Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Women’s Centre is capping off its 16 Days of Activism campaign with a festival celebrating the beautiful stories of survival and triumph of Aboriginal women. The inaugural event will take place at the Redfern Community Centre.
The non-ticketed event, which will also be live-streamed on Facebook, will take place on 15 December 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 pm. Top female Indigenous artists like Marlene Cummins, Zippora Anu-Corser, and Christine Anu will be performing at the event whilst Larissa Behrendt, a renowned Indigenous academic, lawyer, filmmaker, and author will share her inspiring message centering on the richness of Indigenous culture and the incredible women behind this movement.
“The festival is open to anyone who wants to acknowledge our culture, and join in the celebrations of Indigenous families and community. The festival is about empowering Indigenous women and inspire self-belief,” Ashlee Donohue, the CEO of Mudgin-Gal said.
“It is important to acknowledge that domestic violence is not a traditional aspect of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultures, and that violence against our women cannot be understood without recognising the impacts of colonisation and racism and the continuation of that impact today,” Donohue added.
Mudgin-Gal, which means “women’s place,” ran the 16 Days of Activism campaign to raise awareness on gender-based violence, challenge discriminatory attitudes such as misidentification of Aboriginal women as predominant aggressors, and advocate for improved legal system and services to end domestic violence deaths in Aboriginal communities.
Unknown to a lot of people, Aboriginal women, especially in the rural or remote areas, are 45 times more likely to experience domestic violence compared to other Australians. An Aboriginal woman is 35 times likely to be hospitalised due to family violence compared to a white woman. An Aboriginal woman is also five percent more likely to suffer through violence with her current partner.
Yet open discussions on domestic violence in Aboriginal communities are considered taboo even if it could help a lot of women.
With Mudgin-gal, women have a safe haven where they can connect with other Aboriginal women, seek a referral to accommodation, legal or court support services, or discuss issues that may be affecting them or someone they love.
“You don’t have to be in crisis to contact us — we are here, even just for a yarn,” the group said.
“Mudgin-gal is the only women’s centre in metropolitan Sydney that is 100% run by and for Aboriginal women for the past 29 years. We do not have criteria, we do our very best to advocate, refer and be there for any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman who walks through our door, providing a culturally safe space and service,” said Donohue.
“We help the women who come to us with referral to accommodation, legal or court support services, or to discuss issues that may be affecting them or someone they love.”
The center provides services like women’s access, family support, day support workers, and domestic violence support workers.
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