Priority areas–for further consultation The following priority areas were highlighted at the Forum and build on the substantial work of First Nations academics, advocates, peak bodies and service providers. They are set out across three sections: one, the overarching priorities that underpin the way forward and any future action; two, structural changes to enable an effective system that can respond to the needs of First Nations women and children; and three, key reforms across the service system to support prevention of and responses to violence. The third section provides more detail on priorities for inclusion in the standalone National Plan but are not intended as action items but to point to key areas for further consultation. Overarching priorities Throughout all discussions at the Forum, participants highlighted the importance of: • First Nations self-determination to guarantee that First Nations women and LGBTIQA+SB people lead in the development and delivery of the standalone National Plan, and inform program, policy and legislative decisions that impact their lives, consistent with human rights, especially UNDRIP. • Elevating, embracing and designing specific engagement processes to include the voices and honours the sovereignty and leadership of First Nations women, regardless of their gender identity, sexuality or sexual identity, and families in all their diversity including old people, Stolen Generations, people living remotely, those with, and caring for people with disabilities, those in incarceration, and children in the juvenile detention or child protection system. • Centring the voices of First Nations children in the development of the standalone National Plan, especially girls who are at increased risk of sexual abuse, to ensure specific child-centred actions, and to support community-controlled organisations and other mainstream services to work effectively with children and families impacted by violence. • Grounding the plan in a human-rights based approach that recognises Australia’s obligations to the United Nations Conventions and Treaties it has ratified and endorsed. • Ensuring the plan takes a holistic culturally informed family-oriented approach, including LGBTIQA+SB families, that prioritises the safety of women and children, while ensuring men are also included as part of the solutions, and that evidence-based perpetrator responses are developed and accessible. However, the emphasis on family-oriented models should not put women in danger and put any pressure on them to remain in violent relationships. Wiyi Yani U Thangani • First Nations Women’s Safety Policy Forum • Outcomes Report | 33