Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman Jana Stewart made history at the federal election, becoming Labor's first Indigenous female senator for Victoria.
She says she's grateful to "the strong matriarchs" in her family for paving the way, as well as the other First Nations women she joins in Parliament.
"It's an incredible privilege to be elected to the Senate and there's been a lot of talk about all the glass ceilings that have been broken," she said.
"The incredible amount of First Nations people... in this federal parliament: six for Labor, the doubling of First Nations caucus, an increase of multicultural people across our parliament...
"I am incredibly excited about that. [I] look forward to a day when we don't have to celebrate those things, that these are just things that are business as usual for our country and for our parliament.
"That's the day that will really celebrate the diversity in our parliament."
Jana Stewart campaigning at a voting booth in Balwyn on Election Day in Melbourne. Source: AAP
'We've got work to do'
Before entering parliament, Senator Stewart was a family therapist. She said she wants to focus on families and children during her term.
"We've got work to do on finalising a national plan to end violence against women and children," she said.
"That's absolutely one of the things I want to make sure happens and we've got we'll have a separate plan for First Nations people.
"We've got our big, cheaper childcare commitment as well, making childcare more affordable for working families."
Ms Stewart said she also wants the new Labor government to focus on social welfare issues, women (particularly First Nations and women from multicultural communities), and continuing the work on a First Nations Voice to Parliament.
And just as Stewart's matriarchs inspired her, she hopes young First Nations women and girls are inspired to follow in her footsteps.
"To me it's an incredibly powerful message to lots of other young Aboriginal women children who can see themselves reflected in our national parliament, that this is a place that you can aspire to be," she said.
"This is a place that you belong. Because you've got incredible people like Aunty Linda Burney and Senator [Malarndirri] McCarthy in places like this as well who who have come before me.
"It's a really powerful message."
