First Nations Gender Justice Institute

First Nations Gender Justice Institute

Throughout all stages of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani project, women and girls have been clear that the Wiyi Yani U Thangani project must be more than a consultation period and report, and for it to result in lasting change. Women and girls everywhere emphasised the need for a genuine mechanism for the representation of First Nations women that legitimises their diversity and affirms their multiple and vibrant identities, and does not conflate them with those of First Nations men or non-Indigenous women.

The establishment of a First Nations Gender Justice Institute, based at the Australian National University (ANU), will elevate and invest in the voices and solutions of First Nations women and girls to drive social, economic and ecological impact. Grounded in an intersectional, interdisciplinary, human rights and strength and evidence-based approach, the Institute will support First Nations gender-informed approaches that respond to the holistic needs of all women, children, families and communities, including men. 

Through strong partnerships and collaborations with First Nations women, governments, the ANU, other universities, the private sector, and philanthropists, the Institute will design and scale-up First Nations gender-informed approaches and initiatives and support the translation of evidence into policy development and design. 

The Institute will carry on the legacy of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Project and will lead the implementation and monitoring of the National Framework for Action for First Nations gender justice. 

As with all elements of Wiyi Yani U Thangani, the Institute will model best practice First Nations women-led governance, driven by principles of cultural governance, self-determination and co-design, to ensure the knowledges, skills and lived experience of First Nations women are front and centre.