First Nations Collaboration

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have the right to be heard on their distinct knowledge and perspectives, and to be confident to use their voices. 

I work with organisations who employ or support First Nations women to create a space for knowledge sharing. In this space, we work together to identify women’s goals and actions to reach them.

* Image courtesy of Guy Burrows, taken at the Queensland Indigenous Woman Ranger Network Forum

Build identity, courage and strength

WomanSpeak offers a culturally safe environment for First Nations women in your organisation to:

  • feel encouraged to speak publicly

  • take a seat at the decision-making table

  • confidently share ideas, knowledge and skills with others – whether its business, government or community.  

Each WomanSpeak project we develop is unique to the people, timing and setting you choose. All end with a feeling of strength and empowerment.

See WomanSpeak courses

* Images courtesy of Torres Strait Island Regional Council

  • ‘WomanSpeak with Chantal is life-changing. The thought of public speaking was terrifying for me, and I did everything to avoid it. It caters for everyone at whatever level they are at. It caters for everyone at whatever level they are at. Over the course duration…the feeling of terror being replaced with a sense of individual power and self-identity. You come away with the skills to freely be able to express yourself in all types of experiences.’

    Lenley Bursle Barrett

  • ‘There are some events that create a before and an after in your life. On the weekend I attended a WomanSpeak 3-day foundation course that was one of those – empowering women to speak up and tell the stories deep inside: be ‘seen’ and be ‘heard’. This is not just a public speaking skills course!’

    Louise Brookes

  • ‘Coming to your introductory event completely changed how I see speaking in front of others – I feel differently now.’

    WomanSpeak participant

  • ‘The WomanSpeak program is life-changing, and Chantal is the most loving and nurturing leader, there to gently guide and challenge you to reach into the goods she knows you have.’

    Nat Mardon

  • ‘Chantal has an enormous amount of education and wisdom. She delivered the information with compassion and kindness and it was very easy to follow. The guidance, the education and explanation around what we were doing and practising…Everyone session gave me the ability to be calm, be present, be purposeful, be aware of my breath, body, magnificence, and be in the present moment. I also took all this into my daily life.’

    Fran Barwick

  • 'WomanSpeak is more than speaking words. To deliver our message effectively in any space we need to believe, truly believe, in self. I honestly believe WomanSpeak does that.’

    Geraldine Moeder

  • ‘It's like surfing and you catch this little wave and all of a sudden it turns into this big tsunami and you're just along for the ride. So that's basically what happened as a result of WomanSpeak.’

    WomanSpeak Participant, May 2022

* Images courtesy of Torres Strait Island Regional Council

A Collaborative Approach

WomanSpeak is a safe place for women who speak for the care and future state of Country – on which I’m a grateful visitor. As we work to raise women’s voices, culture and identity remain central.

For this to happen, in 20 years of supporting the vision, rights and interests of Traditional Owners, I’ve always taken a collaborative approach to working with community. 

It’s important that First Nations people are in charge of all projects we take on and I am a listener, first and foremost.

As the community leads the direction of our project, I provide information, guidance and inspiration through coaching programs.

Past Projects

* Image courtesy of Guy Burrows, taken at the Queensland Indigenous Woman Ranger Network Forum

These key projects have supported skill and knowledge sharing for First Nations women in a collaborative environment:

  • Partnering with TAFE to teach digital mapping to First Nations rangers so they could take greater control over pest and weed control in seagrass habitats.

  • Helping to raise First Nations voices in the process of Sea Country planning with the National Oceans Office.

  • Working with the Aboriginal Rainforest Council to have cultural values listed on the National Heritage list plus direct more funding to traditional custodians for active management and preservation of those values.

  • Consulting to Indigenous organisations and media to lend strength to their planning, grant writing and report writing processes.

  • Teaching WomanSpeak techniques by invitation to First Nations women of North Queensland who are involved in environmental and cultural management.

  • Supporting PNG women in mangrove conservation and tourism development.

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Let’s start a conversation about empowering women in your workplace.