Valda Shannon

About Valda

Valda Napurrula Shannon Wandaparri is a Walpiri/Warumungu woman who has been living and working in Jurnkurakurr (Tennant Creek) since 1992.

Valda has completed Bachelor of Applied Science in Aboriginal Community Management and Development from Curtin University in 2000 and also Bachelor of Arts and Education Deakin University 1987. Valda has also completed training through the National Accreditation Authority for Translator’s and Interpreters as well as a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Valda worked as a teacher at Ali Curung School in 1986 – 1992 and became Assistant Principal in training at the same school.

Valda’s most recent work has included writing culturally relevant programs for the Mental Health Association of Central Australian Suicide Prevention initiative (based in Alice Springs) which led her to draw on culture to connect with communities and presented her work in New York at the United Nations Indigenous Forum in 2014 on the importance of addressing suicide through cultural practices in Indigenous Communities.

Valda has also had her stories incorporated in a book titled ‘Womens Voices’ as part of the International Womens Conference in Bejing, China in 1995.

Valda’s focus is ‘Walking in confidence in two worlds’ embedding Indigenous culture within education, employment and processes to strengthen her community.