Farewell CEO Andrea Mason

NPY Women’s Council celebrates our long-standing CEO Andrea Mason as she departs from her role of over 10 years with NPYWC, upon her appointment to serve as a commissioner in the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

It is with heartfelt sadness that the directors, staff and the communities we serve say goodbye to Andrea, but know that she will bring her dynamism and strengths to her new role, once again best serving Anangu within the Central Desert region.

Andrea has accomplished so much in her role as CEO.

Andrea is committed to delivering long-term positive change to the communities across the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Lands, this is a responsibility she has been delivering since joining NPY Women’s Council in 2008.

Since 2010 she has led the organisation as Chief Executive Officer. Andrea’s relationship to the NPY Lands is strong both professionally and personally. Her mother’s people are Karonie people and her father is Ngaanyatjarra. Andrea believes her responsibility as CEO is one of being a custodian for the hopes and aspirations of the members of the Council.

Her career prior to joining the Council in 2008 tells the story of the areas she has had a long-term interest in reconciliation and genuine self-determination for Aboriginal people. Andrea has close to a 15-year career working in the South Australian and Australian public services. During these years, she worked in the SA Housing Trust in a team that provided housing and tenancy projects to communities in the APY Lands; and in the Australian Public Service she worked on policy to increase community engagement in Aboriginal communities and also building the leadership of Indigenous women.

Andrea enjoys working with and alongside people who have a passion to find solutions to complex issues and to follow on with implementation. In the early 1990s, she worked as a Community Manager in an SA Government project that campaigned for the right to host the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Adelaide.

She has worked for Reconciliation Australia as a Relationships Manager in the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAPs) project; an initiative that offers Australian workplaces a framework to increase their engagement and awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture.

A stint working in the SA Parliament and an attempt to enter politics prepared her for working in the political sector and various terms on boards and committees including Transfield Services, Indigenous Advisory Board.

Like the story of many young Australians, participation in sport has enabled her to develop positive life skills. During her 10-year netball career, Andrea learned that hard work can provide a good reward, a core belief she has taken with her into her professional and community work.

Andrea believed being CEO at NPYWC was the best job in the world. She worked with strong Aboriginal women and alongside highly committed Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff, who gave their best every day to see the vision of the organisation advanced. She sees herself as a reconstructive social entrepreneur, delivering (with the guidance of NPY Directors and members) transformative change that will enable women and their families to exercise their right to control their own lives and life matters, in communities free of violence and sustained by a genuine hope for the future.

Share

Senior artist Rene Kulitja and Ngangkari Pantjiti Lewis have return from their trip to London. Rene and Pantjiti along with Ngangkari Program Manager Angela Lynch, travelled to the UK to attend the opening of The Art of Healing: Australian Indigenous Bush Medicine a touring exhibition currently housed at the prestigious King’s College in London.

Rene and Pantjiti were honoured guests and presented lectures explaining Anangu healing practices, mental health and ngangkari traditions.

Between formal appointments Rene and Pantjiti managed to also visit Australia House, the British Museum, and lots and lots of art galleries!

NPY Women’s Council is very proud of Rene and Pantjiti as well as the Ngangkari program – who once again have highlighted the importance of traditional healing practices not just for Anangu but throughout the world!

The Art of Healing is open until the 28th of June at Bush House Arcade, London

The Art of Healing Exhibition

Rene and Pantjiti out and about in London!

Rene and Pantjiti admiring the view from Australia House

Rene and Pantjiti admiring Ilawanti Ken’s Tjanpi nest in the window of King’s College on The Strand in London.

Rene Kulitja blending in at Notting Hill!

New Youth Programs opened by the Hon. Minister Tinley AM MLA

NPY Women’s Council has received funding from the Western Australian Government to deliver new Youth Programs to the Mantamaru (Jameson) and Papulankutja (Blackstone) communities in the Ngaanyatjarra lands for the next 3 years.

The NPY Women’s Council Youth Programs will support remote Yarnangu young people and their communities to lead safe and healthy lives through culturally relevant education, recreation and leadership activities.

The Hon. Minister Peter Tinley AM, MLA and delegates visited Papulankutja, Irrunytju and Mantamaru communities in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands to officially open the programs and to speak with the communities about their interests.

The visit was important to the communities and NPY Women’s Council and gave Yarnangu the opportunity to speak directly with the Minister about their worries and their hopes for children, young people and their communities.

“Young people are very special to us. We would like to see something good happening for our young people, because they are the future of tomorrow” said NPY Women’s Chairperson Maime Butler.

It was a great honour to host the Minister’s visit, which was filled with community meetings, rounds of softball, checking out the school holiday activities at the Mantamaru recreation hall and a tour of the Ng Media studios where the Minister got to jam with youth workers Azaria Foster & Shardina Tunkin.

NPY Women’s Council would like to say a special thank you to Yarnangu in these communities, in particular Carlton Reid Chairperson for Papulankutja community, Chris Reid Chairperson for Irrunytju community and Elvis McLean Deputy Chairperson for Mantamaru. Also a special thank you to our Chairperson Maimie Butler and Director Janet Forbes for being our wonderful hosts.