Cape York Partnership

Cape York Partnership Cape York Partnership is an Indigenous policy reform and leadership organisation dedicated to empowering Cape York Indigenous people.

Cape York Partnership pursues Indigenous empowerment. The long hand of government intervention in the lives of Indigenous people has too often smothered Indigenous initiative, leadership and responsibility. Cape York Partnership is an Indigenous organisation that has stood up to lead a comprehensive reform agenda to turn this on its head. We want to ensure that Indigenous rights and responsibility

exist in proper balance, and Indigenous people are truly enabled to be the masters of their own exciting destinies. Cape York Partnership believes economic engagement is central to individual and social wellbeing. To that end, we partner with governments, corporates and philanthropists to encourage the emergence of a prosperous yet distinctly Indigenous people, whose children can orbit between communities and the Australian and global world and enjoy the best of both. Our touchstone is our partnership with individuals, families and communities as they strive for lives of value, freedom and prosperity. We believe in the potential of all people. We place our children’s rights to a better future at the forefront. Above all, Cape York Partnership takes, and expects from our partners, responsibility for leading positive change. The guiding light of Cape York Partnership is the Cape York Agenda. The aspirations of Cape York people became the Cape York Agenda:
• Rebuild social norms
• Restore Indigenous authority
• Address the welfare pedestal through changing the incentive
• Support engagement in the real economy
• Move from welfare housing to home ownership
• Enable children to make full use of their talents, creativity and to enjoy the best of both worlds

To learn more visit www.capeyorkpartnership.org

Lu landhi chwe muraanyi, lu ənduwidthi Tradha. Lu lanthi Tjungundjimi, Mapoonmu.A long time ago, there was a very beauti...
02/09/2026

Lu landhi chwe muraanyi, lu ənduwidthi Tradha. Lu lanthi Tjungundjimi, Mapoonmu.

A long time ago, there was a very beautiful girl named Tradha. She was a Tjungundji girl from Mapoon.

These are the opening lines of Tradha, the first text published in Tjungundji and a traditional creation story told and illustrated by Tjungundji Elder Lottie Luff.

What better way to celebrate Indigenous Literacy Day than by sharing a First Nations story in a First Nations language, carrying knowledge that has been passed through generations.

For Lottie, the story also carries a deep connection to Mapoon and her family. Lottie and her family were forcibly removed from Mapoon in 1963, and she has spoken about the importance of sharing the creation story passed down through her mother, aunt, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Through Pama Languages Press, our Pama Language Centre team is helping strengthen First Nations language literacy by publishing texts in First Nations languages.

Tradha is one of three Pama Languages Press titles included in the IBBY UNESCO list of Remarkable Books for Young Readers in Indigenous and Endangered Languages, alongside Biniirr Bama Yuwalin by Lillian Bowen and the Mpakwithi Songs on Country Song Book.

Through books like these, our team is helping create opportunities for First Nations languages to be read, shared and passed on to future generations.

This Indigenous Literacy Day, we celebrate the Elders, speakers, storytellers, artists and families keeping language and cultural knowledge strong. ❤️

Exploring future careers through real-world experience. 🩺Our School to Jobs students Jaykitta and Sharmylli-Arnah recent...
27/08/2026

Exploring future careers through real-world experience. 🩺

Our School to Jobs students Jaykitta and Sharmylli-Arnah recently spent three days with Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services Aboriginal Corporation, gaining valuable workplace experience and a closer look at careers in the health sector.

With Jaykitta aspiring to become a nurse and Sharmylli-Arnah interested in becoming a paramedic, the experience gave them the opportunity to learn more about the day-to-day realities of working in health while building confidence for their next steps after school.

Through our School to Jobs program, we connect young people with practical workplace experiences that help them explore their interests, learn from employers and start turning career goals into clear pathways.

A big thank you to Gurriny Health for supporting Jaykitta and Sharmylli-Arnah as they explored where their futures could take them. 👏

A proud celebration of culture, connection and confidence at Peace Lutheran College. ❤️💛🖤Our Cape York Leaders Program s...
26/08/2026

A proud celebration of culture, connection and confidence at Peace Lutheran College. ❤️💛🖤

Our Cape York Leaders Program students Edna, Dallas and Rhaeola recently took part in the College’s 50-Year NAIDOC Celebration, sharing a special song and dance performance with parents, teachers and fellow students.

Taught by members of the Coen community, the performance gave the students an opportunity to proudly share their culture and talents with their school community.

Their confidence and enthusiasm shone throughout the celebration, with our Cape York Leaders Program team there to support them and capture some special moments along the way.

We’re proud to see Edna, Dallas and Rhaeola embracing opportunities to celebrate culture, strengthen connection and share their pride with others.

Well done, Edna, Dallas and Rhaeola.

Sometimes the biggest milestone is recognising just how far you’ve come. 💭For our Ngak Min Health nurse Jayrahni Nicholl...
25/08/2026

Sometimes the biggest milestone is recognising just how far you’ve come. 💭

For our Ngak Min Health nurse Jayrahni Nicholls, that moment was being able to say with confidence: “I’m a nurse.” 🩺

In Part 3 of her story, Jayrahni reflects on moving beyond self-doubt, recognising what she had achieved and taking ownership of the qualification she worked so hard to earn.

Her journey is a reminder that achievement is not only about reaching a goal. Sometimes it is also about having the confidence to recognise your own capability and say, “I did it.”

