January 26 draws attention to the devastating impacts colonisation has had and is still having on First Nations communities.  

It is not a date to celebrate. 

It is a time to reflect on the history of these lands, the ongoing impacts of colonisation and the urgent need for change and to support self-determination. 

We acknowledge the wrongs, dispossession and discrimination against First Nations People. Today we reiterate our commitment to working to support NTV’s First Nations partners and members to amplify their voices to build better services and systems to support First Nations’ people and communities impacted by family violence and, ultimately, realise self-determined futures.  

Absolutely central to this is support for development and implementation of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Safety Plan. It will guide a whole of society approach to addressing the disproportionately high rates of violence against First Nations women and children. Importantly, it will guide actions to address Target 13 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap 2020-2030 to reduce the rate of family violence and abuse against First Nations women and children by at least 50% by 2031. 

Alongside this No to Violence supports the implementation of the Commonwealth’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan 2023 – 2025, created to provide targeted action to address the disproportionate rates of violence experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children. 

Colonisation is recognised in the Action Plan as one of the ongoing structural forces contributing to inequality, intersectional discrimination, oppression and marginalisation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.  

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities have too often been excluded from shaping the policies, programs and structures that impact their lives; causing on going harm and barriers to recovery and healing.  

These barriers are made more difficult as most family violence perpetrated against Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander women is perpetrated by non-Indigenous men. Inter-connectedly, Aboriginal women are at highest risk of being mis-identified as the predominant aggressor. 

We can and must do better.