Did you know that Friday 8 August is International Allyship Day?

7th August 2025

Don’t worry if you didn’t. Neither did we until last year, when Aunty and I were invited to the inaugural (and so far only) National Allyship Summit hosted by the University of Wollongong. It was a brilliant event, and we left feeling both inspired and validated.

The day itself is new – first observed in 2023. But the idea behind it? That’s something we’ve been deeply committed to for a long time.

A Bold Beginning

Back when Aunty and I were developing our flagship program, 7 Steps to Practical Reconciliation® more than 13 years ago, Aunty proposed something radical at the time:

'Let's make it about Allyship.'

This was in 2011. The word ‘Ally’ was hardly used in the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Most people associated it with the LGBTQIA+ movement or military alliances.

But as we dug deeper and clarified our vision of a kinder and more inclusive Australia that values First Nations peoples and wisdom, we realised that Allyship and the skills to be confident Allies was everything. We knew we were venturing into unfamiliar territory, and we faced a lot of resistance. The idea of being a ‘First Nations Ally’ was not widely understood, and our work was mostly seen as just another version of cultural awareness training.

But Aunty had a deeper knowing. She understood that if we wanted real, lasting change, we had to be brave. We had to shift the conversation from compliance to connection. From knowledge to action. And from cultural awareness to cultural humility and Allyship.

From personal experience to shared vision

As a non-Indigenous person, this direction made perfect sense to me. My own journey began as a young girl wandering through the bush in Port Hacking, yearning for connection with First Nations people. I didn’t know how to go about it. And when I did try, I was paralysed by fear – fear of doing or saying the wrong thing. And yes, I made plenty of mistakes – some of which I’ve shared in past blogs and emails!

But that’s exactly why we’ve spent the last 15 years developing our Allyship training: to help others feel more confident, more capable, and more connected.

Why Allyship matters

With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples making up just over 3% of the population, achieving Reconciliation in Australia requires the active participation of the other 97%. That’s why we believe Allyship is not just important – it’s essential.

Our vision has always been to create thriving communities of Allies – people equipped with the skills and understanding to walk alongside First Nations peoples with respect, courage, and humility.

And thankfully, the tide is turning. The word ‘Allyship’ has gained traction. In 2020, Dictionary.com even named it their Word of the Year. More recently, it’s being used more often in First Nations contexts, often linked with cultural competency, cultural intelligence, and diversity training. And that’s a good thing.

Allyship is a lifelong practice

One of our favourite definitions of Allyship comes from Anne Bishop, author of Becoming an Ally: Breaking the Cycle of Oppression who said:

'It is an ongoing task, like keeping the dishes clean'.

We love that. Because Allyship isn’t a one-time badge you earn. It’s something you commit to, day in and day out – with humility, curiosity, and a willingness to listen and learn.

And yes, we love doing the Allyship dishes.

What does Allyship mean to you?

As we honour International Allyship Day, we invite you to reflect:
What does Allyship mean to you?
What does it look like in your life, your workplace, your community?

Whether you’re just starting out or have been walking this path for years, we’re so glad to have Allies alongside us.

Let’s keep doing the dishes, together.

The ALA thanks Carla Rogers and Aunty Munya Andrews for this contribution.

Evolve is a proud Indigenous business, Supply Nation Certified and NSWICC Assured.

This is an edited version of an article first published by Evolve.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are the authors and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Australian Lawyers Alliance.

Learn how you can get involved and contribute an article.

Authors

Aunty Munya Andrews, Director, Aboriginal Elder and Cultural Educator

Aunty Munya is an Aboriginal Elder originally from the Kimberly region of Western Australia. Despite a socially disadvantaged background and not speaking for the first five years of her life, Aunty Munya has beeen an accomplished and influential voice for her community. As a public speaker, she is sought after in Australia and abroad.

Educated in Australia and the USA, Aunty Munya has degrees in anthropology and law. She has practised law in Victoria and NSW as a solicitor and barrister, including as a legal academic at the University of Melbourne and Southern Cross University, teaching Indigenous legal subjects.

As an Elder, Aunty Munya has learned to work and live in two worlds. Her dream is to bring them closer together, and cultural awareness is an invaluable tool in the process.

Carla Rogers, Director, Learning Designer and Ally

When most of her friends were having their gap year in Europe, Carla set off for the remote Kimberley, inspired by a longstanding desire to learn from our First Nations people. It's a journey she's still on today.

A Churchill Fellowship in 2001 led to her founding Evolve in 2005, before joining forces with Aunty Munya in 2011 to focus on Close the Gap between black and white Australia.

A highly-respected community engagement specialist, program designer and facilitator, Carla makes sure that participants at Evolve's training sessions don't just leave more aware of other cultures and of themselves. They also go back to work ready to use time-tested leadership and communication skills - skills that have never been more important.

Layering the wisdom of the Elders over a world-class facilitation framework has resulted in award-winning solutions. Carla is driven to inspire her fellow non-Indigenous Australians to become passionate and effective Allies to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.