Kimberley Aboriginal Women's Council

30/10/2026

🤎 Many Voices. Collective Strength. Share Our Pride.

A big thank you to every woman who gave her time, energy and heart to the 2026 Kimberley Women’s Roundtable.

Over three days, we came together to revisit our collective agenda for change, reflect on how far we have come, and set the priorities that will guide the Kimberley Aboriginal Women’s Council's work over the coming year.

The space was filled with kindness, honesty, laughter and women showing up as their most authentic selves. There were powerful conversations, new friendships, familiar faces and a shared determination to create a better future for our women, families, communities and Country.

We hope everyone has arrived home safely. We are deeply grateful for the journeys you made to Broome and the generosity with which you shared your stories, experiences, ideas and hopes for the future.

As we reflected at the close of the Roundtable, we are no longer strangers. Whether our paths cross again at a roadhouse somewhere in the Kimberley or at a conference on the other side of the country, we know there will be familiar faces and connections to pick up where we left off.

The Roundtable may have come to a close, but our collective work continues.

All In – Many Voices, Collective Strength, Share Our Pride.

With gratitude
The Kimberley Aboriginal Women’s Council

29/10/2026

A moment to pause, reconnect and nurture ourselves, because caring for ourselves is just as important as caring for others.

29/10/2026

A beautiful way to ground ourselves, reconnect and come together in strength as Kimberley Aboriginal women.

❤️Yesterday I got to deliver a grounding session at the beginning of the day for KAWC - Kimberley Aboriginal Women’s Council at their forum…

👉🏾 My morning had a funny start… THANK GOODNESS I left home EARLY…

❤️I’ve had bits & pieces to do with KAWC over the years, I’ve delivered a sound healing to 80 women once with 2 sound friends, I went as an attendee/member last year and I’ve played music at their dinner before…

👉🏾So I arrive at Notre Dame, I bypass the sign in process thinking I’m only here for half an hour… I go to the front of the room and start setting up and asking people I see organising for microphone and stands etc…

❤️I looked around and couldn’t see too many people I knew…. And….. actually there was a lot of ‘Allie’s’ in the room for an Aboriginal Women’s Council… and….. MEN?!!!

👉🏾I looked closer at the T-Shirts on the organisers and the big lit up banner on the screen behind me, which said something about an Elders Forum…

🤪🤪🤪 I was in the wrong VENUE!!!!!!!

👉🏾So I found got the right venue… rushed there set up, left my phone in car… went back to get that… and ended up on time.

❤️I couldn’t resist and bought some instruments but really within that space with podium and mic, doing both the sounds and guided proved tricky so I leant on the words and instructions and the energy shifted into a space ready and arrived to begin their full day.

👉🏾Thanks for having me!!!

29/10/2026

A lifetime of service, leadership and advocacy to be proud of. Congratulations to Elsta Foy OAM on this well-deserved recognition!

28/10/2026

2026 Kimberley Aboriginal Women’s Roundtable

Yesterday marked the opening of the Kimberley Aboriginal Women’s Council Roundtable for 2026, bringing together women with different stories, experiences and perspectives, each carrying their own strength, knowledge and answers.

ALL IN • MANY VOICES • COLLECTIVE STRENGTH• SHARE OUR PRIDE

21/10/2026

How incredible to see our strong and dedicated advocates for women’s safety, Amanda O'Connor and Chloe Murphy, featured on the news in PNG.

We’re proud to see them continuing this important work on the international stage.

20/10/2026

When Country calls

We’re proud to welcome Leanne Dolby to the Couch at next week’s 2026 Kimberley Women’s Roundtable.

In this powerful story shared by ABC Kimberley, Leanne reflects on returning home and finding strength in family, community and Country.

💜 Welcome home, Leanne. We look forward to hearing your story.

An Indigenous woman who witnessed an alleged attempted bomb attack at an Invasion Day rally in Perth has returned to the Kimberley to heal from the incident.

