Lily Tjiweri

Lily was born and grew up in Hermannsburg NT until she was 13 years old. At 13 her family moved to Mutitjulu to live with her father’s family. Lily speaks Arrernte, English, Pitjantjatjara and a bit of Ngaanyatjarra.

Lily is really passionate about mental health support in remote communities, especially for young mothers and fathers. She works with the NPY Women’s Council Child & Family Wellbeing Service’s Walytjapiti team.

In her work with Walytjapiti she is really great at sitting with hard stories, working out how to help and making people laugh.

I have been working with Women’s Council in the Walytjapiti team. My work is to help young babies and mothers. I was working malparara way, sitting down and talking with young people and asking what happened to them.It has been really good to be doing good things, looking after young people and old people. Looking after them, taking them bush, talking about things.

Lilly’s personal interest in keeping emotionally strong encouraged her to learn how to meditate with NPY Women’s Council’s Uti Kulintjaku initiative. She has led meditation sessions with her family and with school students. She is a member of the Docker River Kutitjakani Team that helps women leaders to remain clear thinkers and is supported by the Ngangkari Program.

Lily is a member of the Central Australian Women’s Choir and has travelled to New York with the choir. Lilly has three children and lives in Docker River with her husband.