News & Events

The Data Policy Partnership (DPP) has officially commenced, marking a major step forward for First Nations-led data governance under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The Partnership, co-chaired by the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (NSW CAPO) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) brings together representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, independent First Nations leaders, and all Australian governments. Its purpose is to lead national reforms that ensure First Nations people have access to, and control over, the data needed to drive community priorities.

The DPP held its first meeting on 16 October 2025 on Kaurna Country, Tarndanya (Adelaide), where members endorsed the Preamble to the Data Policy Partnership Agreement. The Preamble affirms that data is part of cultural knowledge, identity, and story,  and must be governed through First Nations strengths, wisdom, and sovereignty.

The Partnership will focus on progressing Priority Reform Four of the National Agreement: improving access to locally relevant data, supporting community decision-making, and addressing system-wide barriers to Indigenous Data Sovereignty.

Key commitments from the first meeting include:

• Finalising a 12-month work plan and multi-year strategy
   
• Strengthening community data projects
   
• Improving data for Closing the Gap targets and Priority Reforms
   
• Making recommendations directly to the Joint Council
   

With a commitment of $12 million over four years, the DPP will drive structural reform to ensure data is used in ways that support truth-telling, self-determination, and better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

For more information or to engage with the Partnership, contact:
📧 datapolicypartnership@abs.gov.au
📧 dppsecretariat@coalitionofpeaks.org.au

I'm very proud to be a part of officially launching the First Nations Digital Inclusion National Report and the First Nations Digital Dashboard, the most comprehensive, community-informed snapshot of digital inclusion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.

Before sharing the links, I want to ground this announcement in what digital inclusion truly means:

Connectivity Is…

Connection • Communication • Continuity

Connectivity is more than access to technology; it is about how we stay connected to one another, to Country, and to culture in an ever-changing digital world.

Connection speaks to the relationships that sustain and enrich us: family, community, language, and Country. Digital connection, when grounded in culture, allows our stories to move beyond distance and time.

Communication is how we share knowledge and care for one another. For First Nations peoples, this has always been layered, expressed through song, story, dance, and visual design. In the digital age, these practices continue through new platforms that amplify our voices.

Continuity ensures our identities, languages, and cultural knowledge are carried forward. Through digital inclusion, we reclaim space in the online world to embed sovereignty, share stories, and strengthen pathways for the next generation.

True digital inclusion is not simply about being online; it’s about being seen, heard, and connected in ways that reflect who we are and how we live.

It is a living practice of First Nations agency, where technology supports our right to belong, communicate, and continue culture in powerful, diverse, and distinct ways.  It is living memory... shaped by the many diverse voices in our communities. 

The Dashboard and Website are now LIVE

First Nations Digital Inclusion Dashboard

https://dashboard.digitalinclusionindex.org.au/firs.../home/

National First Nations Digital Inclusion Website

https://digitalinclusionindex.org.au/first-nations.../

Launch Video (YouTube)

https://youtu.be/S2gv2DPqjVo

This work reflects years of partnership, community leadership, on-Country engagement, and a commitment to Closing the Gap (Target 17).

#FirstNationsDigitalInclusion #ClosingTheGap #DataSovereignty #DigitalInclusion #FirstNationsResearch #ConnectivityIs

Overcoming Indigenous Family Violence Forum

We are proud to announce the return of the Overcoming Indigenous Family Violence Forum. The 2026 theme ‘Our Way, Our Changemakers’ is a tribute to the continuous hard work put out by our community leaders and ACCO sector who are fighting tirelessly to achieve real progress towards Target 13 of Closing the Gap.  

​

To ensure we are supported in this fight for real change we must continue to demand for sustained funding, resources, and support for First Nations community-led solutions that have the cultural knowledge, lived experience, and expertise to create lasting change. 

​Significant developments have occurred in the Indigenous family violence sector. We continue to witness the emergence of community-driven initiatives that prioritise cultural healing, early intervention, and support for families and individuals experiencing violence. Increasingly, Elders and cultural leaders are recognised as key agents of change and collaboration between governments, service providers and First Nations communities has strengthened.  

​

​It is with this momentum that we look ahead to the 2026 Overcoming Indigenous Family Violence Forum; A platform for knowledge exchange and community connection; a place where we, the changemakers, are heard.  

Together, we hold the solutions to create safer, stronger, and healthier communities. 

I look forward to welcoming you all in May to what will be another powerful gathering and celebration of, resistance, resilience and our collective cultural strength.

Wynetta Dewis

CEO, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS)

Chair, First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence (FNAAFV)

https://ifv.aventedge.com/

From 26 May 2025, coercive control became a criminal offence in Queensland under the Criminal Law (Coercive Control and Affirmative Consent) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024.

It is illegal for an adult to use abusive behaviours towards their current or former intimate partner, family member, or informal (unpaid) carer with the intention to control, coerce, or dominate them.

Coercive control can include patterns of physical and non-physical abuse designed to:

• Humiliate
• Isolate
• Frighten
• Threaten
• Harm a victim-survivor

This offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment, reflecting the serious harm coercive control causes to victim-survivors.

• The law applies to adults over 18.
   
