Carla Rogers is a community engagement specialist, facilitator, and program designer dedicated to Closing the Gap. After a Churchill Fellowship in 2001, she founded Evolve in 2005 and later joined forces with Aunty Munya. Blending Elder wisdom with world-class facilitation, she equips non-Indigenous Australians with the skills to become passionate and effective Allies to First Nations people.
Did you know that Friday, 8 August is International Allyship Day?
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 over 13 years.
A Bold Beginning
Back when Aunty and I were developing our flagship program, 7 Steps to Practical Reconciliation®, 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. 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 people 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, 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 this Friday, 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 you alongside us.
Let’s keep doing the dishes, together.
Want to learn more about Allyship?
Explore our Ally Accreditation Program or reach out for a yarn—we’d love to support you on your journey.
Join us for a Yarn
We invite you to gather with us around the virtual fire — a space to reflect, ask questions, and explore how you can walk forward with purpose. Together, we’ll deepen our understanding and take meaningful steps toward Reconciliation in a genuine, practical way.
