The seminar reports on a study of First Nations women's experiences and interpretations of care.

Working in collaboration with the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Project and Institute, led by Professor June Oscar AO, former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and inaugural Chair of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute, this research builds on the landmark Wiyi Yani U Thangani Report (2020) which makes visible the voices and experiences of First Nations women. The seminar will specifically report on recent research conducted with over 100 First Nations women across Australia to understand their experiences and interpretations of care. The research shows that mainstream definitions of care are limited compared to the vast and complex ways care is performed and understood by First Nations women. This means that the expansive care work that First Nations women do goes unrecognised, uncompensated or misunderstood, leading to the marginalisation of this crucial work and the women who do it. This research underlines the importance of a new approach to supporting First Nations women, in which their voices, ideas and needs are central, and where care is placed at the heart. This is different to just “fitting” First Nations care into various settler models, policies and measures already in circulation.

Prof. June Oscar

June Oscar AO is a proud Bunuba woman from the remote town of Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. She is a strong advocate for Indigenous Australian languages, social justice, women’s issues, and has worked tirelessly to reduce Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). June completed her seven-year term as Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner in April 2024. As Commissioner she published the landmark Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) Report in December 2020. In March 2024, June launched the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice, where she acts as Chair, based at the Australian National University. The Institute, a global first, will continue the vital work of Wiyi Yani U Thangani and advance and respond to the rights and aspirations of First Nations women and girls, inclusive of cis and trans women and gender diverse mob.

Dr. Janet Hunt

Janet is an Honorary Associate Professor at the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) at the ANU. She joined CAEPR in 2004 to manage the Indigenous Community Governance Project and transitioned to academic ‘retirement’ at the end of 2020. Her research has focused on governance, self-determination, community development, Indigenous organisations, cultural heritage policy, and government engagement with Indigenous people. She has also conducted research about Aboriginal people and natural resource and cultural heritage management, renewable energy on the Indigenous estate, the impact of new public management on Aboriginal organisations and much else. Her longstanding interest in women’s rights and gender issues in international development as well as gender violence and gender inequality in Australia is reflected in her contribution to the research on Aboriginal women’s care work, where she did fieldwork in Greater Sydney.

Dr. Elise Klein

Dr. Elise Klein is an Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU. Her research is situated in the intersections (and cracks) of development, social policy, de(coloniality) and care.

Dr. Zoe Staines

Zoe Staines is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Social Science, University of Queensland. She researches in the areas of social policy, welfare conditionality, coloniality, gender and work, and rural/remote crime and governance. Zoe is also Co-Editor of the Australian Journal of Social Issues.