Tjanpi Desert Weavers (Tjanpi) is the dynamic social enterprise of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women's Council, a service delivery, advocacy and support organisation for Aboriginal women living in 28 desert communities in the cross-border regions of WA, SA and the NT. Tjanpi provides a unique service in the NPY region as the sole provider of specialised support for 400 fibre artists across these 3 states. Tjanpi assists women from these remote communities to produce and market fibre art made from locally collected grasses and supports this work by providing a range of a services to fibre artists with economic, artistic, cultural, social and well-being benefits. These include:-

• A program of creative and technical skills development workshops held in remote communities to provide women with the skills to create fibre art.
• Annual artist camps to bring women together from a number of communities to work on large projects and new product lines.
• Trips into Country to collect grass to make fibre art but also support a number of importance cultural maintenance activities including hunting and gathering bush foods and medicines, visiting and caring for Country, facilitating the inter-generational transfer of culture and the practice and transmission of inma (cultural song and dance).
• Providing casual employment opportunities for artists temporarily based in Alice Springs due to health reason.
• Supporting artists talks, cross-cultural weaving workshops and the performance of inma at exhibitions and Indigenous events to support the professional development of artists.

Complex social and political circumstances have given rise to the disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal people living in communities across the NPY Lands. There are extremely high rates of chronic kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, acquired brain injury and domestic violence. Literacy levels are extremely low. The common reality for women in these communities is that they are in poor health, have limited access to basic health services, have very few employment opportunities, are culturally obligated to support large numbers of family members, have limited access to traditional food, are often socially isolated and must pay inflated prices for basic commodities. Tjanpi provides a culturally and socially appropriate avenue for creating income for women in communities faced with such severe disadvantage. Immediate payment for even small works is often enough to meet basic necessities. Tjanpi's activities bring women together to create artwork thus offering companionship and support, opportunities to re-connect with family and cross-community collaboration within the NPY Lands.

Tjanpi weavers range in age from early 30s to women in their 70s. The significant benefits that Tjanpi delivers to women across the NPY Lands go firstly to the 400 artists across this huge geographic region but quickly filter to other family members. This flows on to the home communities, with the income assisting the local economy. Economic initiatives in this remote region are hindered by geographical isolation. Tjanpi supports women to remain in their country, providing access to art materials and up-front income in return for fibre artwork. The delivery of workshops throughout the year improves the technical, creative and professional skills of senior and emerging artists and encourages young women to learn the skills to create a basket or sculpture. Tjanpi empowers women to provide for their families and enhances well-being through achievement, pride in creative work, positive identity and reduced welfare dependence.