• However, young people under 18 can still use abusive behaviours in relationships or within families. Control in a relationship is never okay, and help and support is available.
   
• The offence applies to behaviours occurring from 26 May 2025 onwards.
   

An adult commits the offence if they:

1. Are in a domestic relationship with another person (past or present intimate partner, family, or informal carer).
    
2. Engage in a course of conduct (more than once) that is domestic violence.
    
3. Intend the conduct to coerce or control the other person.
    
4. Cause, or are likely to cause, harm (physical, emotional, financial, psychological, or mental wellbeing, whether temporary or permanent).
    

A new law also makes it an offence for anyone (including friends or family) to use violence, intimidation, or abuse on behalf of a respondent (the person named in a DVO or police protection order).

• Maximum penalty: 3 years imprisonment or 120 penalty units.
   
• It is also illegal to hire third parties (e.g. private investigators) to locate or monitor a victim-survivor.
   
• Private investigators convicted under this law face automatic disqualification from holding a security licence and a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment or 240 penalty units.
   

Support is available for all Queenslanders affected by coercive control and domestic and family violence — no matter when the abuse occurred.

• In an emergency: Call 000
   
• Queensland Police Service (QPS): 131 444 (24/7)
   
• DVConnect Women’s Line: 1800 811 811
   
• DVConnect Men’s Line: 1800 600 636
   
• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 (24/7 counselling & support)
   
• Find local services: Domestic Violence Support Services – Qld Gov

24th - 26th November 2025 

Gold Coast

In 2025, The STOP Domestic Violence Conference journeys to the Gold Coast. Join us and gather with your peers as we reflect on the current obstacles facing us, brainstorm innovations and seek opportunities for change within the family, domestic and sexual violence sector.

From early intervention and coercive control awareness to legislative reform and digital safety, SDV25 will explore the most pressing issues in domestic, family, and sexual violence. 

Under the theme Turning the Tide: Supporting Survivors and Shaping Change, the conference will bring together experts, advocates, and frontline responders to drive systemic change, empower survivors, and challenge harmful norms.

Together, we will tirelessly work to support survivors, shape change, and end violence against women and children.

https://anzmh.asn.au/sdvc

Maburra is proud to share the exciting launch of a full suite of Indigenous-specific mental health assessment and treatment planning tools, developed by renowned Aboriginal psychologist Dr. Tracy Westerman.

This newly released digital suite includes:

• Westerman Aboriginal Symptom Checklist – Youth (WASC-Y)
  (For young people aged 13–17)
• Westerman Aboriginal Symptom Checklist – Adults (WASC-A)
  (For individuals aged 18 and above)
• Culturally Informed Treatment Plan (Add-on product)
• Culturally Informed Guided Interview (Add-on product)

These tools represent a major step forward in culturally safe, evidence-based support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples navigating mental health challenges.

Accessing the Tools
 

To gain access to these tools, attendance at the Aboriginal Mental Health and Suicide Prevention workshop is required. 

Workshops are offered in person (Perth) or virtually.

➡️ Register here: https://lnkd.in/e4h8N87

Already attended a workshop?

If you've previously completed Dr. Westerman’s accredited training, you're eligible to order these new resources now. Simply email the team at: [Insert email address].

These tools are culturally responsive, clinically validated, and grounded in community wellbeing. 

Maburra fully supports the continued development and use of such frameworks that embed cultural authority and drive transformational change in mental health. 

The Australian Government, together with state and territory partners, has launched the first dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan under the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children.

This plan responds directly to the urgent need for culturally safe, community-led strategies to address the disproportionate rates of violence experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are 6 times more likely to die from domestic violence and 33 times more likely to be hospitalised than non-Indigenous women.
   
• Violence is driven by a complex mix of colonisation, intergenerational trauma, racism, systemic discrimination, housing insecurity, and social disadvantage.
   

That Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, no matter where they live, are culturally safe, strong, and free from violence.

1. Voice & Self-determination – Centre decision-making with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, leaders and organisations.
    
2. Strength & Healing – Invest in culturally grounded healing, resilience, and therapeutic supports.
    
3. Reform Institutions & Systems – Tackle systemic racism, transform mainstream services, and ensure culturally safe justice, housing, health, and education systems.
    
4. Evidence & Data – Build better data, research, and evaluation driven by First Nations leadership.
    
5. Inclusion & Intersectionality – Recognise diverse experiences, including children, Elders, people with disability, Sistergirls and Brotherboys, and those in remote communities.
    

The Action Plan is tied to Target 13 of Closing the Gap:

By 2031, reduce all forms of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children by at least 50%, working towards zero.

The plan emphasises investment in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and partnerships that place cultural authority and lived experience at the centre of all actions.

https://www.dss.gov.au/national-plan-end-gender-based-violence/resource/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-action-plan-2023-2025

First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN) has launched a bold and practical 10-Point Plan to reform the NDIS and ensure First Nations people with disability can access culturally safe, equitable support.

