Executive Summary INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT • MPower has helped 2,554 people to date across the Cape York Welfare Reform (CYWR) communities (Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge) to improve their financial skills and wellbeing. Of these, 2,128 (83%) are still current members.
Support extended beyond the CYWR communities in late 2020, after Cape York Partnership was appointed to provide financial counselling support to claimants in the Stolen Wages Class Action. In December, 100% of members surveyed advised that they would recommend MPower to their family and friends, including Robyn Gordon who said: “I come into the O-Hub to do my financial business and I get extra support to do this. [With support from MPower], I have just set up a savings goal in my account. I am hoping to achieve my target savings amount in the new year.” • Homelands has 23 members—across Coen, Hope Vale and Wujal Wujal communities—who are jointly managing the ongoing
costs related to, and realising their development goals for, their homes and lands. Through Homelands, families are supported to come together as a group to cover the costs of land. To date more than $57,000 has been accessed from saved funds to pay for home loan repayments, council rates and maintenance on their homelands. Dora Gibson of Hope Vale says: “Homelands gives us security knowing that we have money put aside especially for our farm.”
EDUCATION • Student Education Trust (SET) has helped 766 parents and carers from seven Cape York communities (Aurukun, Coen,
Cooktown, Hope Vale, Lockhart River, Mossman Gorge and Wujal Wujal) to provide 1,236 students with the educational goods and services they need to succeed at school. Since SET began, more than $3.7M has been diverted to support children’s educational needs. One of our long-term donors, Lutonya Creek from Coen, told us: “SET has really helped me better my children’s education...With SET I don’t have to worry about school uniforms, shoes, socks, hats and other school needs…I want my children to have the best—in education and in life—because I didn’t have that myself.”
• Cape York Leaders Program (CYLP) supported 129 Indigenous Cape York students to attend secondary schools and universities across Australia at some point during July–December. Leaders, with CYLP support, continue to achieve academic success, such
as attaining awards, completing tertiary education, and graduating Year 12. In 2020, 18 Academic Leaders completed their secondary schooling journey. It was wonderful to see families from across Cape York attend graduation ceremonies and Year 12 formals to celebrate their children’s achievements. Three Tertiary Alumni attended CYLP’s inaugural ‘Next Steps Conference’ in December to share their stories on attending and completing university with Year 12 graduates. • Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy (CYAAA) supported 154 students across Coen and Hope Vale to attend and achieve
at school. In Semester 2, the average attendance rate for the Hope Vale CYAAA campus was 82.6%, making it the top attending school in Queensland Indigenous communities. CYAAA’s innovative and engaging science program was showcased in the launch of its interactive period table in Coen and Hope Vale, much to the delight of CYAAA students, community members and those watching the live-stream of the events.
• Djarragun College supported 344 students to undertake their primary and secondary schooling in Semester 2. Twenty-seven per cent of students were boarders from communities across Cape York and elsewhere. The 27 Year 12 graduates of 2020 have achieved
great things: eight QCEs and 36 VET certificates were attained, which opens up future academic and employment opportunities. Completion of Year 12, especially after such a tumultuous year, is a significant accomplishment for these students. Tamuri Namai said: “I feel very proud of myself and I’m sure that my family are very proud of me graduating. I’m the first in my family to graduate!” • Cape York Girl Academy had 20 students enrolled between July–December, as well as three babies in residence. Hospitality Practices students performed exceptionally well in their end of term assessments, by planning and creating a formal dining event
for staff and students to celebrate NAIDOC Week. Five students graduated from Year 12 in 2020, completing their secondary education journeys with either a QCE or Queensland Certificate of Achievement (QCIA).
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