A community-led cultural initiative in Woorabinda, Central Queensland, is helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women reconnect with their heritage through traditional weaving, jewellery-making, painting and other creative activities.

At the centre of the initiative is Vivianne-Lee Watson, a Wadja Wadja woman who has turned a traditional craft into a way of supporting women in her community. Her journey began approximately seven years ago when she was working at a local women's shelter and was invited to participate in a weaving workshop.

Initially, Watson did not consider herself artistic. However, after learning how to use raffia and a needle, she created her first basket within 24 hours. What began as a simple activity gradually developed into a passion that changed her professional direction.

Earlier in 2026, Watson made the decision to leave her stable full-time employment and concentrate on her weaving business and community workshops.

Over recent months, she has organised free workshops in Woorabinda, an Indigenous community located approximately 170 kilometres south-west of Rockhampton. The activities are open to women interested in learning traditional crafts and connecting with others.

The workshops provide opportunities for participants to learn different techniques, including basket weaving, beadwork, jewellery-making and painting. Women of different ages and backgrounds attend the sessions, creating opportunities for cultural exchange and friendship.

One important aspect of the workshops is the opportunity for older generations to share their knowledge with younger women. Elders who have spent years learning traditional techniques can pass those skills to participants who may not have previously had access to such cultural experiences.

The gatherings have also become informal yarning circles, where women can talk about their experiences, share stories and support one another in a welcoming environment.

Woorabinda resident Annie Asse said the workshops provided a valuable opportunity for women to spend time together without feeling judged. For participants who have recently moved to the community, the activities can also help establish friendships and a stronger sense of belonging.

Veronica Johnson, a Bwgcolman woman who moved to Woorabinda from Palm Island earlier in 2026, said joining the workshops helped her become more confident and connected with other women.

Traditional weaving has a long history among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. For thousands of years, Indigenous Australians have used natural materials such as reeds, grasses, bark and other plant resources to create baskets, bags, fishing equipment and other practical objects.

These techniques are more than artistic skills. They represent knowledge about the environment, family traditions and cultural identity that have been passed between generations.

For Watson, sharing these practices is particularly important because weaving has helped her reconnect with different parts of her own family heritage, including her Wadja Wadja and Torres Strait Islander connections.

She has also found special meaning in teaching her two daughters, aged seven and ten, to make traditional crafts. Her eldest daughter has already started creating handmade earrings and recently received a commission from a local health service worker.

The initiative demonstrates how traditional cultural practices can create opportunities for education, community participation and small business development.

By making workshops accessible and welcoming, Watson hopes more women and younger generations will have opportunities to learn skills that might otherwise become less familiar over time.

The Woorabinda workshops show how community-led cultural activities can strengthen relationships, encourage creativity and help preserve Indigenous knowledge for future generations.