We are proud to have Jayrahni as part of our Ngak Min Health team and to share the story behind the nurse she has become. 💙

Read Part 3 of Jayrahni’s story, I Did It Myself: Where the People Are – Part 3: I Did It Myself - Cape York Partnership

Hands-on experience and a valuable opportunity to explore future career pathways. 👏Our School to Jobs student Elson rece...
25/08/2026

Hands-on experience and a valuable opportunity to explore future career pathways. 👏

Our School to Jobs student Elson recently completed two days of work experience with Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ), spending time with the Business Development team and assisting with the design of a new store.

Practical experiences like this help young people build confidence, develop professional skills and gain a clearer understanding of the different pathways available beyond school.

Through our School to Jobs program, we connect young people with employers and real workplace experiences that support their transition into earning or learning.

A big thank you to CEQ for giving Elson the opportunity to get involved, contribute and learn firsthand in the workplace. We’re proud to see him taking another positive step towards his future.

Congratulations to all the winners of the 2026 Queensland Social Enterprise Awards hosted by Queensland Social Enterpris...
24/08/2026

Congratulations to all the winners of the 2026 Queensland Social Enterprise Awards hosted by Queensland Social Enterprise Council! 👏

It was fantastic to see Queensland’s social enterprise sector come together to celebrate organisations and people using business to create meaningful social, cultural and environmental impact.

We were especially proud to celebrate WV Technologies, winner of the Indigenous Social Enterprise of the Year Award, a category proudly sponsored by Cape York Partnership.

WV Technologies is a First Nations-owned business demonstrating the important role Indigenous enterprise can play in creating economic participation, innovation and positive community impact.

Congratulations to the WV Technologies team and to every winner and finalist recognised on the night. Your work is helping demonstrate what purpose-led enterprise can achieve across Queensland.

Culture, connection and confidence in action. ❤️💛🖤We’re proud to celebrate our Cape York Leaders Program student Brodie,...
24/08/2026

Culture, connection and confidence in action. ❤️💛🖤

We’re proud to celebrate our Cape York Leaders Program student Brodie, who recently took part in the St Teresa's College, Abergowrie NAIDOC Celebrations.

Brodie performed as part of a cultural dance troupe bringing together students from three different communities, including his home community of Pormpuraaw. Through dance, he shared his culture with pride and confidence alongside his fellow students.

The celebrations also featured First Nations art, traditional instruments and food, creating an opportunity for the school community to come together, learn and celebrate the strength and diversity of First Nations cultures.

Experiences like these are an important part of supporting our students to stay connected to culture and community as they grow in confidence and leadership.

Well done, Brodie. We’re proud to see you representing your community and culture with pride.

A personal goal with a generous community impact. 💙An anonymous Personal Saver holder from Mossman Gorge recently reache...
21/08/2026

A personal goal with a generous community impact. 💙

An anonymous Personal Saver holder from Mossman Gorge recently reached a meaningful goal, purchasing new industrial cleaning equipment to donate to BBN Aboriginal Corporation. 🙌

With BBN’s previous equipment no longer working, the donation was put to use straight away. Bryson and Aiden thanked the donor for their generosity before getting to work cleaning the O-Hub driveway. 💦

It’s a great example of how our Personal Saver Opportunity Product can help people work towards goals that matter to them, including goals that give back to their community.

Have a goal you’d like to work towards? Yarn with our O-Hub team about Personal Saver. ⭐

Trust cannot be rushed. It is built over time, through listening, connection and showing people they are understood. 💙Fo...
20/08/2026

Trust cannot be rushed. It is built over time, through listening, connection and showing people they are understood. 💙

For Ngak Min Health nurse Jayrahni Nicholls, some of the most important lessons in healthcare came from watching, listening and doing.

At a Cairns clinic, Aboriginal Health Worker Aunty Desley would show Jayrahni something once, then step back and give her the opportunity to try. From her dad, she learned another lesson: how to move through a room with ease, connect naturally and help people feel comfortable.

Today, working in primary health care, Jayrahni carries those lessons with her. She talks about reading a room before a word is spoken, adapting how she communicates to the person in front of her and using small, personal touches to help build connection.

Through our Ngak Min Health team, this kind of relationship-based care is part of creating healthcare experiences where people can feel comfortable, respected and heard.

Because good care is not only about clinical knowledge. It is also about relationships, communication and taking the time to build trust. 💙

Read Part 2 of Jayrahni’s story, The Craft of Care: https://capeyorkpartnership.org.au/where-the-people-are-part-2-the-craft-of-care/

A powerful piece of Cape York history has found a new home. 🎨Dr David Hawke, former Queensland University of Technology ...
20/08/2026

A powerful piece of Cape York history has found a new home. 🎨

Dr David Hawke, former Queensland University of Technology Associate Professor of Visual Arts, has gifted a collection of paintings to Cape York Group inspired by the young Indigenous men who helped bring an innovative remote housing project to life.

The works capture a chapter of the Djarragun College House Project, where senior students took part in constructing an open-breezeway designed home in just 21 days.

For Dr Hawke, who was involved in the development of rapid-assembly housing systems for remote Indigenous communities, the experience left a lasting impression.

“The paintings are not only an attempt to capture the young men on the job,” Dr Hawke said. “I hope they are also symbolic of optimism and a future.”

The paintings are a reminder of what can happen when practical learning, community knowledge, good design and young people’s capability come together. 💙

We are grateful to Dr Hawke for this meaningful gift and for preserving an important moment in the story of young Indigenous people building skills, confidence and futures.

Address

310 Sheridan Street
Cairns, QLD
4870

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Cape York Partnership posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Cape York Partnership:

Shortcuts

Share