We walk alongside Aboriginal women on their journey to safety and wellbeing.
Welcome to Djirra
Djirra is safe place where culture is shared and celebrated.
We offer a range of practical supports to Aboriginal women and children in Victoria, particularly those who are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, family violence.
The work we do is designed by and for Aboriginal women, with self-determination at its heart.
Through supports, programs and loud advocacy, we are committed to a future where Aboriginal women don’t just survive, we thrive.
What we do
Legal Service
Upcoming Events
If you are experiencing family violence and need support please call 1800 105 303.
If you are in immediate danger,
call 000.
Kirby Bentley, Noongar woman and Djirra Ambassador, shares her family’s devastating loss of her Aunty Andrea to family violence. She does this to raise awareness, to speak truth, and to work towards a future where Aboriginal women can finally be safe.
This year’s 16 Days of ACTIVEism was all about amplifying the voices of Aboriginal women and highlighting the disproportionate impact of violence on our women and children.
Kirby understands too well the profound impact that violence against women has on our families. She uses her voice to influence change so that Aboriginal women can live lives free from violence.
Kirby’s family experienced the unspeakable pain of losing Andrea, a Noongar woman, a mother who loved and cherished her children. Her life was tragically taken by a man. Andrea was not believed by the system. Her safety was not a priority.
Andrea’s story was shared widely through the media following a coronial inquest, which made several recommendations for improving how systems respond to women whose lives are at risk.
Djirra has walked alongside Kirby’s family for close to two decades, keeping Andrea’s story front and centre, and pushing for the change Aboriginal women deserve.
Kirby’s leadership reminds us that change takes time, but that we must never stop sharing our stories, telling the truth, and demanding better for Aboriginal women – during the 16 Days of Activism, and every day.
@kirbybentley
#AboriginalWomensLivesMatter #WeHaveTheSolutions #16DaysOfACTIVEism
Today, on Human Rights Day and the final day of the 16 Days of Activism, we are confronted with the stark contradiction between Victoria’s recent milestones and the reality that the rights and safety of Aboriginal women and children continue to be consistently overlooked by governments.
Last month, Victoria entered into the first Statewide Treaty. And this week, the Victorian Government delivered an Apology to our people for the profound harms caused by the State. These are important and historic steps but they must be backed by real action.
Real action begins with removing punitive laws, not inventing new ways for systems to harm our people. Real action begins with governments committing to, and implementing, all recommendations of the Yoorrook Justice Commission.
Reflecting on the significance of this week, our CEO, @antoinette_braybrook said:
“Our people have fought tirelessly for what we witnessed this week. Now governments must move beyond words and deliver real action. Action that lifts our rights to where they belong, holds our safety as non-negotiable, and recognises the true value of our lives.”
We will not stop holding governments to account. NOT TODAY, AND NOT EVER.
#WeHaveTheSolutions #TruthTelling #Treaty #AboriginalWomensLivesMatter #16DaysOfActivism #HumanRightsDay
Every day, Skye Gooch (Kunja/Wiradjuri), our Manager of Individual Support Services, walks beside Aboriginal women at Djirra. For more than five years, Skye has listened deeply, honoured the individual journeys Aboriginal women choose to take, and shown up with strength, care and unwavering commitment.
We asked Skye - “How do you activate your ACTIVEism?”
Skye says ACTIVEism begins with hearing women’s stories and ensuring Aboriginal women’s voices are centred, respected and amplified. Aboriginal women are strong, courageous and resilient, each woman is best placed to make decisions about her own life and the lives of her children.
Skye’s work reflects what Djirra stands for – specialist support grounded in trust and connection.
Aboriginal women working on the frontline, including Skye, deserve recognition not only across these 16 days but every single day.
We honour frontline workers who show up for Aboriginal women, support safety in the most challenging times, and hold space for each woman to be seen, believed and supported.
#AboriginalWomensLivesMatter #WeHaveTheSolutions #16DaysOfACTIVEism
On this 12th day of 16 Days of Activism, we cannot ignore the brutal reality Aboriginal women face.
🩷 One third of women killed by men’s violence since June 2024 were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women - despite us comprising just 3.8% of the Australian female population.
💜 In Victoria, Aboriginal women are 45 times more likely to experience family violence.
There are several ways you can support Djirra to stand with Aboriginal women.
Get ACTIVE and start SWIPING now to see the different ways you can make a real impact.
Demand for Djirra’s services continues to grow. Our legal service alone has seen a 211% increase in demand since 2020.
Your support makes an immediate, practical difference for the women who most need what we do.
#16DaysOfActivism #AboriginalWomensLivesMatter #ACTIVEism
Djirra does not support the criminalisation of coercive control that will likely lead to serious unintended consequences for the very people these laws are meant to protect. Women, and especially Aboriginal women, will bear the brunt.
