South West Aboriginal Women's Collective

30/03/2026

🌸 Join the Sorry Day Flower Project – A National Invitation 🌸

Across the South West, something powerful is growing… and now we are inviting communities right across the country to be part of it.

Our Sorry Day Flower Project is a community-led initiative grounded in truth-telling, healing and connection. Together, we are creating handmade flowers to honour the stories of the Stolen Generations and ensure these stories continue to be seen, felt and remembered.

✨ How you can be part of it:

Create your own Sorry Day flowers using our templates and guides
Use recycled or meaningful materials from your community
Keep or gift flowers to start conversations
Send flowers back to be included in a large-scale community art installation

🌿 This installation will be showcased at the Reconciliation Walk in October 2026, representing collective remembrance, shared responsibility and healing across generations.

Whether you’re a:
🏫 School
👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏾 Community group
🎨 Artist
🏢 Workplace
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family

— you are welcome to walk alongside us.

💌 To get involved:
Comment below or send us an email: swawc6230@gmail.com for your templates and guides and we will provide:
✔️ Flower templates
✔️ Simple instructions
✔️ Information to support learning and conversations

This is about more than making flowers…
It’s about holding space, sharing truth, and walking together towards healing.

We would be honoured to have your community be part of this.

26/03/2026

19/03/2026

Applications for our National Online Yanalangami Program are LIVE!!

Applications close on Sunday 29 March, don’t miss out! 💛🦋

Apply to join our sisterhood on our website, link in our bio.
https://yanalangami.com.au/become-a-changemaker/

18/03/2026

✨ Seeking a Strong Female Mentor – Community Support Needed ✨

An organisation has reached out to our community to see if there are any strong Aboriginal woman who may be open to mentoring a 17-year-old Noongar young woman currently in care.

She’s at that important stage of life where the right guidance, support, and positive influence can make all the difference. She’s exploring her future and is interested in a mix of pathways — from nails and beauty through to trades like bricklaying (she’s motivated by independence and earning good money).

What she needs is someone who can:
🤎 Walk alongside her as a mentor
🤎 Provide encouragement and real-life insight
🤎 Help her explore career options and pathways
🤎 Be a consistent, positive role model

This is about building confidence, connection, and opportunity — helping her see what’s possible and backing her to get there.

If you, or someone you know, might be interested — even just to yarn and explore what this could look like — please reach out.

Let’s wrap support around our young women and help them step strong into their futures 💛

13/03/2026

Apply today for Professional Development Game Changer Grants

ROUND 2 (MARCH 2026) IS NOW OPEN! 🔥

Our March 2026 round of the grants will support the professional development of our mEmbers — whether you are employed, self-employed or between roles.

We have four x $2,500 grants to give away to support opportunities such as:
• Attending an international or national conference
• Undertaking specific training
• Completing an exciting new course
• Upskilling aligned to your career aspirations

If you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander woman and not already an Ember Connect member, join today! It’s FREE and only takes a minute — head to www.emberconnectlive.com.au
to get started.

Proudly supported by our partner BHP.

💻 Online Information Sessions

Our team will be hosting informal online information sessions on this round of grants at:
🗓 Thursday 5 March – 2:00pm AEST
🗓 Thursday 12 March – 2:00pm AEST

Register here: https://emberconnectlive.com.au/events

📝 How to Apply

Complete the online application form here:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=B0AHYsVxxUuUHqggDiF3-0_zZGt2qylBqNcWlc6wRRdUNFFHR1Q2SlY5Nzc2SjZJM0M0WE9SSk44WS4u

Entries close 11:59pm (AEST) Tuesday 31 March 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

✔ Applicants must identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander woman aged 18 years or older.
✔ Applicants must be residents of Australia.
✔ Applicants must complete the online application form in full.
✔ Applications must be submitted before the closing date.

Read the full Terms & Conditions and eligibility criteria on our website: https://emberconnect.com.au/game-changer-grants-round-1-2026-2/

If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@emberconnect.com.au

This is your moment to invest in you. Back yourself. Elevate your career. Change the game. ❤️💛🖤

04/03/2026

*Noongar people should be aware that this video contains images, of a community member who has passed away. We acknowledge this with respect for families and cultural protocols.*

WE HAVE GONE GLOBAL!

