Wednesday, March 18, 2026

11:50 AM - 12:30 PM

Adelaide Oval - Suite One

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Overview

Presented by: NPY Women’s Council. Margaret Smith - Chairperson & Anangu Core Group member, Maimie Butler - Director & Anangu Core Group member, Regina McKay - Anangu Core Group member, Katie Kitson - Anangu Core Group member, Beverlyne Malova - Project Officer and Anne‑Lise Alphonse - Senior Project Officer.

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Details

Palyawanungku Palyantjaku, as defined by Mrs. Smith (NPYWC Chairperson), means ‘doing something practical and real, in a good way that positively affects others.’ The Palyawanungku Palyantjaku Project carries out deep thinking work, bringing together Anangu and NPY Women’s Council professionals to co-design and share decision-making. Co-design within this project is an Anangu-led, participatory, iterative learning and developmental process, supporting intercultural understanding and shared decision-making. The project is guided by Anangu knowledge and ways of working, alongside NPYWC’s decades of experience in Anangu-led advocacy, service delivery, and commitment to action learning. An Anangu Core Group of 12 women from across the NPY region was formed to provide cultural leadership and share decision-making with the project team. Through a series of co-design workshops, the Core Group developed an Anangu-led theory of change using a tree metaphor to map the pathway from now to the future. The Project Tree, a visual and conceptual framework, illustrates the relationships between foundational values and strengths (roots), the current context (environment), enabling conditions (trunk), early signs of growth (branches), long-term changes (leaves), desired outcomes (fruits), and the shared vision for the future (flowers). This presentation explores the development and application of the Project Tree, including its role in supporting a strong cultural approach and cross-cultural understanding. Through the Project Tree, the Anangu Core Group articulate their vision: safe communities, Anangu strong in both worlds, and families living healthy lives. The Tree not only powerfully communicates what is vital for Anangu children and families to thrive but also provides a living framework for culturally grounded community transformation, offering valuable insights for others seeking to embed Aboriginal-led innovation and holistic family responses. We hope that by sharing the Project Tree, others will gain a clearer understanding of our work and feel encouraged to explore culturally safe, community-led approaches in their own practice.