NATSIEC Focus on Women

NATSIEC's focus on women consists of 6 projects:

A Women's Network that connects Indigenous Christian women around Australia more information

A Resource Kit for Indigenous women more information

Reconciliation Workshops for women more information

Esther Study Guide: A group of Indigenous Christian women are writing a study guide on the Old Testament book of Esther more information

Local Gatherings of Indigenous women more information

The Women's Focus has a steering committee that oversees each project

Local Gatherings for Indigenous Women

The NATSIEC Women’s Project for 2003 & 2004 looked at connecting women through a network. We now aim to provide a space for women to come together and share, listen and support one another in their spiritual lives and in the work they are doing. 

This need was identified by women who attended NATSIEC Women’s Gatherings in 1995 & 1998 who felt that there needed to be stronger networks between women in order to facilitate resource sharing, support and combining strengths. We are therefore planning to hold local Indigenous women’s gatherings around the country (where there is a need for such a gathering).

Bible Study on the Book of Esther

When asking women to join the NATSIEC Women’s Network, we asked what resources would be helpful for their work – almost all women noted that a bible study or study guide written by Indigenous women for Indigenous women would be really helpful in their work with women who aren’t part of the church in their community and for themselves personally.

There is a lot of bible study material for women, but none specifically for Indigenous women. NATSIEC feels that it is important to give Indigenous women the opportunity to read the bible through the perspective of their culture and unique identity as Indigenous women. It is therefore important to ensure that the study looks at the book of Esther from a cultural perspective as well as from a woman’s perspective and that the layout and design is culturally appropriate.

This resource is still in production. 

STEERING COMMITTEE

The women’s network has a steering committee that oversees the project and gives advice to the Project Worker. The steering committee is made up of Indigenous women from around Australia. These women are also representatives of their churches on the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC).