One Place, One Number, One Story, One Spirit
Following many years of advocacy, Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council are proud to announce Ngura Kutju – NPYWC Cross Border Place, a tri-state child protection hub in Mparntwe/Alice Springs for Aṉangu and Yarnangu children and families in the cross-border region of the NPY Lands.
“We have been talking about three states, three governments, three fundings and three rules. These are all tough laws for us to follow. NPYWC have been trying to make these laws easier, they should just be dealing with one law.”
Margaret Smith, NPY Women's Council Chairperson
“I could pick up a phone and know exactly who I am talking to instead of everyone looking for a case worker. It would make things easier for health departments. At the moment NPYWC is acting like the tri-state officer.
Tanya Luckey, NPYWC Kinship Carer
“From these three states, our Tjukurpa is as one (story, vision, culture)... We want to go forward together, work together. Stand together, hold hands and move forward together”
Rene Kulitja, former NPY Women's Council Director
Throughout the years, NPY Women’s Council has maintained a consistent call for change to the way child protection operates in the NPY region. This advocacy has included a Discussion Paper, a cost-benefit analysis, a legislative review, multiple data requests, submissions, reports and input into many inquiries. In addition, NPY Women's Council has continued to lead the Tristate Steering Committee for almost 5 years prior to the launch of Ngura Kutju, as well as contributing to the monthly Tristate Operational Group.
NPY Women’s Council Directors and members are fierce advocates for change in the area of child protection and this advocacy eventually led to an agreement to trial a Tristate Hub based at NPY Women’s Council in Alice Springs – Ngura Kutju. Ngura Kutju will be delivered in partnership with Northern Territory (NT) - Department of Children and Families, South Australia (SA) - Department for Child Protection, Western Australia (WA) - Department of Communities as well as the Australian Government - Department of Social Services.
“We ask families to do it, to navigate all these different systems and workers. And if we’re going to ask families to work through this, then it’s more than reasonable to expect that our governments can do the same […] Ultimately, it’s the children and young people that bear the consequence for jurisdictional and bureaucratic misalignments, miscommunications and poor service coordination. That is unacceptable.”
- Shona Reid: South Australian Guardian for Children and Young People (September 2023 following NPYWC media conference).
One of the key themes raised by Anangu and Yarnangu in consultations about their experience with child protection was the idea of 'one file' and ‘one place’ where all the story is kept for a family, instead of two, three or four different stories. Equally important was having 'one phone' (one number) that Anangu and Yarnangu could call to talk to child protection, instead of trying different numbers in different states and different time zones.
To combat this, the trial project will be facilitated by the partner departments and NPY Women's Council through a Tristate Steering Committee, with a shared commitment to develop and implement a tailored and integrated approach to child protection policy and practice in the cross-border region. There will also be a focus on increasing First Nations led decision-making and model systemic change in child protection delivery.
“We should have one voice, umbrella to look after us in the states. 3 states, we can’t walk in 3 states. We want to stand in one place, and do it the Anangu way. Right now, 3 different welfare laws for Anangu. Hop, skip, jump back, backwards and forward, should be one law for 3 states. Come together as one, to make one law. From welfare, and everything too. Instead of taking kids, they should make one law for all three states.
All the small circles represent mothers, grandmothers and children. Looking to the future, in their thinking, thinking how, when, where, to follow our future.”
- Rene Kulitja former NPYWC Director, December 2022
NPY Women’s Council has also received funding to engage Melbourne University to undertake a formal evaluation of the project and the proposed model. Ngura Kutju alongside the evaluation will provide relevant evidence to inform and shape the Commonwealth and state and territory governments’ efforts in implementing actions under Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021–2031 (Safe and Supported).
While legislative borders mark the state and territory boundaries, these borders bear little significance to Anangu and Yarnangu living in the NPY lands. Communities are highly mobile across the region to meet family and cultural obligations. Honouring this history and reality is critical for meaningful engagement and transformation to occur in the lives of Anangu and Yarnangu children and their families.
Please join us in celebrating tjitjiku tjukurpa - one story for all Anangu and Yarnangu, bringing together all of the parts of the story with Ngura Kutju.
Ngura Kutju Ara | Nura Kutju Way
1 | Looking around for kids
Ngura Kutju builds a future where all Anangu and Yarnangu children involved with child protection across the NPY region are found, known, and connected.
2 | Knowing all the family
Ngura Kutju will ensure that borders do not stand in the way of Anangu and Yarnangu children knowing and staying connected to their family, including their mother’s side, father’s side, and siblings
3 | Connecting to family, country & culture
Ngura Kutju will provide Anangu and Yarnangu children with cross border connections to their language, culture, country and communities
4 | One story for Anangu and Yarnangu children
Ngura Kutju envisions a single, unified story - to build a better future for our children
Ngura Kutju Partners
