Partnership Story
VWT x Koorie Women Mean Business
Walking side by side — a partnership over thirty years in the making.
"No feminist organisation in Australia holds credibility without grappling with colonisation and its impacts."
— Dr Kyllie Cripps, Palawa woman and Indigenous researcher, reflecting on VWT’s 40th anniversary.
Where it began
The Victorian Women’s Trust and Koorie Women Mean Business (KWMB) have been walking side by side since 1990. For almost three decades, the two organisations have shared not just values, but also an office space. What initially began as a funding relationship has grown into an enduring partnership and a strong example of Australian feminist and Indigenous women’s advocacy.
“Koorie Women Mean Business (KWMB) was established by a number of Aboriginal women leaders in government and non-government roles,” recalled Leanne Miller AM, Executive Director, Koorie Women Mean Business.
“We’re talking over 30 years ago. At the helm was Jenny Florence, Executive Director of the Victorian Women’s Trust (VWT), and the KWMB project team, which included people like Mary Atkinson, Esme Saunders, Lois Peeler, Olive Walsh, Daphne Milward and their first project worker, Julie Peers.
“It started through a conversation Julie had with Jenny. She was wearing her hat as part of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission,” said Leanne. “Julie had noticed a discrepancy between women and men on issues like loans which were based on male weekly income earnings. So, that drove her to think about Aboriginal women. She started internal and community discussions. KWMB received some initial funding from VWT.”
The partnership between the organisations has always been organic in its grounded learnings and a pull towards social changes.
Reflecting on what the women’s movement has meant for Koorie women and girls, Leanne said: “I think that burning bras and marching through the streets has not made much difference. The difference comes from trust, very, very long relationships, consolidated with learnings about how to relate to each other. We can’t do this work alone and we have to be strategic.”
Image: (left to right) Duré Dara OAM former VWT Convenor alongside Leanne Miller AM.
A Work of Art, A Shared Story
In 2022, VWT and KWMB commissioned Yorta Yorta artist Alkina Edwards to create an artwork representing their partnership. Alkina lives in Echuca in Yorta Yorta Country. She is a proud Yorta Yorta, Wemba Wemba, Mutthi Mutthi and Wiradjuri woman on her mother’s side, and a proud Bundjalung and Wakka Wakka woman on her father’s side. Her work is bright, energetic, and rooted in Country. It’s a visual representation of two organisations walking side by side on this land.
Together, Yes
In 2023, Alkina gave VWT permission to adapt her artwork for Together, Yes, a Kitchen Table Conversations campaign supporting constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. KWMB and VWT stood together on this campaign, building awareness and understanding about what the Australian Voice Referendum would enable for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. While this campaign did not bring the Voice to fruition, an outcome that was wounding for all, that doesn’t diminish the shared perspective on reconciliation and the need for more settlers to come to terms with Australia’s Black history.
In line with the Berne Convention, VWT recognises Alkina Edwards as the artist and creator, and thanks her for the creative insight and artistic expression that shaped the look and feel of Together, Yes. Today, Alkina’s artwork lives in the Trust office, purposefully hung in direct line of sight as you enter the space.
“The enduring close relationship between the Trust and KWMB, and our choice to walk together, is fundamental to our shared goals of justice and equality for all women,” says Dr Kirsten Abernethy, VWT Executive Director. “Our partnership has been and continues to be intrinsic to how we build the future we know is possible.”
More Partner Projects
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Money Power Freedom podcast
In a six part podcast series, we worked alongside Bank Australia to reveal the blockers to women’s economic security, and what it means for their power and freedom.
Madam Speaker
Madam Speaker is a joint undertaking from the Victorian Women’s Trust and Your Creative, platforming the voices and words of women across Australian history.
Our work is built on the belief that equality is possible, hope is necessary, and collective effort is the only way forward.
From feminist research to supporting the next generation of activists, every project is a direct line to a future where women, girls and gender diverse people matter.
