Proud Warlpiri and Arrernte woman Shirleen Campbell is a third-generation resident of Alice Springs Town Camp, Lhenpe Artnwe – or Hoppy's Camp. She's also the co-ordinator of The Tangentyere Women's Family Safety Group (TWFSG), which gives women in the camp a voice and action against family and domestic violence.
TWFSG takes a strengths-based approach to addressing domestic violence, training women to recognise its early signs and support each other. Together they acknowledge and celebrate the women residents' skills, knowledge, history, assets, connections and relationships.
After a violent attack on an Aboriginal woman at the Todd River was ignored by local press, Shirleen and TWFSG led a 300-strong, anti-violence march through the streets of Alice Springs. Shirleen and other members of TWFSG were then invited to Canberra. With care and humility, Shirleen drew attention to the women her community loved and mourned who'd been impacted by violence – and showed that women are a large part of the solution.