Who We Are

Firstly we would like to thank you for visiting our website and taking an interest in what we do. Wanta has worked so hard over the past five years to ensure our work is meaningful and contributes towards reducing the gap in education outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. 

Wanta now works across eight communities in the Northern Territory and we are so proud of everything we have achieved. 

Wanta was established as a corporation in 2015 as a result of setting up the first Wanta Academy in Yuendumu in Central Australia. Having both worked in indigenous Affairs and spending time in various communities across the Northern Territory, we knew a lot of effort was being put towards school engagement programs in towns and regional settings, however there wasn’t anything similar on offer in remote communities, where we felt the need was greater. 

After consultation with the Yuendumu community and stakeholders, Wanta was established as an Aboriginal Corporation to focus on increasing school attendance and engagement. Wanta continues to have an active Board that provides governance and strategy and incorporates Directors from every community where we operate. 

Setting up Wanta gave us operational and financial control to expand our operations and deliver our program to other communities in need. We now run three Remote School Attendance Strategy programs in Yuendumu, Ntaria and Papunya, and eight Wanta Academies in Yuendumu, Arlparra, Lajamanu, Ntaria, Papunya, Gapuwiyak, Kalkarinji and Ngukurr. 

We employ over 30 staff who are based in ten locations and work tirelessly day in and day out to help make Wanta meaningful in each community. We are so proud of our staff, our students and everything they have achieved so far. We really hope that you can get behind us and this great cause.

Thank you again for your support.

Matthew and Clare Smith – Founders of Wanta