What is NATSIWG?

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Gathering (NATSIWG) is an annual Gathering that provides an opportunity for about 36 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women (about four from each of the States and Territories) to come together to consider issues of importance to Aboriginal women. The Gathering’s recommendations are presented to Women’s Ministers from across Australia. In past years, the Gathering has focused on topics like leadership and community-led solutions to family violence.

In 2007 the Gathering made a number of recommendations to the Ministers for Women to improve the economic status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. These included developing a resource kit to assist Aboriginal women in business; developing affordable low interest business loans for Aboriginal women; increasing support for Aboriginal women in senior and leadership positions; and encouraging Aboriginal women through mentoring and on-the-job training programs. In response, Women’s Ministers around Australia are now working on a national resource kit for Aboriginal women in business.

NATSIWG 2008

Four delegates from NSW attended NATSIWG 2008 in Hobart on 21-23 May. The topics covered at the Gathering included Indigenous early childhood disadvantage, housing and homelessness, approaches to providing input from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women into Government policy, and health and wellbeing.

The recommendations arising from the 2008 Gathering have been presented to the Women’s Advisors Meeting, and will also be presented to the Women’s Ministers at the 2008 Ministerial Council on the Status of Women in Brisbane in October.

Click here to view the postcard for NATSIWG 2008.

NATSIWG 2007 report and recommendations

Click here to view the report and recommendations from NATSIWG 2007. These recommendations concern the economic status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and particularly ways of increasing business opportunities for Aboriginal women.