Lutheran named NT’s Australian of the Year

Indigenous leader Andrea Mason has been named the Northern Territory’s Australian of the Year.

Ms Mason, who worships at Alice Springs Lutheran Church, is the Chief Executive of the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council, which supports and advocates for 3000 women across a 350,000-square-kilometre area of Central Australia. The council works with women and families on such issues as employment, health and tackling domestic violence.

Ms Mason joined the council in 2008 and has been its CEO since 2010. She formerly has worked for the South Australian and Australian public services in housing and Aboriginal engagement policy respectively, and at Reconciliation Australia. In 2004 she became the first Indigenous woman to lead a political party in Australia when she became the head of Family First.