We are proud to see our very own matriarch Rhonda Norman included in the global conversation on the importance of International Women’s Day, sharing the voice of our community through the SWAWC Roundtable and our partnership with Oxfam

Rhonda carries the wisdom of generations. Her leadership reminds us that when Aboriginal women speak from lived experience, culture and community, the world listens.

International Women’s Day is not just a celebration — it is a call to action for gender equality and justice. Around the world it began as a movement of women organising, protesting and demanding change, and it continues to challenge the barriers that women still face today.

For us, this day is about truth, action and accountability.

It is about:
• standing up against gender-based violence
• creating opportunities for women and girls
• supporting community leadership
• ensuring our voices are heard in the decisions that shape our futures.

We honour Rhonda Norman for carrying our collective voice into global spaces and reminding us that First Nations women have always been leaders, advocates and change-makers.

But we also want to ask a question of our wider community:

What are you doing to recognise International Women’s Day in a way that is real — not performative?

Is it a post, a breakfast and a hashtag…

Or is it action that creates lasting change for women in your workplace, your community and your leadership?

Because meaningful change happens when we move beyond acknowledgement and into action.

https://youtu.be/OMm2udMxZdk?si=i3FoyTgBdP8VdljC

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

03/03/2026

Family have reached out for this amazing young lady.

Support if you can.

Hi my name is Ashton Aaliyah's Mum First time ever doing a Gofundme Page I know ev… Ashton Bell needs your support for Support Aaliyah's Modelling Journey

01/03/2026

Community courage. Leadership. Accountability.

Michelle Munns Donna Turvey Ugle McGuire & our Elders.

As Chairperson of the South West Aboriginal Women’s Collective, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the leaders and Elders in our community who stood firm, even when it was hard, especially when it was hard.

Challenging systems is never easy. Speaking up when something doesn’t feel right takes courage. Holding leadership to account takes strength. And continuing to show up, despite criticism, pressure, and at times very personal abuse, takes deep resilience.

To those who questioned.
To those who persisted.
To those who carried the weight of community responsibility on their shoulders.

We see you.

What we have witnessed over this past period has not been about division, it has been about governance, transparency, and protecting the integrity of community-controlled spaces. That kind of advocacy is not comfortable work. It often comes at a cost.

Many of those who stood up did so knowing they would face backlash. Some endured harsh words, exclusion, and stress. Yet they continued, not for personal gain, but for the wellbeing of the broader community and future generations.

That is leadership.

Our Elders and community advocates remind us that accountability is not disrespect. It is care. It is love for community. It is responsibility to those who come after us.

Today, I commend the bravery shown. I acknowledge the emotional toll it has taken. And I honour the resilience that has carried this community forward.

May we continue to lead with integrity.
May we protect the strength of community control.
And may we always remember that courage is often quiet but it changes history.

— Michelle Woosnam
Chairperson
South West Aboriginal Women’s Collective

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-27/federal-court-orders-swams-reelection/106396674?fbclid=IwY2xjawQQoN1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFORnZ0NWVoV2M0aTB2OHhXc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnW5ozWPIhjvR8T8vaxhA9bih0uVVq-1_S2ob7LmSaaBjXR4DzVFNwSfsdAc_aem_Hds2CevPuX2dr955p6EYgg

The Federal Court has dismissed the entire board of one of WA's largest Aboriginal medical services, due to factional and 'oppressive conduct'.

26/02/2026

President of the Senate and staunch supporter of the SWAWC Senator Sue Lines giving us the insider on her role in the Australian Parliament💪🏽

21/02/2026

On today ❤️❤️❤️ see you down there.

18/02/2026

So many powerful and iconic Aboriginal women....who from WA do you suggest we celebrate Aboriginal Women's Month in March?

16/02/2026

Proudly standing together on Wardandi Noongar Country 🖤💛❤️

On behalf of everyone involved in organising Take Back The Track 2026, we want to say a massive, truly honest, and heartfelt thank you to everyone who showed up, spoke up, and stepped out with us!

For those who registered a link to the photos from the day has been sent to your email! If you haven’t received it please message .uncommon_ ✨🫶🏼