Tjuwanpa Women’s Centre a big hit with community

The recently constructed Tjuwanpa Women’s Centre has provided a dedicated meeting and learning space for Aboriginal women in the remote Hermannsburg region of the Northern Territory.

The centre is managed by Tjuwanpa Outstation Resource Centre and was built with funding from the Australian Government Department of Families Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs’ Community Development and Employment Program (CDEP).

Tjuwanpa Outstation Resource Centre are also the Remote Jobs and Communities Program (RJCP) provider for the region.

"Without [government] support and investment this fabulous centre would not be a reality today,” Resource Centre CEO Jane Rosalski said.

Elfrieda McLean, who lives on one of the Hermannsburg outstations, was part of the local group who came up with the idea for the women’s centre.

She said they wanted a space just for them, where they could work, learn new skills, and share their culture with each other.

“What I enjoy doing in this women’s centre is helping the young ladies and encouraging them to understand and not to get shy,” Elfrieda said.

“We can work together because this is our women’s centre.”

The centre includes a commercial kitchen, a play room for children, a library and a gym.

“We have a kitchen where ladies help with cooking bread and soup and all that for the workers,” Elfrieda said.

The laundry is another popular feature, particularly for women from the outstations who don’t have access to washing machines.

As part of a recent CDEP project, the women took part in a number of skills and training programs.

These included a course in carpentry where participants were able to construct TV cabinets and bookshelves to use in their homes.

“I enjoy it, the way we share our work, encouraging young ladies with our culture and western ways to learn,” Elfrieda said.