Today on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country, Djirra stood alongside First Nations women and gender-diverse peoples from across the Oceanic Pacific region for the First Nations Pre-Conference: “Decolonizing Futures: First Nations Indigenous Women Advancing Treaty and Global Solidarity” at @women_deliver 2026.

This is the first time First Nations women and gender-diverse peoples have gathered ahead of an international WD conference - a powerful moment grounded in solidarity, strength, sovereignty, and self-determination.

The day highlighted the importance of First Nations and Indigenous women, and of the community-controlled organisations we lead that set the agenda and make decisions that shape our lives.

Djirra, together with Wurundjeri Traditional Owners, has been part of the First Nations Steering Committee, which was instrumental in bringing First Nations women and gender-diverse peoples together, to speak our truths, share our learning, and call for action — creating space for leadership, truth-telling, and collective action.

The pre-conference opened with a Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder and treasured Djirra Keeper, Aunty Di Kerr, followed by a cultural ceremony featuring performances from the @djirridjirri dancers, Mabo dancers, and a Fijian choir. It was uplifting and energising, with a strong sense of culture, connection, and collective strength in the room.

Our CEO, @antoinette_braybrook AM gave a powerful statement:
“This week matters for all Aboriginal women. It matters for Djirra’s advocacy priorities — ending family violence, advancing self-determination, and tackling systemic racism across justice, economic, and social systems.
And it matters for how we position ourselves as Aboriginal women, and our children and families, into the future.
Each of us here today carries the authority of our families and the responsibility of representation.
Women Deliver is not just a conference, it is a platform where futures are negotiated, commitments are shaped, and narratives are contested.
Let’s show the world what it looks like when Aboriginal women lead — together.”

To join us at Women Deliver, see our link in bio 👆🏽

This week our CEO @Antoinette_Braybrook travelled to Arrernte Country (Alice Springs) to speak to members of the National Judicial College of Australia at their Indigenous Justice Program.

Antoinette presented alongside Dr Hannah McGlade, and together they shared their decades of advocacy on the rights and safety of Aboriginal women and girls.

When asked what judges and magistrates should do differently, Antoinette said, “It is important to understand that the Aboriginal women before you have already experienced extreme levels of systemic racism and systems abuse, often by non-Aboriginal perpetrators. Many will have had their children taken and been criminalised rather than supported for their safety.” She said that as judges and magistrates, “You are in an important position to show every Aboriginal woman that she is heard and believed.”

This gathering was also an opportunity for Aboriginal lawyers, judges and magistrates to strengthen connections and share experiences from across the country. It was clear that while the jurisdictions we practice in are different, the issues for Aboriginal women are devastatingly similar, prevalent and preventable.

Also while on Arrernte Country, Antoinette met with the CEOs of Djirra’s sister FVPLS organisations, Phynea Clarke from @CAAFLU and Andrea Mason from @npyWomensCouncil, and bumped into many other staunch women including Cleonie Quayle and @barkaa__!

#AboriginalWomensLivesMatter #WeHaveTheSolutuions

image descriptions:
1) Djirra CEO Antoinette Braybrook with Magistrate Kim Farmer, Magistrate Rosa Falla, Justice Louise Taylor, Antoinette Braybrook, Dr Hannah McGlade, Commissioner @sueanne_hunter, Professor Megan Davis @mdavisqlder
2) Conference materials on a table
3) Phynea Clarke, Magistrate Kim Farmer, Antoinette Braybrook and Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter
4) Antoinette and Phynea Clarke, CEO of @caaflu, outside their office
5) Antoinette with Andrea Mason, CEO of @npywomenscouncil
6) Cleonie Quayle (L), @barkaa__ (middle) with Antoinette and Djirra staff
7) @barkaa__ and @antoinette_braybrook

It’s time for a big shout out to some of our most recent supporters! ️🖤💛❤️

🎉 @mooneevalleycitycouncil for their generous donation at their International Women’s Day Breakfast
🎉 Sammy from @girlguidesvictoria for raising funds for Djirra via Moomba’s Birdman Rally
🎉 Hot Cross Buns from Trenerry Café for our Easter Drive
🎉 @paradisealleycollingwood for sending us the proceeds of their meat raffle

We greatly appreciate our supporters and thank all of you for investing in Aboriginal women.

Some of you have run marathons, held a breakfast or a morning tea – other have asked their customers to give through container deposits. Again, thank you.

When you support Djirra you are supporting Aboriginal women and their children to stay safe, strong and together.

There are so many ways you too can be part of Djirra’s story.

Visit link in bio to find out more.

On this 35th Anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, we again take a moment to reflect on the devastating realty for our people.

630 Aboriginal people have died in custody since the Royal Commission. This number continues to rise and we will never stop counting.

Last year saw the highest number of our people dying in custody since reporting began.

So far this year, there have been 43 deaths in custody. Devastatingly, almost 30% of these deaths are Aboriginal people despite our people making up only 3.8% of the country’s population. This is unacceptable.

For Aboriginal women, these statistics sit alongside other crises: family violence, over-policing, racial targeting, criminalisation and the removal of our children.

Aboriginal women are the fastest growing prison population in the country. Aboriginal women comprise around 3% of the Australia’s female population yet we make up close to 40% of the female prison population.

Of the Aboriginal women Djirra supports who have had contact with the criminal justice system:
• 100% have experienced family violence.
• 86% are mothers.
• The vast majority are misidentified, racially targeted, punished and blamed for the violence they experience.

These are not just statistics. These are Aboriginal women.

Aboriginal women do not belong in prison.
Aboriginal women and children deserve to be supported for their safety, not prosecuted.

The only way forward for ensuring Aboriginal women and their children remain safe and together, not torn apart, not thrown behind bars, is by investing in our individual and collective self-determined solutions.

Aboriginal women deserve an advocate.
Aboriginal women deserve access to Djirra’s life changing and life saving services and early intervention and prevention programs.

Share this post to stand with our women.

#RCIADIC #StopDeathsInCustody #AboriginalWomensLivesMatter @antoinette_braybrook