Our Team

Elder

Elder

Elder

Elder

Language Nest Coordinator

Samantha is already fluent in her mother's language, Pitjantjatjara and has been learning Pertame as an apprentice for 2 years. Samantha has a Certificate II in Emergency First Response & a Certificate III & IV in Aboriginal Primary Health. She graduated from the Preparation for Tertiary Success (PTS) with a Diploma of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Knowledges, and is currently studying a Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences. Samantha is a representative on the Closing the Gap Policy Partnership, advising the Federal government on language.

Pertame School Administrator

Vanessa is a full-time Administration Officer for the Pertame School. Vanessa has 5 years experience coordinating the Pertame School, after training in language immersion from the Global Indigenous Language Caucus in New York. She received the 2019 College of Indigenous Futures Student Award in recognition of outstanding academic performance within her undergraduate degree in Applied Social Science majoring in Indigenous Community Language Work. She also received the Beryl Price and Lowitja Institute Postgraduate Award, and was a 2021 AMP Changemaker.

Language Nest Educator

Shania has been learning Pertame as an apprentice for 4 years. Shania is currently a representative on the UN International Decade of Indigenous Languages Directions Group, advising the Federal government on policy for this upcoming decade. She has a Certificate II and III in Arrernte Applied Languages, graduating with the highest score in the NT. She was awarded the Karmi Sceney Aboriginal Excellence and Leadership Award, won the 2021 Alice Springs NAIDOC Youth of Year & The Girls Academy Inspirational Leader Award. Shania also holds a Cert IV in Education and Training.