What makes a yarning circle different from a typical research interview?

Why does it change what we hear?

How do Indigenous research principles transform universities and policy systems?

Larissa Behrendt joins Ashlee Donohue and Jane Wangmann for a powerful conversation about yarning circles, deep listening, and what happens when Aboriginal women lead the research about their own lives.

Ashlee Donohue is the CEO of Mudgin-Gal Women's Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal led and run women's centre in Redfern, Sydney.

Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO is the Laureate Fellow at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology Sydney. She has a LLB and B.Juris from UNSW and a LLM and SJD from Harvard Law School.

Jane Wangmann is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Technology Sydney. Dr Jane Wangmann's research is primarily concerned with legal responses to domestic and family violence. Jane has particular expertise in understanding how law defines, understands and conceives of this harm.

These yarning circles were part of social impact research by Ashley Donohue and Jane Wangmann.

Artwork by Vicki Golding.

Produced by Jane Curtis of UTS Impact Studios.

Sound engineering by John Jacobs.

Impact Studios Executive Producer is Sarah Gilbert.

Our theme music is Intertwined, written by Nardi Simpson and performed by The Stiff Gins.

What really happens inside Mudgin-Gal Women’s Centre in inner city Sydney?

Who walks through its doors? What do they find when they do?

Host Ashlee Donohue takes you on a tour: from the reception area, to the women's weaving group upstairs, and the First 1000 Days program and playgroup for new mums.

Meet the women who drop in, hear how Mudgin-Gal’s programs work day to day, and how this community organisation keeps Aboriginal women connected and supported.

Host Ashlee Donohue: current CEO of Mudgin-Gal Women's Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal led and run women's centre in Redfern, Sydney.

Selena (First 1000 Days program) and participants in the Mudgin-Gal weaving group.

These yarning circles were part of social impact research by Ashley Donohue and Jane Wangmann.

Artwork by Vicki Golding.

Produced by Jane Curtis of UTS Impact Studios.

Sound engineering by John Jacobs.

Impact Studios Executive Producer is Sarah Gilbert.

Our theme music is Intertwined, written by Nardi Simpson and performed by The Stiff Gins.

What happens when Aboriginal women seek help with domestic and family violence?

How can counselling be used against you?

What happens when court or government staff make racist assumptions?

Mudgin-Gal Yarns is a 5 part series releasing weekly. It's hosted by Ashlee Donohue, a proud Dunghutti woman, born and raised in Kempsey on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, Australia.

This is an edited version of the final, fourth yarning circle, done as part of social impact research by Ashley Donohue and Jane Wangmann.

You won't hear about the violence itself.

You'll hear what happens when inner city Aboriginal women in Sydney, Australia, try and get help for themselves and their families with domestic and family violence. And our ideas on what can change.

These yarning circles took place at Mudgin-Gal Women's Place in 2023 and 2024.

Yarning Circle participants: Tanay, Stacey, Debbie, Maryanne, Selena and Donna.

Host Ashlee Donohue: current CEO of Mudgin-Gal Women's Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal led and run women's centre in Redfern, Sydney.

Jane Wangmann: Associate Professor, Faculty of Law UTS and family violence researcher

These yarning circles were part of social impact research by Ashley Donohue and Jane Wangmann.

Artwork by Vicki Golding.

Mudgin-Gal Yarns is produced by Jane Curtis of UTS Impact Studios.

Sound engineering by John Jacobs.

Impact Studios Executive Producer is Sarah Gilbert.

Our theme music is Intertwined, written by Nardi Simpson and performed by The Stiff Gins.