National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Gathering (NATSIWG)
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Gathering (NATSIWG) is an annual event for Indigenous women from across the country to meet and determine working priorities for the annual Ministerial Conference on the Status of Women (MINCO). MINCO brings together Women's Ministers from the Commonwealth, States, Territories and New Zealand governments to discuss issues of importance for women.
NATSIWG aims to deliver an action plan to MINCO in regards to Indigenous women’s issues.
Indigenous women from across Australia meet to discuss issues identified under the National Action Plan for Indigenous Women and Reconciliation and make recommendations to Women's Ministers.
The first meeting of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to advise MINCO was held in Darwin in 2002. Since 2002, the Queensland Government has sponsored four Indigenous women annually from Queensland to attend the Gathering. These women help shape the Gathering's agenda and provide a voice for issues affecting Queensland Indigenous women at a national level. Their participation also allows ideas and actions from the gatherings to be taken back to their respective communities for implementation.
What kind of opportunities does NATSIWG provide for its delegates?
NATSIWG is an opportunity for female Indigenous community members to:
- create networks and make connections with other female Indigenous leaders from around the country
- consult with local women to bring their ideas and energy to a national forum
- discuss problems and share solutions
- participate in agenda setting for Indigenous women to be heard on a regional, national and international level
- open and maintain a dialogue with policy makers to ensure Indigenous women’s policy reforms come from the ground up, and are not dictated from the top down.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Gathering 2009
Queensland proudly hosted NATSIWG for the first time from 10 to 12 June 2009 at the Marque Hotel, Brisbane, with 33 delegates from across the country in attendance.
The Office for Women (OFW) congratulates the successful 2009 delegates, appointed by the Minister for Women, the Honourable Karen Struthers MP:
- Tania Yow-Yeh from Atherton
- Sonia Minniecon from Murgon
- Luisa O’Connor from Thursday Island
- Karen Salam from Cairns.
The delegates represented Queensland in discussing and developing strategies to address the NATSIWG 2009 themes of leadership, economic security and human rights issues such as domestic violence.
NATSIWG 2009 Queensland delegates (from left) Karen Salam, Tania Yow-Yeh, Luisa O’Connor and Sonia Minniecon, with national delegate Helen AkeeOutcomes of NATSIWG 2009 will be considered at MINCO in Western Australia in October 2009.
For further information please contact the Office for Women on 07 3006 4189.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Gathering 2008
Approximately 40 women from across Australia and the Torres Strait Islands attended the 2008 NATSIWG in Hobart on 22 to 23 May. OFW sponsored the following four delegates: Tamara Wallace, Eileen Williams, Karen Salam and Renelle McKellar. Delegates discussed topics including safety and wellbeing and housing and homelessness. A set of recommendations has been developed and will be considered by MINCO in October 2008.
Queensland provides funding support to the NATSIWG secretariat through the Office for Women and the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy, Department of Communities.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Gathering 2007
Held in Adelaide on May 31 - June 1, the focus of the gathering was 'Women and Economic Status'.
The Indigenous Women's Gathering 2006
The 2006 Indigenous Women's Gathering was held in Adelaide on September 21 to 22. The theme was Community Led Solutions to Family Violence.
Last updated: 14 July 2009
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