Straight Talk National Summit back on this week 

More than 50 First Nations women from across Australia are currently in Canberra as part of Oxfam Australia’s Straight Talk National Summit.

Oxfam Australia’s five-day bi-annual Straight Talk National Summit is back on at Parliament House.

It is part of Oxfam’s First Peoples Program and runs over five days, beginning 14 August.

This year’s summit is led by Kuka Yulanji woman and NAIDOC scholar of the year 2015 Michelle Deshong.

Executive lead of Oxfam’s First Peoples Program, Wamba Wamba, Yorta Yorta, Dhudhuroa and Dja Dja Wurrung woman Ngarra Murray said Straight Talk teaches Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women how to engage with the system.

“It teaches them how to engage with their local MPs and how to facilitate change within their own communities,” she said.

For over a decade now more than 950 women have been to the summit and participated in  its affiliated program.

“We also hold regional gatherings. So we are building an army of women right across the country. It is an amazing program to be a part of,” Murray said.

Murray added the women love meeting with other women at parliament and that the summit is “especially significant now there are eight indigenous MPs currently serving in parliament”.

“Linda Burney’s appointment as the first Aboriginal woman Minister for Indigenous Affairs is a huge milestone,” she said.

Murray said one of the many successful alumni of the summit is Vonda Malone.

Malone went on to be mayor of Torres Shire Council where she served for two years and is currently CEO of the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA).

Murray said the women build lifelong relationships.

“Most importantly, Straight Talk supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to amplify their voices and realise their right to self determination, ensuring they have a seat at the table to make decisions about the things that directly affect their lives and communities,” she said.