Latisha Marranytya

My name is Latisha Marranytya. I am from Nauiyu community, Daly River.

I am a Ngen’giwumirri woman from the Fitzmaurice region. I have paternal ties to Tiwi, the Tipungwuti mob. I grew up in Daly and then spent some time in Katherine at boarding school for three years, went to St Josephs College and boarded at Callistemon house.

I then went to Melbourne and went to Siena College in Camberwell with my younger sister for three years. We lived with Julie and Michael and their daughter Jess, as a homestay situation. They took me under their wing and supported me throughout school and uni. While being in Melbourne I did a lot of sport representing the state in Softball and Athletics. I was also involved with the local Yarra Junior Football League, and we won two U18 premierships. That was good fun. In the U18 Javelin I was Victorian champion. I was selected to represent Victoria at the National Athletics Championship, I won bronze for my age group. I also competed nationally in discus (where I came 4th or 5th), and shot put.

While I was at Siena College I won a national writing competition – the National History Challenge, 2011. The essay was about my community Daly River, and I won in two categories.

I moved to Adelaide and attended Loreto College where I completed year 12.

After I graduated I went to Flinders University. I studied a double degree in early childhood education and Arts thinking I would be a teacher and I would come home and teach. But I did my first placement and realised that it didn’t feel it was right for me to do early childhood education. I then focused on the Bachelor of Arts component, sudying a double major in Indigenous and Australian Studies, and a minor in Sociology. When studying sociology I really enjoyed how it focussed on how people work and live in society.

After COVID hit, I moved back home to Darwin. That is when I worked part time at St John’s College as a house parent and continued studying full time. Then I had an opportunity to work for AFLNT at the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre as an Education Coordinator for a short while. From AFLNT, I moved to work as the interim Indigenous Liaison Officer at Haileybury Rendall School, and then was promoted to Boarding, Enrolment and ABSTUDY Officer. I enjoyed working in these liaision and engagment roles.

I took some time off after that and went to Emu Point for Cultural Business. I then decided to stay in Daly River and work at the school as an Assistant Teacher. I moved back to Darwin where I worked as an Indigenous Liaison Officer for Life without Barriers. This was for young people with intellectual disabilities and people who have been in and out of juvenile detention, as well as mob who have been living in foster care throughout their whole life.

My professional background is in engagement and liaison roles. This is where I feel most comfortable, and where I have a presence to help families wherever I can. When someone suggested I help with the West Daly Peacemaking Project research with Charles Darwin University, I didn’t hesitate, and said yes.