About Us
Our Mission
We seek to be an effective Warlpiri-led organisation that provides education, early intervention, crisis support and care services to improve the social, cultural, spiritual and emotional wellbeing within the four Warlpiri communities of Lajamanu, Nyirrpi, Willowra and Yuendumu.
- Healthy, resilient and socially engaged children and young people
- Strong nurturing families
- Safe, vibrant communities
- Strong advocacy for Warlpiri people
Our Values
We believe that health does not just mean the physical wellbeing of the individual but refers to the social, emotional, cultural and spiritual wellbeing of the community. We strive to support children, families and young people, from across Warlpiri country, to achieve their full potential and to help them build strong futures. We value honesty and integrity in all we do.
Guiding Principles
Warlpiri patu kurlangu |
Warlpiri Leadership and Ownership |
Kurdu-kurduku jungarni yaninjaku |
Positive and meaningful pathways for young people and families |
Mardarni-njaku kurdu-kurdu jintangka |
Support for Warlpiri youth and families to deal with hard times |
Nguru-ngka taarnga-juku warrki-jarrinjaku manu nyiya-kanti-kanti mampu-ngku mardarni-njaku |
Sustainable resources and infrastructure on country |
Jinta-ngka karlipa warrki-jarrimi manu kalipa nyanu purda-nyanyi
Yapa manu kardiya jinta-marri-marri-warrki jarrimi |
Unique and responsible working relationships Yapa and Kardiya working together |
WYDAC Board
Executive
Jimmy Langdon (Chairperson) *
Jean Brown (Chairperson) *
Lottie Robertson (Deputy Chairperson) *
Enid Gallagher (Treasurer)
Gina Spencer (Female Youth Representative)
Robin Brown (Male Youth Representative)
Directors
Sharon Anderson
Clifford (Scotty) Brown *
Katrina Brown
Kirsty Ann Brown
Peggy Brown OAM (Program Founder)
Simone Brown
Benjamin Dickenson
Allan Dickson
Geraldine Dixon
Agnes Donnelly
Anna Lisa Egan
Cedric Egan
Kathleen Gibson
Myra Herbert
Andrew Johnson *
Julie Kitson
Shaun Kitson
Teddy Long
Steven Marshall
Violet Marshall
Vivienne Marshall
Barbara Martin
Valerie Martin
Margarina Miller *
Valarie Patterson
Beth Patrick
Jerry Patrick
Steve Patrick
Thomas Rice
Alma Robertson
Azaria Robertson
Eddie Robertson
Andrea Tasman
Lance Turner
Louis Watson
Thomas Watson
Glenda Wayne
Maisie Wayne
Nellie Wayne
Freddy Williams *
Grace Williams
Warren Williams *
Bruno Wilson
* Traditional Owner (Mt Theo)
Management
Jean Napanangka Brown
Chairperson
Jimmy Japanangka Langdon
Chairperson
Johanna Ward
CEO
Lottie Napangardi Robertson
Deputy Chairperson, Senior Cultural Advisor and Outstation Carer (Yuendumu)
Enid Gallagher
Treasurer and Senior Cultural Advisor (Yuendumu)
Peggy Nampijinpa Brown OAM
Program Founder, Senior Cultural Advisor and Outstation Carer
Thomas Jangala Rice
Senior Cultural Advisor (Yuendumu)
Eddie Robertson
Senior Cultural Advisor and Outstation Carer (Yuendumu)
Jerry Patrick
Senior Cultural Advisor (Lajamanu)
Steve Patrick
Senior Cultural Advisor (Lajamanu)
Lance Turner
Senior Cultural Advisor (Nyirrpi)
Teddy Long
Senior Cultural Advisor (Willowra)
Julie Kitson
Senior Cultural Advisor (Willowra)
Gráinne Martin
Finance Manager (Yuendumu)
Jean Manda
HR and Quality Manager (Alice Springs)
Management and Administration
- Promote strong Warlpiri governance, leadership and employment
- Robust quality management system ensures adherence to legislative & contractual compliances
- ISO 9001:2008 Accreditation since 2011 and audited annually
- Financial accountability overseen by the Board, accounts reviews, annual independent audit
Program History
WYDAC, then Mt Theo Program, was started in 1993 by the Yuendumu Community to address chronic petrol sniffing in Yuendumu. Elders of the Yuendumu Community initiated and ran the program at their own expense, with additional support from local organisations such as the School and Shop. There was no other initial formal funding.
The program began by taking those young people who were sniffing petrol to Mt Theo Outstation, some 160km from Yuendumu. At Mt Theo Outstation, elders cared for the youth, as part of a cultural rehabilitation program on sacred and remote Warlpiri country. Mt Theo Outstation clients spend time in the cultural respite and rehabilitation program, where they reconnect with their culture, family, health and education in a supportive and caring remote bush environment. Clients may present with any ‘youth at risk’ issue, not just for petrol sniffing or substance misuse, and are referred by Community Elders, Police and Corrections. Since 1993 Mt Theo Outstation has taken over 500 young Warlpiri clients from over 14 different communities, including Alice Springs.
