Anangu Employment
Across the NPY lands, only 5 in 10 women aged 15 to 29 are fully or partially engaged in employment, education or training, compared with 9 in 10 nationally. The desire to work is strong, but barriers such as limited English literacy, geographic isolation and cultural obligations can restrict opportunities.
Anangu employment remains central to NPY Women’s Council’s strength and impact. Working in the Malparara Malparara way, Anangu and non-Anangu, we ensure programs are grounded in culture, language and deep local knowledge. This approach delivers stronger outcomes for families and communities while building long-term leadership and capability across the region.
NPY Women’s Council’s Aboriginal Employment Strategy focuses on strengthening internal systems to expand the Anangu workforce, and support and retain Anangu staff. The strategy is driven by six key objectives:
• Fair and equitable employment conditions
• Recruitment that prioritises local knowledge
• Working in the Malparara way
• Strong, culturally grounded induction
• Ongoing professional development and mentoring
• Trauma-informed support for staff
The newly appointed Learning and Development Coordinator works with Anangu staff to create tailored development plans and provide on-the-job and external training.
NPY Women’s Council employs over 100 Aboriginal staff across Mparntwe and the NPY lands. This is around 37% of the workforce and roles range from frontline support to leadership positions. We recognise that casual and flexible work enables people to balance employment with parenting, cultural responsibilities and community leadership.
Anangu staff are essential to delivering our programs on country, particularly in the areas of youth, disability, and child and family wellbeing.
Our social enterprise, Tjanpi Desert Weavers, provides meaningful income through fibre art. This year, $543,315 worth of artworks were sold. Over the next three years, Tjanpi will invest $525,000 to support 40 women in building skills, confidence and economic independence, with a strong focus on engaging and employing younger women.