In our work we see the racial targeting and labelling of Aboriginal women as the primary aggressor of violence, rather than their safety being a priority.
The evidence from other states shows that standalone coercive control offences do not reduce harm or lead to more successful prosecutions - why isn’t our Government taking note?
Coercive and controlling behaviour is already recognised in Victoria’s family violence laws. What we need now is better use of the tools that already exist - not to create new laws that risk further criminalising and comprising women lives.
We call for the urgent investment into Djirra’s work so that we can raise awareness amongst our women about early identification of coercive control and the importance of accessing our specialist legal and non legal frontline services.
Image description: image and quote from @antoinette_braybrook, CEO of Djirra
As part of our 16 Days of ACTIVEism® we officially launched Djirra’s expanded services and programs in Mildura on Latji Latji, Ngintait and Nyeri Nyeri Country, welcomed by Aunty Lisa and with a grounding smoking ceremony.
Mildura has always been part of Djirra’s story - from our beginnings in 2008 to the thousands of women who’ve joined us through Sisters Day Out. Now, Aboriginal women across the region can access our specialist legal services, case management and early intervention programs, including Koori Women’s Place workshops. Our larger office also means we can deliver our new cultural safety training for the legal and family violence sectors.
Our CEO, @antoinette_braybrook AM, summed it up:
“Our expansion in Mildura is about one thing: making sure Aboriginal women can access Djirra’s full suite of wrap-around services.”
In a region where more than 80% voted NO, our presence matters. Djirra is here. We’re staying. We’re growing. And together, we’ll turn that NO into a powerful YES.
YES to safety.
YES to women being heard, believed and respected.
YES to valuing Aboriginal women’s lives.
Images L-R: Djirra Staff, Cr Helen Healy, Deputy Mayor and Cr Ali Cupper, Mayor of Mildura Rural City Council with Djirra CEO Antoinette, Smoking Ceremony, Aunty Lisa welcoming us to Country, Djirra staff member Kelly Faldon introducing the Latje Latje Dance Group, Latje Latje Dancers and Djirra Mildura/Mallee Staff.
#AboriginalWomensLivesMatter #WeHaveTheSolutions #DjirraInCommunity #Mildura #RegionalExpansion #KooriWomensPlace #16DaysOfACTIVEism
📢4 Easy ways to get ACTIVE in your ACTIVEism ® with Djirra
Participate, Agitate, Activate and Donate – Actions you can take to end violence against Aboriginal women and girls Get ACTIVE and start swiping for easy but powerful ways to get involved and show up for Aboriginal women.
PARTICIPATE - register for Djirra’s ACTIVEism events or donate via the link in our bio to keep the movement strong.
AGITATE – Aboriginal women must lead – you can stand with us calling for an investment into our self-determination.
ACTIVATE - amplify our voices and experiences now and beyond these 16 days of ACTIVEism.
DONATE – your donations mean a lot to Djirra and support us to support Aboriginal women and their children in Victoria. This 16 days of Activism your donations will also go towards supporting mums to give their kids and families a Christmas they all deserve.
#16DaysofActivism #AboriginalWomensLivesMatter #16DaysofACTIVEism
As Djirra’s Acting Director of Engagement and Support, Gunditjmara woman Jaynaya Williams leads with strength. ✊🏽
Jaynaya plays a critical role in supporting Aboriginal women both inside the organisation and across our communities. She champions cultural wellbeing and ensures our teams are supported to deliver trauma-informed, culturally safe services.
Jaynaya works closely with community to enhance engagement, strengthen cultural connection and ensure that Aboriginal women’s needs, experiences, and voices guide our programs and services.
We asked Jaynaya: during the 16 Days of ACTIVEism, how do activate your ACTIVEism?
Jaynaya reminded us that strong organisations are built by strong Aboriginal women.
When we support Aboriginal women to lead, community outcomes grow.
Share this message and walk beside Aboriginal women this 16 Days. 🖤💛❤️
#WeHaveTheSolutions #AboriginalWomensLivesMatter #16DaysofACTIVEism #AboriginalWomenLead
Today, Djirra walked alongside over 10 thousand people at the @respectvictoria Walk Against Family Violence in Melbourne.
Together with many other speakers, @antoinette_braybrook AM, Djirra’s CEO, made a powerful speech after the walk. She spoke about the gendered violence, systemic violence and racism that Aboriginal women continue to experience.
Antoinette said, “Being a woman is high risk and being an Aboriginal woman magnifies that risk.”
She called on everyone to get behind our self determined solutions that will bring about real change.
“Walk with us toward a future where Aboriginal women’s lives are valued, because when our lives are valued, every woman’s life in this country will be valued.”
Activate your ACTIVEism® beyond these 16 days.
🖤💛❤️
#WeHaveTheSolutions #AboriginalWomensLivesMatter #16DaysofACTIVEism #SelfDeterminationInAction #WhyWeWalk #wafv2025
