CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
(NPY LANDS)

 

OVERVIEW

Central Australia encompasses areas in and around Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankuntjatjara (NPY) Lands.

Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Lands are located in Australia’s western desert region and are home to Anangu and Yarnangu Indigenous people. The NPY Lands encompass the cross-border region of South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. There are 26 desert communities and homelands, spread over 350,000 square kilometres. Tjukurpa (Aboriginal law, culture and beliefs) remains very strong in this region; it provides a binding historical, cultural, familial and linguistic connection across the NPY Lands, uniting Indigenous people from this area with one another and with the land.

Jawun commenced operations in Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Lands in August 2014, and expanded operations to include organisations servicing Alice Springs and surrounding areas in July 2019.

WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY

FIELD TEAM

  • General Manager, Regional Investment

    Sarah joined Jawun as Regional Director for the Lower River Murray, Lakes and Coorong, and Far West Coast Regions in South Australia in May 2019 before moving into General Manager Regional Investment role in November 2022. 

    Sarah comes to Jawun from a career in project management across the community based and higher education sectors, delivering diverse projects to support the housing, health and wellbeing needs of people sleeping rough in Adelaide. This included service delivery model review, establishment of a social enterprise to provide training and employment opportunities, and coordination of a peer-to-peer disaster resilience project, delivering safety messaging and assistance during extreme weather events to people sleeping rough. Sarah played a key role in a sector-wide collaboration to address, and end, rough sleeping in Adelaide through the delivery of SA’s first two annual Connections Week projects to better understand and support people sleeping rough. 

    Personally, Sarah is committed to supporting young people to make positive choices in their lives. Sarah mentors high school students through The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program and is guardianship carer for a young person through Time for Kids.

    To contact Sarah, please email scollyer-braham@jawun.org.au

  • Regional Director

    Ray Scales is a proud Pitjantjatjara man from the APY Lands, deeply committed to empowering Indigenous communities. With over 15 years of experience in public service—including roles in the South Australian Police, NT Fire & Rescue Service, and the Australian Army Reserves—Ray now leads Jawun’s Central Australia region, fostering partnerships that drive Indigenous-led change. Outside of work, Ray enjoys camping and spending time on Country with family, sharing culture and language.

    To contact Ray, please email rscales@jawun.org.au

CASE STUDIES

Case studies show how Jawun secondees have achieved real results. If you are interested to learn more about Jawun's work in this region, click on the case studies below.

NGAANYATJARRA PITJANTJATJARA YANKUNYTJATJARA WOMEN’S COUNCIL

NGAANYATJARRA PITJANTJATJARA YANKUNYTJATJARA WOMEN’S COUNCIL

REGIONAL ANANGU SERVICES ABORIGINAL CORPORATION

SUPPORTING EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES IN NPY LANDS

ENGAGEMENT RATHER THAN ENFORMCEMENT

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