This piece was written and presented at our 2025 AGM by Guest Speaker Deborah Walsh JP, WHV Board Member. It received such wonderful feedback that we wanted to share it with our wider audience.
I am a Gunggari woman with my traditional lands in Southwest Queensland, Mitchell.
My extended family are the Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara family here in Victoria.
As the Matriarch of my family, I have the cultural responsibility to strengthen, provide wisdom and nurture my family through those challenges that are often presented to us.
My matriarchal ancestry my presence and role now in the family is what I have a deep obligation and sense of cultural responsibility too. As a matriarch we are healers and story tellers; we are a collective when advocating. For me to perform well in this role it requires deep listening and connectedness to country, and to continue the cultural way of knowing and doing, with spiritual guidance.
The journey for me in this role has meant spending many hours, days and some long time dreaming with my country men and women sharing stories of hope and resilience and dreaming of what the opportunities may be ahead for our future generations.
Sharing stories with each other and with those who wanted to listen; crying and sometimes laughing at the times when all seemed impossible. Resilient and hopeful that we continue to bring about the changes we seek and have our communities and families thriving and reaching optimal health.
For First Nations peoples being appointed to a board—also carries deep personal, cultural, and social significance. It is both a responsibility and an opportunity to influence decision-making processes, advocate for community interests, and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society.
I am very proud to be a part of Women’s Health Victoria ensuring that Indigenous perspectives and voices are present.
This representation is vital in challenging systemic barriers, addressing historical injustices, and ensuring that policies and strategies are culturally informed and respectful. It allows for the inclusion of knowledge systems, values, and priorities that may otherwise be overlooked.
This role can be both empowering and demanding, as it often requires balancing the expectations of the board with the needs and values of community.
This is a platform to advocate for meaningful change to try and address the gap that is there for First Nations people’s health, this can include influencing policies around Reconciliation Action Plans, cultural safety, Indigenous employment and procurement, and broader social justice initiatives.
The colonial load (the additional, often invisible, burden of representing one’s culture), and the need to educate non-Indigenous colleagues on issues of history, culture, and contemporary realities. Navigating these challenges requires resilience, diplomacy, and ongoing support from both the board and the wider organisation.
I am hoping my contribution can help shift organisational culture towards greater respect, understanding, and partnership with First Nations peoples.
Some of what I can bring to the board conversations is my own personal experiences, such as a deep understanding of the importance of culturally safe maternity care for First Nations women and community. How practices such as birthing on country are not just health matters, but also vital ways to maintain and strengthen cultural ties, identity, and community wellbeing.
I am committed to promoting policies and approaches that honour these traditions, and to fostering an environment where First Nations perspectives are not only heard but actively shape service delivery.
Highlighting the diverse needs and strengths within First Nations communities is something I hope to share with all. Bridging gaps in understanding, promote dialogue, and supporting the implementation of solutions that reflect the values and priorities of First Nations women and their families. I do not have all the answers or all the ways of doing but can find avenues to follow.
To make this commitment tangible, listening actively to concerns, and collaborating with local leaders to co-create culturally relevant solutions is a way to progress the partnerships.
I have spent a long time dreaming of what could be and what is possible with the right people and support, to have healthy, thriving and culturally confident families and communities. I have also learned from many what some of the ingredients are that you need to build capacity, and that partnerships and champions are needed to do some of this work.
I am committed to learning from others and exploring new pathways together.
I am encouraged and strengthened by the spirit of my mob who have championed the path to Treaty here in Victoria. This initiative provided a platform for stories to be heard, promote healing, and foster greater understanding among all Victorians.
It is designed to formalise agreements between the government and Indigenous communities, recognising sovereignty and enabling self-determination.
The Truth-telling and treaty processes in Victoria represent significant milestones in advancing reconciliation and justice for First Nations peoples, acknowledging historical and ongoing injustices faced by Indigenous peoples.
By prioritising both truth-telling and treaty, Victoria is setting a precedent for other states, ensuring that First Nations voices are central to shaping policy and creating a more equitable future for all Australians.
Serving on this board makes me feel proud and provides an opportunity to inspire younger generations.
The presence of Indigenous leaders at decision-making tables can have a ripple effect, encouraging greater First Nations participation in governance across sectors.
I hope to be able to bring my community connection, experience and knowledge to the conversations providing insight and understanding to some of the diversity within my communities.
In conclusion, during these uncertain times globally, the presence of First Nations voices on boards becomes even more crucial. It ensures that responses to emerging challenges are grounded in diverse perspectives and resilient cultural frameworks, helping organisations navigate complexities with empathy and adaptability. This collective strength enriches decision-making, and fosters hope and stability within communities.
It provides an avenue to shape decisions, advocate for justice, and honour the legacy of those who have fought for recognition and equality. Ultimately, it is about ensuring that First Nations voices are heard, respected, and influential in shaping Australia’s future.
In addition to advocating for First Nations representation, I am committed to supporting all women. By championing gender equity and amplifying the voices of women from diverse backgrounds, we can ensure that decision-making spaces are truly inclusive and reflective of our society. Supporting women not only enhances the strength and effectiveness of boards but also inspires future generations to pursue leadership and create lasting change.
This poem resonates for me in terms of the adversity and resilience of women
Poem of resilience: And Still I Rise by Maya Angelo
You may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies, you may trod me in the very dirt but still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides, just like hopes springing high, still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops, weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you? Don’t you take it awful hard Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines diggin’ in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise that I dance like I’ve got diamonds at the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise! Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise! I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise!
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise!
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise, I rise, I rise.
- Deborah Walsh JP
WHV Board Member