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Your donation supports the voices and leadership of Aṉangu women across the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Lands. NPY Women’s Council is an Aboriginal-led organisation created by women for women, focused on improving health, safety, culture and community wellbeing in remote Central Australia.

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Who We Are

Key Achievements
WHO WE ARE

Our Legacy in Action

Over the years, NPY Women’s Council has created lasting change across health, family, cultural, and community development in the NPY region. Our achievements reflect the strength and leadership of Aṉangu women - driving programs, influencing policy, and building a stronger future for families and communities across Central Australia.

Over the past 45 years NPY Women's council has reached many milestones and achievements of national significance.

  • Successful advocacy of the introduction of subsidised Opal 'unsniffable' fuel into the vast region of NPY. The Study Evaluation of the Impact of Opal Fuel for the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, October 2008, showed that the prevalence of sniffing has declined in 17 out of the 20 communities in the study. Central Australia and the APY Lands are the regions with the largest decreases in prevalence of sniffing, with 94% and 93% decreases respectively
  • Negotiations with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and Curtin Springs Roadhouse, NT, to obtain a Special Measures certificate to prohibit the sale of alcohol
  • Introduction of the ground breaking WA, NT and SA Cross Border Justice Scheme, legislation that allows cross border policing following 28 years of advocacy, lobbying and consultation
  • Established the first remote community based disability support program for people in the NPY region
  • Advocated for better renal services for people living in remote communities; a federal study on the needs of people requiring dialysis in central Australia; initiation of visiting dialysis service to the APY lands; establishment of permanent dialysis facility in Warburton
  • Co-ordination of 330 Aboriginal women to perform in the Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremony

Other highlights include:

  • 2025: Raylene Kunoth, Tjungu Team, recognised with Champion Award in the Alice Springs Mayoral Awards on International Day for People with a Disability.
  • 2023: Yanyi Bandicha OAM, previous NPYWC Chairperson, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her outstanding achievement and service to her community. 
  • 2020: Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM awarded the Order of Australia Medal for her service to Indigenous visual arts and the community.
  • 2019: Andrea Mason OAM, previous NPYWC CEO, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Adelaide for services to Indigenous women and communities. 
  • 2018: Pantjiti Unkari Mckenzie OAM awarded the Order of Australia Medal for service to the Indigenous community of the Northern Territory.
  • 2018: Tjungu Team nominated for an NT Human Rights Award for the Research Report “Walykumunu Nyinaratjaku” To Live a Good Life.
  • 2018: Roma Butler, Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Sculpture Prize, Hedland Art Award
  • 2017 Andrea Mason OAM, previous NPYWC CEO, named Northern Territory Australian of the Year
  • 2017: Inaugural IDX Indigenous Digital Excellence Award for our app, Kulila!
  • 2016: Social Enterprise Women’s Impact Award for Tjanpi Desert Weavers
  • 2016: NPY Women’s Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrea Mason awarded National Telstra Business Woman of the Year for Special Purpose and Social Enterprise, and the Australian Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award
  • 2015: Dallas Smythe, Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Major Prize, Hedland Art Award
  • 2015: NT Administrator’s Medal in Primary Health Care for our Uti Kulintjaku program
  • 2014: Ahmed Ibrahim Tjungu Team was awarded the NT Disability Services Award for Excellence in Promoting Community Awareness for “Lisa’s Story”
  • 2013: our publication ‘Traditional Healers of Central Australia: Ngangkari’ won a Deadly Award for ‘Published Book of the Year’
  • 2012: Tjungu Team, the Peter Edwards Memorial Award in recognition of outstanding contribution to supporting people with intellectual disabilities on the APY Lands.
  • 2012: winner of the Indigenous Governance Award in the category of ‘Outstanding example of Indigenous governance in an Indigenous incorporated organisation’.
  • 2012: we won a Deadly Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Cultural Advancement’ for Tjanpi Desert Weavers
  • 2011: winner of a Deadly Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health’ for our “No Safe Amount – The effects of alcohol in pregnancy” campaign
  • 2011: International Sigmund Freud Prize from the City of Vienna awarded for our Ngangkari (traditional healers) program
  • 2011: joint finalist with Halo Productions in the 2011 Australian Film and Animation Festival for “No Safe Amount – The effects of alcohol in pregnancy” campaign
  • 2010: Finalist in the Excellence in Indigenous Health Awards in the category of ‘Outstanding Delivery in Child and Maternal Health’
  • 2009: Mark Sheldon Prize from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry (RANZCP) for our Ngangkari (traditional healers) Program
  • 2009: Dr Margaret Tobin Award for ‘Excellence in the provision of Mental Health Services to those most in need’ for our Ngangkari Program
  • 2007: we were part of the ‘Opal Alliance’ which won the National Drug and Alcohol Award for ‘Excellence in Prevention from the National Council on Drugs’ for successfully lobbying to have Opal ‘unsniffable’ low octane fuel subsidised by the Australian Government in commercial retail outlets in the Central region. The Opal Alliance consisted of NPY Women’s Council, General Property Trust, and Central Australian Youth Link Up Service.
  • 2007: State and National Winner (with Nganampa Health Council Inc.) in the Heart Foundation Kellogg Local Government Awards, awarded for the Mai Wiru Stores Policy.
  • 2006: Barbara Tjikatu OAM was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for For service to the Indigenous community of the Northern Territory as an Anangu Elder, and in the preservation and management of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
  • 2005: Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award for the Tjanpi Toyota, produced by artists from our social enterprise Tjanpi Desert WeaveOmrs
  • 1994: Tjikalyi Collins OAM (dec) awarded Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of Service to the Aboriginal Community 
  • 1993: Nganyinytja AM (dec) appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to Aboriginal culture and welfare
  • 1979: Purki Edwards OAM (dec) was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to Nursing and to Aboriginal welfare

NPY Women's Council is grounded in, and continues to live and work on, the sovereign Lands of the Arrernte people, and the Aṉangu and Yarnangu people - the rightful custodians of the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Lands.