ABSTRACT
QU E E N S L A N D I S S I T U AT E D I N Australia’s north-eastern corner. It has a unique and vibrant history, and is the only state that was originally occupied by both indigenous groups in Australia – Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders. The cultures, histories, and languages between and within these indigenous groups are diverse. However, Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders share similarities in their social structures, and, in particular, the role of women is fundamental to ensuring family and social harmony and the continuation of language, traditions, and customs. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women as mothers, grandmothers, artists, anthropologists, curators, and cultural custodians have been, and continue to be, at the forefront of protecting and preserving their cultural heritage, and transferring Indigenous knowledge through generations.
