Azaria Foster

My grandmother comes from Ngaanyatjarra lands. My grandfather comes from the Pitjantjatjara lands. So, I’m a Pitjantjatjara and Ngaanyatjarra woman. I was born in Alice Springs and raised in Irrunytju and Wanarn.

I grew up with NPY Women’s Council through my grandmother. She was a director and helped to create the Nutrition program, so I knew the Council from when I was 8 years old. We used to live just next door because my grandfather was also with the Pitjantjatjara Council. He used to be a chairman and a strong speaker. My grandmother was the same, I came into NPYWC directors’ meetings and saw how she spoke in a proper way. So I come from that strong family members. I know how they spoke and how they held NPY Women’s Council strongly.

I started working as an Aboriginal Support Worker for the NPY Women’s Council’s Youth Service in 2016. Then I became a Youth Development Officer at NPYWC – I used to run the Irrunytju Youth Service. From there I started doing a little bit of work around empowerment.

I’m really proud of myself for being a director because I’m the youngest one. It’s really good for me to learn for my future.

It’s the time to learn from old women and teach the next generation.

It’s a proud thing that all Anangu ladies in the lands have to know because our grandmothers, aunties, mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers were involved in the Woman’s Council.