Yuendumu, NT

I am a Warlpiri woman from Yuendumu and I am a daughter of one of the Warlpiri Education and Training Trust (WETT) founding mothers, Barbara Martin. I’ve seen her doing this work for many years and now I have been a researcher since 2019 with WETT. Today I am a Senior Community Researcher leading the Yitaki-maninjaku, warrirninjaku, payirninjaku manu pina-jarrinjaku (YW

PP) ‘Tracking and Learning’ team for the Warlpiri Education and Training Trust and Central Land Council. As a researcher supporting the WETT Advisory Committee, I work together with my mother.

I really enjoy being a researcher because we collect a lot of stories for WETT which helps the WETT Advisory Committee to make good decisions about educational programs. We work in partnership with CLC and La Trobe University. I’ve been working with different research projects in the four Warlpiri communities: Yuendumu, Nyirrpi, Willowra and Lajamanu.

With WETT, we have done research about youth in the four communities. In the YWPP team we have developed our protocols for how to work safely as researchers in the community. These guide us about how we work together as Yapa (Aboriginal) and Kardyia (non-Aboriginal) researchers. We teach each other and learn from each other. That’s really important.

In Lajamanu, I have worked on the project called Kirri-Ngurrju Lajamanu (“Good Life Lajamanu”) which also began in 2019. For this project, we visit the community each year to find out how people think things are going in important areas like health, housing and jobs. We also recruited local researchers from Lajamanu because local people feel comfortable talking to them.

In my work with WETT, CLC and La Trobe University I have been to conferences to tell the story of our research. At first going to conferences I was really nervous, but then I saw a lot of strong women speaking up. Now I’ve told our story at the World Community Development Conference in Darwin (2023), Australian Evaluation Society (2024) and the AIATSIS Conference in Melbourne (2024).

I have also worked with Nous Group on their research for the Central Australia Youth Service Action Plan in 2024.

As a researcher, I am a role model for our community and we’re showing the kids. For me, it’s all about our kids and helping the community.

My skills as a researcher:

  • Developing research questions
  • Planning fieldwork
  • Working safely and managing conflict
  • Understanding of Yapa culture and Law and how to follow cultural protocols in research
  • Two-way language skills – Warlpiri, English
  • Translation and transcription
  • Sense-making
  • Organising community meetings to share research findings
  • Communication, planning, reflecting and learning together as researchers
  • Presenting at conferences and workshops

My employment experience:

Current:

  • Aboriginal Interpreter Service (Warlpiri – English)

Previous employment:

  • WYDAC receptionist
  • Centrelink worker
  • Teaching Assistant, Yuendumu School
  • Yuendumu Old People’s Program (YOPP)
  • Childcare worker (1997- 2006)
  • Yuendumu Shop worker (1995)

My availability to work as a researcher

I am available for research projects in Yuendumu or any other communities if a researcher is needed. Please call me on my number: 0491 969 559

Fig. 1 Belinda (left) & Glenda (right) presenting at Djarragun College, Nerkep Boori Summit

Fig. 2 Belinda (left) & Glenda (right) working on Warlpiri/English translation of research interview questions.

Fig. 3 WETT’s Community Research Team (YWPP) undertaking training with La Trobe Uni and CLC WETT staff, Alice Springs March 2024

Fig. 4 Warlpiri Education and Training Trust Program Map.