For International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, we are proud to share a new documentary celebrating the leadership and strength of NPY Women’s Council’s youngest Director, Azaria Foster, from the Irrunytju and Wanarn communities in Western Australia.
Led by Azaria herself, the film shares her journey to becoming a Director and offers powerful messages of strength and encouragement to kungkas (girls and young women) across the region.
It’s important to speak up […] use your own voice to advocate and as a result of using your voice, great things will become possible.
– Azaria Foster
UN Women Australia’s 2026 IWD theme, “Balance the Scales,” is powerfully reflected in Azaria’s story – a reminder that inclusivity, accessibility and collaboration within community are essential to creating opportunities for systemic change and lasting transformation.
Azaria’s story is about speaking up for yourself and your community, and in doing so advocating for justice and equality for the next generation. This is echoed in the film which focuses on the importance of education whilst encouraging young women to become leaders in their communities.
Overcome shame ngayuku ngarangi school. Ngayulu kuulangka ankupai munu ngayulu wiru tjutaku nintiringu munu ngayulu kuula wiyaringkula ngayulu warrkaringanginta tjaataringkula. Ngayunya warka tjutangku ngayunya kunpunu.
To overcome shame I kept attending school. By going to school I was able to learn lots of great things and when I finished school I started working. These different jobs have given me confidence.
– Azaria Foster
Azaria’s grandmother played an important role in the inception of NPYWC, and the film honours this legacy by highlighting the power of intergenerational knowledge sharing. It reflects the collective strength of mothers, daughters and grandmothers, and what becomes possible when multiple modes of education come together.
Intergenerational connection and teaching are deeply embedded in Anangu ways of knowing, being and doing. Sharing knowledge, nurturing pride and uplifting one another are essential to keeping culture strong and empowering young women and girls to pursue education, employment, leadership opportunities and challenge gender-based stereotypes.
I used to go in with my grandmother for her Director meetings […] So it’s like I’ve learned from my grandmother. – Azaria Foster
The process of planning and filming the documentary further revealed Azaria’s immense strength as a young leader. Her mother, grandmother and three children feature in the film, alongside other kungkas and young people from community. As the sun set on the last day of filming, a sense of pride filled the air for what had been made possible through cross-generational storytelling.
Panya mukulyangku palyara warrka wiru palyara nyuntumpa warrka easy ngaraku, mukulyawanu.
Because you know when you undertake your work with love, it becomes easy. – Azaria Foster
The film will be used as a key resource in future kungkas education advocacy workshops and kungka careers conferences, in line with Azaria’s aspirations to share her story to inspire other young women and encourage them to speak up for their communities. Azaria reminds us:
When I was a youth worker, I made sure I had love in my heart working with kids in the community… As an Anangu, you know what you need for your community and using your voice, it’s very important. – Azaria Foster
On IWD 2026, we thank Azaria and all NPYWC Directors for their unwavering commitment to leadership that is grounded in open hearts and open minds. Without strong female role models across the 26 remote tri-state communities we serve, our advocacy work would not be possible.
We honour the next generation of leaders – the kungkas with strong hearts and minds – today and every day, as they carry our vision forward and help ensure all Anangu live well in both worlds.
This short film was shot on Azaria’s grandmother’s country in Wanarn by an external videographer Gabriel Morrisson and directed by former NPYWC Research and Policy team staff member Kiri Davies. NPYWC extend our thanks to the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) for the continuation of the Kungka Education Advocacy Project from 2026-2027.
