Gaylene Yenhu Gurruwiwi is an inspirational community leader in one of the most vulnerable and remote places in Australia – Galiwinku, East Arnhem Land. Her steely determination in securing funding and establishing the Galiwin’ku Women’s Space has transformed it from a vision into a sanctuary where women can find safety, support and empowerment.
In 2018, Gaylene attended the COAG National Summit on reducing violence against women and their children. She then visited Parliament House in Canberra to talk to the former attorney general about domestic violence support-service delivery and the importance of needs-based funding in remote communities.
At the launch of the historic Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice in 2023, Gaylene played a crucial role in discussions to bring sustained, meaningful change for Aboriginal and Indigenous communities.
Since then, Gaylene has worked to bring together 120 Indigenous women from 12 communities in Darwin, fostering long-lasting change and collaboration.