The WETT Youth and Media project provides a wider range of youth programs in Lajamanu, Nyirripi, Willowra and Yuendumu. Sport, music, country visits, craft and cultural activities are all provided through the project’s diversionary actions managed by the Mt Theo program.
For young people with an interest and aptitude in media, specialised training is provided through PAW Media and Communications. The main focus is video production in all its aspects from scripting, through shooting, and editing. Other media activities are also provided through PAW Media from time to time to enrich the learning environment.
The PAW + Mt Theo Youth Media website is a showcase site for the videos produced through the project. It will continue to grow and diversify as the skills of young people themselves grow.
The WETT Youth and Media Project is a partnership between PAW Media and Communications and the Mt Theo Program. These two organisations, both based in Yuendumu in Central Australia, have long histories of working with local communities in the Tanami area.
The Mt Theo Program has, through the funding provided under the Warlpiri Youth and Media Program, been able to provide new youth programs and youth workers at Willowra, Nyirripi and Lajamanu. The youth program at Yuendumu has been strengthened.
PAW Media and Communications is providing, through the Warlpiri Youth and Media Program, advanced media training for young people who show aptitude for video work be it directing, camera or sound operation or editing.
It is anticipated that young people with sufficiently developed media skills will be able to gain employment or entry into media training courses.
The Warlpiri Education and Training Trust (WETT) was established in 2004 when an agreement was renegotiated between Newmont Tanami Pty Ltd and traditional landowners of the Granites/Callie gold mines.
These mines are on Aboriginal land in the remote Tanami region.
As part of the renegotiation it was agreed that a portion of the royalties would go into WETT to support Warlpiri education and training.
Through consultations between the CLC and the regional Warlpiri education body, Warlpiri-patu-kurlangu Jaru, four programs were implemented across the four Warlpiri communities: