Theresa Stevens

Anangu Education Worker

My name is Theresa Stevens. I come from Nyapari community. I've been here since 1987. When I came here there were no houses - Wali wiya! There was only one shed next to the windmill. All the people were living in Wiltjas (humpies/tents). That was when we first moved here from Fregon. My family moved from Fregon to Nyapari because my father wants to look after his father's country. My family started this place, Nyapari community.

I was born in the old Fregon Clinic. I went to school and did my Secondary Education at the Fregon School. I liked School. Because I learned a lot and made a lot of friends.

I started work at the school in the Nyapari caravan with Wayne and Libby. That would have been in 1992.

I have been working at the new school in Murputja since it opened in 1993. I have been studying at AnTEP (Anangu Tertiary Education Program) and I did stage one, stage two and am in the middle of stage three of my teaching qualification.

I like working here. I like helping children when they make mistakes and I like taking lessons in Pitjantjatjara language. We teach both ways learning here at Murputja school, Anangu Way (Aboriginal Way) and Piranpa Way (Whitefella way) . Both ways learning makes it better and easier to understand for Anangu kids.