirra, as well as a change in police culture.
"Federal, state, and territory governments must work together, commit to change, and urgently invest in Djirra and other specialist, frontline Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services that put our women's and children's lives first," she said earlier this year.
Congratulations to our CEO @BraybrookA who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from @Deakin for her outstanding commitment to social justice, advocacy & service to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples over two decades, & her vision & leadership in establishing Djirra 1/5 pic.twitter.com/zWXG2He2UG
— Djirra (@DjirraVIC) September 25, 2024
She has also been critical of the lack of "accurate" data collected in relation to violence towards women in the Closing the Gap reports.
"When our experiences are 'counted', they are almost always tallied through a deficit lens. This data does not tell our story. It does not capture our strength, resilience, and courage as Aboriginal women," Djirra said this year.
Ms Braybrook has also criticised Victoria's child protection system - which sees more than one-in-ten Indigenous children placed in child protection - telling National Indigenous Times earlier this year the situation was "creating another Stolen Generation".
"This system is not broken. It is doing exactly what it's intended to do – target, blame and punish Aboriginal women by taking our kids," she said.
Djirra designs and delivers important, community-based early intervention and prevention programs as well as undertaking policy and law reform work to improve access to justice and strengthen Indigenous women's "resilience and reduce vulnerability to violence".
Ms Braybrook, along with the organisation, have submitted to several inquiries to change the rhetoric, execution and outcomes surrounding First Nations people in relation to law and order, family violence and the state.
Deakin University's Honorary Doctorate is one of numerous accolades awarded to Ms Braybrook in recent years.
She was awarded a Member Order of Australia Medal in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours List; was named Melburnian of the Year at the 2022 City of Melbourne Awards; was a 2022 Australian Awards of Excellence in Women's Leadership (Victorian recipient); and was one of CEO Magazine's 16 most influential women in leadership for 2021.
