New peak body for First Nations communities

The new organisation is called Our Ways Strong Together. It brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations that work with families and communities affected by violence.

This will help shape policies and programs that support community-led solutions.

Our Ways Strong Together supports Australia’s commitment under Closing the Gap. This includes Target 13, which aims to reduce family violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children by at least 50 per cent by 2031.

Establishing this peak organisation is a key action under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan 2023–2025. It will help deliver the Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices strategy.

The Chief Executive Officer is Olga Havnen. Ms Havnen is a proud Western Arrernte woman. She has extensive experience working in partnership with First Nations communities.

Interim board members include leaders from health, child protection and family violence services across Australia.

The government will invest $15.5 million to support the establishment of this new peak body. This includes helping the new body to:

• build skills
• share knowledge
• speak with one strong voice at the national level.

This will help shape policies and programs that support community-led solutions.

The launch took place at Australian Parliament House. Minister for Social Services, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, co-hosted the event with the Coalition of Peaks and the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy.

More information

• Visit Our Ways Strong Together(Opens in a new tab/window)
• Learn more about Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices
• Learn more about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan and implementation
• Read the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children
• Find out where to get help and support for ending violence