Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice launch. L-R June Oscar AO, Aunty Dr Matilda House, Julia Gillard AC, Larissa Behrendt AO. Analysis of performance Over the past year, the Commission has advanced a significant program of research, resources, partnerships and projects. This includes 26 major research, reports and resources, and 38 projects attracting strategic partnerships which is a 35% increase from the 2022-23 reporting period of 28 projects. Projects are at different stages of development, implementation and finalisations. All utilise a rightsbased approach to achieving change through increasing the evidence, understanding and capacity to address significant human rights issues. These are as demonstrated through the stories of change narrative outlining outcomes that took place as a result of projects profiled below including: • the multi-year systems change projects such as the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) project and Change Agenda that centres First Nations women, girls and gender diverse peoples to drive social, economic and ecological change; • the development of tools and resources which supports decisions makers to centre the voices and rights of children in policy and legislation; and • strengthened engagement with stakeholders and partners to advance the rights of all Australians, including those with diverse sexual orientation, gender expression and identity and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) The Commission has an important role in strengthening the human rights framework in Australia through our powers to inquire into complaints of breaches of human rights under the AHRC Act. In instances where conciliation is unsuccessful or inappropriate and the Commission finds that there has been a breach of human rights, the Commission can prepare a report of its findings, including recommendations for action, for the Attorney-General. This reporting period, the Commission has completed 19 human rights reports (16 published and 3 tabled) under the AHRC Act which is a more than threefold increase on the 2022-23 reporting period and is the highest number completed in the past four year reporting period resulting in a backlog of complaints. The backlog funding received in October 2022 to address this provided a short–term increase in staffing capacity. Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice The Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice (the Institute) was launched on 19 March 2024, by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO. Based at the Australian National University (ANU), the Institute marks a historic milestone as the first of its kind, dedicated to amplifying the voices of First Nations women, girls, and gender-diverse mob across Australia to drive transformative social, Annual Report 2023–2024 • 27