On Thursday 6 March 2025, we came together to celebrate five years of Yanalangami: Strong Women, Strong Communities. Five years of walking alongside strong women, building stronger communities, and creating a movement that continues to grow in strength and reach. This milestone was marked on International Women’s Day with the launch of our National Online Yanalangami Changemaker Program for 2025.
It was a beautiful day was filled with joy, connection, and reflection. Our community gathered to honour the achievements of Yanalangami women, and to hear the inspiring stories of our deadly 2024 Yanalangami Yawuru Changemakers. Rhiana Powers, a Proud Yawuru, Jabirr Jabirr, and Gija woman, and Savannah Victor, a proud Balanggarra and Nyul Nyul woman, each shared their journeys and the ways in which Yanalangami has supported their growth as leaders. We were also privileged to hear from Krista Christensen, Manager of Indigenous Engagement and Learning at Tranby and a proud Worimi and Dhunghatti woman, who reflected on the importance of creating spaces where First Nations women can lead with strength, culture, and confidence.
The celebrations continued through a series of rich cultural workshops that invited everyone to connect with culture and Country. La Toya Pinner, our 2023 Yanalangami Changemaker and Community Facilitator, led an amazing weaving session. Healing workshops with 2021 and 2023 Changemakers, Danni McDonald and Charmain Sullivan from Connecting Back to Self, offered a space for grounding and reflection, while Koori Kinnections guided participants through a Bush Remedy and Plant with the native plants around the Tranby campus. A big thank you to Jess and Trent from Koori Kinnections, an Aboriginal and female-owned business, who not only ran the workshop but also nourished us with incredible bush foods.
The day also marked an exciting new chapter, with the launch of the 2025 Yanalangami Changemaker Program. We received a record 120 applications from First Nations women across the country, a powerful reflection of the commitment to leadership within our communities.
As we look back on the past five years, and forward to the journey ahead, we are reminded that Yanalangami is more than a program, it is a movement of women walking together, lifting each other up, and creating stronger futures for generations to come.
With deep respect,
The Yanalangami Team
