Sharing the load with First Nations women

It’s time for non-Indigenous Australians to be bold and brave and sit in the discomfort of the load disparity First Nations women carry in this country.

This was one of the key messages from a panel of First Nations thought-leaders at FW’s International Women’s Day breakfast on Gadigal land, Sydney.

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“I think a lot of the time Blak women, in particular, do the most but they’re also subjected to the most criticism,” Rachael Sarra, an artist and designer and Goreng Goreng woman, told the Witchery and Westpac sponsored event.  

“Our shoulders are getting quite tired. Whether we’re carrying children, whether we’re carrying communities, whether we’re carrying industries.” 

Sarra believes by First Nations women continuing to speak up it will give them more opportunities to unlearn what they have been subjected to.

“I think the more that we actually resist the systems that have been imposed on us, and talk about the injustices, the triumphs, everything, the more that we’re going to actually dilute those conversations that have been the centre of old narratives for all of these years,” she said. 

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Fellow panellist and Torres Strait Islander woman Dr Alicia Veasey, believes given technology available today there is no longer an excuse for a monoculture approach to life and thinking.

“The resources are there, the opportunities are there. It’s so easy to go out and read or listen to books from people from different perspectives to yourself… There’s just no excuse anymore. It is not acceptable,” the obstetrician and gynaecologist said.

“So be bold, sit with the discomfort of hearing someone say that they are sovereign of this land. I know that’s uncomfortable for some people. Sit with that discomfort. But be prepared to put in the work and don’t expect it to be spoon-fed to you.”

Dr Veasey also believes it’s time for greater honesty, particularly following the failure of the Voice to Parliament referendum in 2023.

“We will no longer accept that lacklustre engagement. I think that’s the biggest thing, probably from my perspective and my community is that we feel like we’ve been extending a hand for years, centuries,” she said.

“We’ve been palms open, asking, begging to be involved, begging to be listened to. No longer. We will just continue to be our sovereign beings, be innovative, be entrepreneurs, and look after our family and community.”

To which Sarra cheekily interjected: “and look hot in Witchery.”

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On the topic of the referendum and future change for this country, Tanya Hosch believes the focus should be on the 40 per cent of the population.

“We’ve all got our own thoughts and views about the best way forward. I think what we want to do is create environments that represent the 40 per cent of Australia that voted yes and I want that for my workplace,” the proud First nations woman and Executive General Manager of Inclusion and Social Policy at the AFL said. 

“I want that for my Indigenous colleagues and friends and family… I think if we’re serious about wanting to appreciate and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and particularly women, then that’s what you have to do. You have to walk the talk and you have to be very clear every single day that this is the place where the 40 percent are.”

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As for what is needed to see real success for First Nations people in this country, Mundanara Bayles believes it starts with investing in black-owned businesses.

“What I think we could do to change this is that the Indigenous business sector make up 0.06 per cent of the two and a half million Australian companies. Zero point 6 per cent,” the Managing Director and co-founder of BlackCard and Wonnarua, Bunjalung, Birri-Gubba and Gungalu woman said. 

“So when you engage with an Indigenous business, hopefully, I would like to say 100 per cent Blak owned…  because my company is both of them, BlakCast Podcast, and BlackCard are 100 per cent Blak owned.”

 “Because 100 per cent of those profits go back to my… not just my community, but there’s 19 people in my organisation and 17 are women. Sixteen are First Nations out of 19.”

Bayles further shared that these 16 people are now able to “pay it forward” for their families.

“Only one in 10 Indigenous people are financially secure and more than half of the Indigenous population are living below the poverty line,” she said. 

“So invest in Blak businesses.”

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Wiradjuri woman Jarin Baigent said the solution to providing more support to First Nations women was simple.

“It’s really brash, it’s really brazen, but simply get out of the way. Please get out of the way,” the founder of Indigenous retail collective Trading Blak said.

“But please see that as an invitation that we are strong. We know our communities, we know our people, your people will benefit from what our mob do and please walk with us. That’s it.”

EVENT ART: Alysha Menzel
PHOTOGRAPHER: Carly Earl, Flashpoint Labs
HAIR AND MAKE UP: Jasmin Lo
LOCATION: Four Seasons