Deadly Women: First Nations Women in Queensland and Northern Territory Overcoming Educational Barriers and Creating Achievement for Themselves and Their Community
Tracks
Meeting 9
| Wednesday, July 23, 2025 |
| 1:35 PM - 1:55 PM |
| Meeting Room 9 |
Overview
Lydia Miller, Reef and Rainforest Research Centre
Speaker
Lydia Miller
Program Director
Reef and Rainforest Research Centre
Deadly Women: First Nations Women in Queensland and Northern Territory Overcoming Educational Barriers and Creating Achievement for Themselves and Their Community
Presentation Overview
The presentation titled "Deadly Women” focuses on the educational challenges faced by First Nations women and girls in regional and remote areas of Queensland. These challenges include lack of services, inability to travel, family commitments, and culturally unsafe learning environments. To address these issues, the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC) initiated the Deadly Women’s First Nations Development and Leadership Program. This program was First Nations-led, culturally-safe, community-based, and has proven successful in lifting up remote First Nations women.
The program was open to First Nations women over 18 years of age and offered free, two-week learning and leadership programs that are place-based and flexible to participants’ needs and community settings. The program includes personalised mentoring and pastoral care and was led by predominantly First Nations female coordinators and instructors. Participants engaged in an entry-level course involving guest speakers, site visits, and theoretical study, and graduated with nationally-recognised VET-accredited certifications, such as Cert 1 in Workplace Skills and Cert 1 in Tourism (Australian Indigenous Culture).
Over the past three years, the Deadly Women program has been piloted, refined, and delivered in remote communities in Queensland (Cairns, Torres Strait, Weipa, Napranum, Ravenshoe) as well as the Northern Territory. The program has provided opportunities for more than 80 Indigenous women who have previously experienced significant disadvantage.
The program was open to First Nations women over 18 years of age and offered free, two-week learning and leadership programs that are place-based and flexible to participants’ needs and community settings. The program includes personalised mentoring and pastoral care and was led by predominantly First Nations female coordinators and instructors. Participants engaged in an entry-level course involving guest speakers, site visits, and theoretical study, and graduated with nationally-recognised VET-accredited certifications, such as Cert 1 in Workplace Skills and Cert 1 in Tourism (Australian Indigenous Culture).
Over the past three years, the Deadly Women program has been piloted, refined, and delivered in remote communities in Queensland (Cairns, Torres Strait, Weipa, Napranum, Ravenshoe) as well as the Northern Territory. The program has provided opportunities for more than 80 Indigenous women who have previously experienced significant disadvantage.
Biography
Ms Miller, a KukuYalanji and Waanyi woman from Far North Queensland, has a 35-year arts and cultural career spanning theatre, film, television, and radio. She served as Executive Director for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts at Australia Council for the Arts (now Creative Australia) from 1994-1997 and 2005-2021, leading key initiatives in artistic and industry development. Since 2021, she has been the Program Director for the Indigenous Women’s Leadership Program ‘Deadly Women’, Cultural Producer for Shine on Gimuy Festival. She is currently Chair of the Queensland Theatre Company Indigenous Reference Group, QMusic Board Member and on the Cairns Music Industry Working Group. Ms Miller also has significant experience in public policy and administration in health, community services, and criminal justice sectors.
