NPY Women's Council youth services

NPY Women’s Council (NPYWC) support the young people of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Lands with traineeships and employment pathways through their Iwara program and Boarding School Program.

The Iwara program assists new school leavers to get ready for employment in their home communities and beyond. The 8-week program, held both in Alice Springs and out bush, focuses on:

• employer’s expectations
• administration skills
• confidence and communication
• experience in the workplace
• experience running activities.

Iwara participants are also mentored by an Aṉangu Employment Officer (AEPO) from the NPYWC Youth Service.

The Boarding School Program offered by NPYWC provides young people from remote communities with greater educational opportunities. It supports young people and their families to understand the different opportunities available, and offers practical assistance in navigating enrolment. NPYWC report that 66% of the program’s alumni reported being employed in jobs better than they would have secured without attending the boarding school. At least 50% of alumni are currently working casually, 33% part time, and some have secured multiple jobs within and outside their communities.