Our Yanalangami Team have just returned home after a gorgeous few days in Gurrumbilbarra, Townsville QLD, after having the immense pleasure of connecting with 21 local women and leaders in Community. Together with our incredible Aboriginal Advisory Council (AAC), we facilitated a place-based, in-person program for an incredible group of First Nations women living locally.  

We have been so privileged to connect and work closely over many months with Big Eye Theatre, a Townsville-based, grassroots, Aboriginal–led Community Performing Arts organisation that focuses on promoting First Nations art, artists, and stories. 

Each one of our Yanalangami place-based, in-person programs are unique and are designed and delivered specifically for the women on whichever Country we are visiting. We individualise our content and delivery to meet the needs of local First Nations women. We know that while First Nations women experience many of the same challenges in society, every Community is different and has unique lived experience, wants and needs which we aim to address. 

We were guided by and listened deeply to our AAC made up of Aboriginal women leaders living in Gurrumbilbarra, who worked with us to co-design and co-facilitate our program. Our AAC members provided our team with invaluable insight into the lives and experiences of First Nations women living in Gurrumbilbarra; their collective and individual hopes, dreams, barriers, and challenges. This meant we were able to design and deliver a personalised place-based program, allowing for maximum engagement, and positive impact and outcomes for our deadly Changemakers.  

Our Gurrumbilbarra Aboriginal Advisory Council members are Aunty Roslyn Sailor, Aunty Charmaine Koroi, and Michona Warria, all of which are highly respected long-term Gurrumbilbarra Community Members. 

With the assistance and guidance of our amazing AAC, our Townsville Program ran from Thursday 14 until Saturday 16 November inclusive. Throughout this time, our team were on Country supporting and building connections with our incredible sisters and Aunties living locally. We were so grateful to have 21 deadly local women and Elders who are leaders in Community come along and participate in the sessions.  

Yanalangami believes in reciprocal two-way learning practices. We all have something to teach, and something to learn. We were able to share content, insights, and stories with our deadly Changemakers, and they generously shared stories, lived experience, and expertise with our team. All of our amazing Changemakers were mindfully present, open, vulnerable, loving, and supportive throughout the program. We are eternally grateful and deeply grounded by this transformative experience. 

Stay posted for more blog posts about our incredible Yanalangami journey in Gurrumbilbarra! 

With love and respect,  

The Yanalangami Team