Former journalist Leanne Dolby was reporting on the rally earlier this year when the device landed just metres from her in the crowd.

“(It) was something that changed my trajectory and made my decision to return to the Kimberley and leave Perth,” she said.

“It made me realise that when country calls, there is a point when you answer."

Time slowed down as plumes of smoke waded through the crowd, according to Ms Dolby, who was gripped by panic knowing there were young children and elders close by.

“It sounded like a jewellery box hitting the ground,” she said.

Nine days after the incident, Liam Alexander Hall was charged with a terrorism offence, with the matter now before the courts.

Ms Dolby said a lack of political response in the immediate aftermath had left her frustrated.

“A lot of politicians were dead silent, until it got uncomfortably silent and they had to save face,” she said.

“I found it disgusting they were not standing up for the descendants of the caretakers of this country, when they needed it the most.”

Ms Dolby, a Yawuru, Gija, Gooniyandi, Yamatji, Noongar and Nyikina woman, said the Kimberley community’s celebration of her return has aided in her recovery.

“It takes a village to go and support each other and to heal at times," she said.

“That’s where my community came to me and where I was embraced by them, and my family when I came back.”

Sign up to the ABC Kimberley newsletter: https://ab.co/KimberleyNewsletter

19/10/2026

Don't forget to catch Nalija Time today to hear from our CEO Zaripha Barnes

ZARIPHA BARNES Kimberley Aboriginal Women’s Council - NALIJA TIME 11am Today!

Zaripha Barnes is a proud Kimberley Aboriginal woman, with a strong commitment to supporting women and strengthening collective leadership.

She brings loads of lived experience, strong relationships, and passion to her role as the head of the important Kimberley Aboriginal Women’s Council, which she has been spearheading since early this year.

Find out more about her and the important contribution Kimberley Aboriginal Women's Council is making – including their upcoming 2026 Kimberley Women's Roundtable from 27-29 October in Broome - Find out more here - https://kawc.org.au/

HEAR Zaripha with Mitch Torres and Natasha Short 11am Today on NALIJA TIME - on Waringarri Media & Radio Goolarri or LIVE Stream here www.waringarrimedia.org.au

NOW on SPOTIFY:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7lzQO7U34W5ctAFknyhtWz?si=yBu0WcPLTLa9L47MGR8PWg

Also heard on NIRS - National Indigenous Radio Service Teabba - Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association PAKAM - Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media Ngaarda Media 6dby Larrkardi Radio 100.9fm Noongar Radio Umeewarra Aboriginal Media 89.1fm Kimberley Birds Maganda Makers Business Club

16/10/2026

13/10/2026

Missed out on the in-person workshops? There’s still time to have your say!

Join the online workshop on Monday 26 October and help shape the business support that Kimberley Aboriginal business owners need.

Register now to take part!

Maganda Makers, IBA wants to better understand the needs and aspirations of First Nations women at all stages of their business journey, and is hosting an online webinar on the 26th October 2026 for women to provide feedback as part of the current engagement process.

These workshops are an opportunity to come together, share your experiences and perspectives, and help shape how business support and financial services can better support First Nations women.

They want to hear about:
✔️ Your business journey
✔️ Your experiences accessing business support and financial services
✔️ The tools, resources and training that have supported you
✔️ Opportunities to strengthen support pathways for First Nations women in business

Whether you’re thinking about starting a business, just getting underway, or have been running a business for years, your experience matters. There is no cost to attend.

TO REGISTER: Visit https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=of1I1ncZTUqrw-lnMDTTyuk0tGg9X5lMmgtq0RjQedBUOVBFSUJITzdEVEdTVFNUWTRIWFhGWFdXVS4u&route=shorturl

Every contribution helps build a clearer picture of what First Nations women in business need, what is already working, and where support could be stronger.

Come and have your say. Your experience can help shape what comes next.

The First Nations Women in Business Coaching Program is delivered under IBA’s Strong Women Strong Business.