Grounded in three core pillars, the Plan calls for action on:
✅ Shared decision-making and genuine partnerships
✅ Early access pathways and mobile diagnostics
✅ Cultural capability, First Nations workforce, and fairer service markets

The Plan also proposes solutions such as Yarning Buses, community-run support hubs, on-Country rehabilitation, and better integration with housing, transport, and justice systems.

This is a call to put First Nations people with disability at the centre of NDIS reform — and to close the gap with meaningful, sustained action.

📘 Read the full Plan → https://lnkd.in/gkR3_Vu2

Commissioner Micaela Cronin welcomes Narelda Jacobs OAM this week as the first guest joining her on the Commission’s official podcast series – Voices Towards 2050: Ending Gender-Based Violence.

Episode 2 - Narelda offers a compelling vision: a future where society has dismantled restrictive gender norms and empowered diverse voices to end gender-based violence. Join Commissioner Cronin and esteemed Australian journalist, Narelda Jacobs, for Episode 2 of the podcast.

Commission website: https://lnkd.in/gCkgWAy7
Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/g-4US8nX
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gsk9Rg_q
Podbean: https://lnkd.in/gGid2DBi
Amazon Music: https://lnkd.in/ghqKhqr7

A key part of Narelda’s vision for change is greater media responsibility and challenging all of us to step up as active bystanders when confronting domestic, family and sexual violence. She reminds us that Aboriginal women have long held knowledge and solutions for ending gender-based violence – wisdom that should not only be respected, but embraced as essential to shaping a safer, more equitable future for all Australians.

If you need support, you can contact 1800RESPECT Australia on 1800 737 732, or visit www.1800respect.org.au/
For specialised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support, call 13YARN on 13 92 76 or visit www.13yarn.org.au
Men can also contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491, or visit www.ntv.org.au
In an emergency, call 000.

Episode 7 - Aunty Muriel Bamblett reflects with Commissioner Micaela Cronin on the importance of the visible leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, the empowerment of survivors, and the critical role education must play now in ending gender-based violence.

Listen now.
Commission website: https://lnkd.in/gCkgWAy7
Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gvZRraqp
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gNZwGqN9
Podbean: https://lnkd.in/gk3bqThT
Amazon Music: https://lnkd.in/gPaj-DFG

Aunty Muriel Bamblett AM is a prominent Aboriginal community leader, advocate, and Chairperson of SNAICC. She shares a compelling vision for 2050, where today’s children grow into strong, respectful adults, and where safety, dignity and equity are foundational across all communities.

The Healing Foundation is working to end intergenerational trauma by creating resources and programs that strengthen cultural connectedness and identity and improve the social and emotional wellbeing of our young people.

Healing Our Way... 

podcast explores topics relating to intergenerational trauma, racism, identify, culture & healing. 

The series features Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander voices & experiences, to promote truth telling & inspire listeners to learn more about the impacts of colonisation & the Stolen Generation. 

The podcast creates a space for young people to share their ongoing healing needs, aspirations & healing needs & intergenerational trauma. 

https://open.spotify.com/show/3ONEDp7jiBmtciPaQUDfYN?si=a30d486215d34f48

Police officers will be given the power to issue on-the-spot orders to perpetrators of domestic violence.

Under current laws, police can only issue a five-day protection notice before they're forced to go before a judge to get a longer-term order.

What Next?

The government says the announcement is part of a first tranche of wider domestic violence reforms.

Queensland police officers will be given the power to issue on-the-spot orders to perpetrators of domestic violence.

Under current laws, police can only issue a five-day protection notice before they're forced to go before a judge to get a longer-term order.

Police Minister Dan Purdie said the government's proposed reforms would enable police to issue a 12-month order without having to go to court.

• 1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732
• DV Connect Women's Line: 1800 811 811
• MensLine: 1300 789 978
• Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
• Lifeline (24-hour Crisis Line): 13 11 14

"We want to give police tools that they can rapidly put in place protection toward vulnerable victims of domestic violence. We want to hold perpetrators to account and protect all victims of crime," Mr Purdie said.

"What this does is allows police, once they've identified the person most in need of protection, they can rapidly put an order in place to protect that person. They can do that on the spot. 

"We know we need to give the police those resources and those laws to be able to identify the person most in need of protection and to take decisive action to protect that person."

Mr Purdie said the new laws would slash hours of paperwork police were required to file after attending domestic violence call outs.

"Policing has been crumbling under this pressure … we know the longer it takes police to resolve one job, the longer it takes to get to the next call, and the person on that call could be your mother, your sister, your auntie or a loved one, and that's unacceptable," he said.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Amanda Camm said the changes were part the government's agenda to "focus our attention on victims and victim safety".

"That's ensuring that victims of domestic and family violence are protected, that police have the resources they need to ensure they can deliver that protection, and that as a state government, we will have a zero tolerance to perpetrators," she said.

Domestic and Family Violence Minister Amanda Camm. (ABC News)

She said the protection notices were were part of a "first trench of reforms in the domestic violence act".

"What we've seen and the data speaks to it, as does our frontline police, as does our frontline services that deal with domestic and family violence each and every day, the numbers are going in the wrong direction," she said.

"They're continuing to increase … we need to do something differently.

"My commitment … [is] to deliver reform that will better protect victims, but that will hold perpetrators to account."