Investing in women rangers
2026
Strong
Women
for
Healthy
Country
Forum
The Strong Women for Healthy Country Network has emerged as a powerful regional structure for connecting First Nations women, sharing Indigenous knowledge, and strengthening women’s roles in caring for Country, culture, and families.
The Strong Women for Healthy Country Network (SWHCN) was first born from conversations between Rembarrnga, Dalabon and Mayili Elders of Central Arnhem Land. These senior women clearly identified that they needed a way to regularly connect with other First Nations women caring for Country. Regardless if they were rangers, Elders or cultural knowledge holders, they were all contributing to the health of Country, and if they stood together they would be stronger and better able to advocate for their shared challenges.
This led to the first on-Country forum held in 2019 at Bawurrbarnda in Central Arnhem Land, where more than 130 Nations women came to hear about a Network that would connect First Nations women from across the Northern Territory. Together, they articulated the initiative’s name and vision:
“We are strong Indigenous women of the Northern Territory. We stand united as one strong voice. We commit to a Network that gives equal power to the rights of all our women. Strong women means healthy Country.”
Since then, the SWHCN has been on a journey of incredible growth. A further four annual forums were held between 2021–2024; the Message Sticks subcommittee was formed, ensuring year-round connection between different communities and ranger groups; a Strategic Plan was finalised; and finally, the SWHCN was registered as an Aboriginal Corporation and an inaugural Board of Directors was elected by and from the 100% First Nations women membership.
In 2025, the SWHCN took the opportunity to rest, consolidate and reflect on how far the initiative has come. Following this, they decided to come back to where it all started: Bawurrbarnda, a homeland in the heart of the Mimal Indigenous Protected Area. The 2026 Forum was held here in August and over 200 First Nations women and girls were in attendance. Senior women led weaving and yarning circles, and a host of other collaborative sessions were held on traditional dyemaking, painting and artmaking, digital biodiversity monitoring and seasonal indicator mapping.
Women's weaving circle at the 2026 SWHCN Forum. Photo by Milly Hooper
“I think listening to other women’s stories from other communities encourages young women like myself to be strong and to become leaders. That makes me proud and makes me want to do more in my leadership role.” Melissa Andrews-Wurramarrba, Alawa and Anindilyakwa woman and representative of Environment Centre NT
Overall, it was a triumphant return for the SWHCN, with the 2026 Forum building on the success and achievements of the last. Looking forward, the SWHCN is focused on continuing to walk towards its overarching goal of supporting First Nations women caring for Country to collaborate, communicate and advocate together as a strong, unified voice. Specifically, this looks like facilitating regional, on-Country healing camps in between annual forums, and continuing to build awareness within the sector of the SWHCN’s ‘Best practice principles for employing women caring for Country’.
Importantly, in the absence of holistic, ongoing government funding, the SWHCN relies on the independence and strength of philanthropic support to fully thrive. KKT’s job is to connect the SWHCN with independent, values-aligned funders.
These relationships are founded on the shared understanding that communities hold the expertise to design and determine their own solutions, utilising culture and Country as foundational tools. This is part of a larger, ongoing process of decolonising the role of funding.
If you are interested in making a contribution to the future of the SWHCN, you can donate here. And if you would like to discuss a larger gift or grant, please feel welcome to get in contact: mail@kkt.org.au
Strong women means healthy Country.
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