The other core service introduced in 1993 was a comprehensive Youth Diversionary Program in Yuendumu. Elders saw the underlying need for youth to be engaged, interested and challenged by activities outside of school hours and thus not engage in at risk behavior. In 2002 the Yuendumu youth diversion program was expanded beyond basic ‘sport, rec and entertainment’ to a comprehensive youth development service aimed at facilitating strong future pathways and leadership activities. This Jaru Pirrjirdi (Strong Voices) program focused on the creation of meaningful life and pathways for Yuendumu youth through additional assistance with education, training, employment and targeted project work.
Elders of other Warlpiri communities noted the strength of these efforts and in 2004 in Willowra, 2007 in Nyirrpi and 2008 in Lajamanu, WYDAC was invited, and funded, to implement youth diversion and development programs in each of these three communities. In 2008 this also saw the development of Yuendumu Swimming Pool. WYDAC now has permanent full time staff in each of these communities providing positive, healthy, engaging and challenging diversionary and development activities for youth of all ages. These youth programs also serve as a critical referral and aftercare pathway for the client services such as Mt Theo Outstation and the Counselling teams.
Clients in Yuendumu are supported by the Warra-Warra Kanyi Counselling program. Since 2009, our professionally qualified counsellors and local staff provide skilled individual and group client support within Yuendumu. This service also includes an after-hours crisis response service. More recently the Client Services team has also extended its services to also provide client counseling, support and education services to the WYDAC Outreach communities.
Youth Services
Yuendumu
William Patrick
Jaru Pirrjirdi Coordinator
Jane Lee
Youth Development Team Leader
Vivienne Marshall
Jaru Pirrjirdi Youth Development Worker
Roxanne Fry
Jaru Pirrjirdi Youth Development Worker
Andrea Tasman
Jaru Pirrjirdi Youth Development Worker
Kira Briscoe
Jaru Pirrjirdi Youth Development Worker
Jasmine Bates
Youth Development Worker
Janie Williams
Jaru Pirrjirdi Youth Development Worker
Simon Fisher
Sports Mentor
Fabian Hagan
Sports Mentor
Yuendumu Swimming Pool
Parua Riwaka
Pool Coordinator
Valerie Martin
Cultural Supervisor
Mareikura Teito-Rakura
Pool Assistant
Clifford Sampson
Lifeguard Assistant
Lajamanu
Cassie Nugent
Jaru Pirrdjirdi Coordinator
Steven Morton
Sports Mentor
Peter Ajak
Youth Development Team Leader
Odessa Tippett
Youth Development Worker
Juany Simon
Youth Development Worker
Jennifer Burks
Lead Educator – Lajamanu Early Learning Centre
Ruth Jigili
Childcare Assistant
Alberta Wilson
Childcare Assistant
Lianna Patterson
Childcare Assistant
Vincent Dixon
Childcare Worker
Willowra
Andrew Graham
Youth Development Worker
Antoinette Glen
Jaru Pirrjirdi Youth Development Worker
Bradley Forrest
Jaru Pirrjirdi Youth Development Worker
Maggie Williams
Jaru Pirrjirdi Youth Development Worker
Teddy Long
Cultural Advisor
Julie Kitson
Cultural Advisor
Nyirrpi
Lance Turner
Cultural Advisor and Sport and Rec Worker
Simon Cooper
Youth Development Worker
Bianca Turner
Jaru Pirrjirdi Youth Development Worker
Fiona Gibson
Cultural Advisor
Family and Client Services
Warra-Warra Kanyi (WWK) and Intensive Family Support Service (IFSS)
Kerri-Anne Chilvers
Clinical Governance, Leadership and Development Consultant
Christine Tudor
WWK/IFSS Coordinator
Geraldine Dixon
WWK Senior Mentor
Cedric Egan
IFSS Senior Mentor
Hannah Case
IFSS Senior Case Manager (Yuendumu)
Robert Robertson
IFSS Senior Mentor
Gina Spencer
WWK Senior Youth Mentor
Enid Gallagher
IFSS Cultural Advisor (Yuendumu)
Shiyanne Robertson
WWK Mentor (Yuendumu)
Hamilton Morris
IFFS Mentor (Lajamanu)
Agnes Donelly
IFSS Mentor (Lajamanu)
Mt Theo Outstation
Margaret Roberts
Outstation Coordinator
Louie Watson
Assistant Outstation Coordinator
Steven Marshall
Outstation Carer
Audrey Brown
Outstation Carer
Clifford Brown
Outstation Carer
Katrina Brown
Outstation Carer
Steven Collins
Outstation Carer
Paul Marshall
Outstation Carer
Infrastructure and Administration
Administration
Brooke Flynn
Office Coordinator
Mechanic Workshop
Stewart Marfleet
Workshop Manager
John (Bill) Edgar
Workshop Foreman
Branston Poulson
Workshop Assistant
Messiah Williams
Workshop Assistant
Alice Springs
Rizwan Ali
Finance Officer
Lynette Gibson
Administration Officer
Cindy Johnstone
Quality Assurance Officer
Consultants and Project Workers
Jimmy Langdon
NDIS Community Connector
Andrew Eastick
Management Consultant
Craig san Roque
Consultant Psychologist
Ros Bauer
Adult Literacy Consultant
Susan Grant
Clinical Consultant
Leyla Iten
Youth Services Mentor