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The Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women's Council (NPYWC) began in 1980 and was separately incorporated some years later, in 1994. NPY now comes under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth.)
The push for a separate women’s forum came about during the South Australian Pitjantjatjara Land Rights struggle of the late 1970s. During consultations over land rights, many women felt that their views were ignored, so they established their own organisation. Its region covers 350,000 square kilometres of the remote tri-State cross-border area of Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. Anangu and Yarnangu (Aboriginal people) living on the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara lands (Western Desert language region) share strong cultural and family affiliations. What began as an advocacy organisation is now also a major provider of human services in the region, in essence working to address the needs that clinical health services cannot, and that government agencies do not directly provide in this remote area. NPY has taken this direction because of the glaring needs that exist in member communities
NPYWC represents women in the region, which has an over-all population of around 6,000. The members’ determination to improve the quality of life for families in the region drives the organisation. Its existence gives members an avenue for participation in the decision-making processes that affect them and their families. It is a permanent forum where they are able to raise issues and make their opinions and decisions known. It also provides opportunities for Anangu to learn, share knowledge and keep informed about relevant issues. NPY’s success is largely due to its capacity to provide a decision-making process steered by the members. One of the major advantages of its existence is the development over time of members’ ability to consider and analyse policy issues, deal with government agencies and advocate on their own behalf.
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