"Basically we're just sick of it. We're coming here telling the decision-makers we actually want our voices to be heard," said Shirleen Campbell, a resident of Hoppy's Camp, one of 18 town communities on the outskirts Alice Springs.

"We are the grassroots people, we know what's best for our mob, so coming to Canberra is a start."

The Tangentyere Women's Family Safety Group a family violence education and support alliance will stage a sit-in, or sorry ceremony, at Parliament House today, in memory of the women who have been killed or injured by partners and relatives.

Two of Ms Campbell's aunts were killed by their partners in 2014 and 2015 both women had suffered several years of abuse before their deaths.

"I'm doing it for my daughter, and I'm doing it for my grandmothers, my mothers, my aunties, and I also will be reflecting on two of my aunties who are not here today, and I'm in doing it in honour of those two ladies," she said.

Other members of the group have been victims themselves of domestic violence.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are killed by their partners at twice the rate of other Australian women, according toresearch released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfarelast month.

The town-camp women led a major march through the centre of Alice Springs last year, urging more media and government attention to be paid to the deaths and serious assaults of Indigenous women in Central Australia.

Northern Territory Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy praised the women for their courage, and said each had "their own personal story of violence".

"They've gone through a lot. They've got a very deep investment on an emotional level in terms of what they want to see for themselves and for their children and grandchildren," she said.

"Here is a group of people who come from the town camps of Alice Springs, who live day in, day out with some of the most appalling incidents of family violence, and they're doing something about it."

"We have First Nations women who are always talking to one another about the impacts [of violence]. Sometimes those voices can be loud and strong, and other times they still need encouragement."

"We want to tell the Government to listen to us, stand with us and to support us," she said.

"We are working hard and we want to build that collaboration with the Government sharing our voices we want our program to be run for our next future generation."

Ms Campbell, a mother of five, said speaking out and working for change in their small communities, had been difficult for many of the Tangentyere women.

"Four, five years ago it was really daunting, it was really heartbreaking. It took me a while to get me where I am, and to how I'm feeling now," she said.

"I feel so strong and confident, hoping that our program runs for the future generation

"It's also a privilege coming to Canberra because I want to share that message about visibility."

ABC 27 March 2018 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-27/indigenous-women-draw-governments-attention-to-assaults/9589374