Ochre Ribbon Week

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women deserve to be safe in their relationships and communities. 

Ochre Ribbon Week raises awareness about the devastating impacts of family violence on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. 

Statistics indicate that Indigenous women experience disproportionate levels of violence – both structural and interpersonal – and face significant barriers to seeking support. 

According to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) Report, three in every five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have experienced physical or sexual violence. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are also 32 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family violence, and 11 times more likely to die due to assault, compared to non-Indigenous women.  

These statistics are shocking, and highlight how colonisation, systemic discrimination, structural inequality and racism intersect with gender inequality to increase and intensify First Nations women’s experiences of violence. 

At Safe and Equal, we recognise the critical work of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in the specialist family violence sector and beyond, and we’re working to amplify First Nations women’s calls for action to end the violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, especially women and children.  

As 2023’s Ochre Ribbon Week comes to a close, we want to highlight the messages and advocacy from Djirra’s social media campaign, which includes information and education on Ochre Ribbon Week, National Apology Day, and what family violence can look like: 

You can show your support by following and listening to Djirra and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations on social media, including: 

• National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services Forum 
• Elizabeth Morgan House 
• Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre 
• Central Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Unit 
• Family Violence Legal Service Aboriginal Corporation 
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services 
• Koorie Youth Council (KYC) 
• #Closethegap Campaign 
• The Uluru Statement – the ‘Uluru Dialogue’ collective leading the official Uluru Statement and Voice to Parliament education campaign 
• Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service 
• Change the Record, Australia’s national Aboriginal-led justice coalition of Aboriginal peak bodies and non-Indigenous allies