eNewsletter - April 2022 - Gold Coast Multicultural Updates
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April Newsletter
IN THIS EDITION OF OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER:
What we got up to throughout Harmony Week
What's happening in the Ukraine
Southeast Queensland Floods - what do we do now?
Do I still have to isolate if I'm a close contact? - a breakdown of each state and territory
Unique Easter celebrations from all over the world
MCCGC's Cultural Atlas - Spotlight on India
Kakadu National Park handed back to Aboriginal traditional owners
...and so much more!
It is with a great sense of excitement and passion that I start in my role as CEO of Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast (MCCGC). I’m honoured to join MCCGC and a team that is committed to valuing culture, celebrating diversity, and advocating for people from multicultural backgrounds.
My family and I have lived on the Gold Coast for almost 30 years, and we are grateful to be part of such an exciting, vibrant, and diverse community. I understand that inclusive communities don’t just happen; they take hard work, commitment, and resilience in order to create a sense that everybody is welcome.
My vision and career commitment are for delivering excellence in human services, and influencing positive change through the application of ethical, accountable, and responsible leadership. I bring with me experience as a senior executive with qualifications in community education, counselling, business, and governance.
I am passionate about social justice, inclusion, and connecting communities and I am thankful to have the opportunity to lead the vision of the MCCGC Board and its members. I understand the importance of creating strong and respectful relationships and I look forward to connecting with you soon.
Warm regards,
Shane Klintworth
The federal election is coming up soon and we'd like to hear from you to better understand the important issues for our multicultural communities.
The Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia has put together a draft policy platform including a range of action areas to help advance multicultural Australia. Some of these include:
- A federal Office for Multiculturalism
- Establishing a First Nations Voice protected by the constitution
- An informed and resourced anti-racism strategy
- Overhaul of the Australian migration program for more fair, timely and transparent pathways to citizenship
- Equitable access and outcomes from government services
- More funding for multicultural community organisations
- Establishing a national working group on culturally and linguistically diverse data collection
- Digital literacy programs tailored to multicultural communities
- Increased language support including translations, interpreting and in-language and in-culture support and community engagement
- A language allowance model to remunerate bilingual aged care workers
- Multicultural workers' rights education plan
- Developing a multicultural-specific aged care navigator
- Reforming the NDIS to ensure equity of outcomes for multicultural people with disability
We'd like to know what matters to you for this election, please email advocacy@mccgc.com.au with your feedback!
We are excited to welcome our newest organisational members - Gold Coast Storms Sporting Club!
Gold Coast Storms Sporting Club was formed in 2011 by a handful of passionate members with a love of soccer. The club has welcomed many new members over the past 12 years, and are always looking to welcome more!
At Gold Coast Storms, they pride themselves on being inclusive and welcoming - all members are treated like family. The club has conducted an All Australian 7’s Malayalee tournament in 2021 and an All Australian Multicultural tournament in 2022. The club is in collaboration with Football Queensland and are currently offering free training sessions for kids from 4-13 years old.
The Gold Coast Storms also lends a hand to the community in various disasters.
Gold Coast Storms Achievements
· 2015 Dezire Cup CHAMPIONS
· 2015 IMA CHAMPIONS
· 2016 MAQ CHAMPIONS
· 2016 SIGNATURE CUP FUTSAL- RUNNERS UP
· 2014 MAQ- RUNNERS UP.
If you are interested in being involved, please contact Thomas on gcstormssportingclub@gmail.com or check out their Facebook page.
If you're keen to become an MCCGC member you can apply here.
We had such an incredible Harmony Week coming together to celebrate Australia's multicultural society whilst honouring our roots. Special thanks to our team organising for helping organise celebrations across the Gold Coast!
Day 1 - KICA Harmony Festival
We kicked off Harmony Week with Kusuma Indonesia Community Australia -KICA Harmony Festival.
Thank you Kusuma
Indonesia Community Australia -KICA for putting on such an incredible festival over the weekend to open Harmony Week 2022!
We learnt about different cultures, we danced, and we met some awesome people.
Look out for what we are getting up to this Harmony Week!
Day 2 - Harmony Day Citizenship Ceremony
We honoured Harmony Day's theme 'Everyone Belongs' by hosting an Australian Citizenship Ceremony.
We had 20 conferees from South Africa, Cuba, Iran, Brazil, Colombia, Philippines, New Zealand, Italy and Russian Federation proudly become Australian Citizens.
A big thank you for the support from the Australian Department of Home Affairs and City of Gold Coast for providing that Australian natives as gifts to our newest Australians.
Thanks to Goompi Ugerabah for beginning our afternoon with a smoking ceremony to recognise our First Nations and the original custodians of the Kombumerri country.
Cr. Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden Division 7 City of Gold Coast and Mirela Malin (Director of MCCGC) did a fantastic job presenting certificates and gifts - we thank you!
People from all around the world who have joined the Australian community are such an important part of our story as a multicultural society.
We loved celebrating Harmony Day with the students of Queensland Academy of Health Sciences. It was great to see the diverse cultural backgrounds of the students and share some fun activities together.
Day 3 - Meet, Greet, Eat
Our first MEET, GREET, EAT of 2022 AND it being Harmony Week meant great networking, informative presentations, and fabulous food!
The team from AEC came to chat about the voting process and the upcoming Federal election.
We got a sneak peak at ‘Code Noir’ a movie that bought together people from all over the world.
The Gold Coast Multicultural community informed us on current and future projects happening on a local level.
We also got some incredible entertainment all the way from Hungary and Cuba!
Day 4 - Gold Coast University Hospital
We had a pleasure of partnering with the Diversity and Inclusion Committee from Gold Coast University Hospital to host a Harmony Week celebration with the lovely ladies from Bahia Alegria Dance School
We had such an amazing morning full of dancing!
Day 5 - Respect World Cup and Coolangatta State School
We held the ‘Respect World Cup’ today for Harmony Week at Keebra Park State High School to celebrate the sport of soccer in all its cultural diversity
Congratulations to our young community for taking the lead in this initiative and well done to team Eritrea for taking out the win!
We celebrated Harmony Day with Coolangatta State School sharing Filipino and Cuban dance culture.
The students also collaborated on some amazing projects that celebrated identity, individualism, and our togetherness in one.
Day 6 - Carrara Community Centre
What a way to close Harmony Week!
We had a blast at the Carrara Community Centre celebrating Australia’s multicultural society whilst honouring our First Nations peoples.
Thanks for putting on a fantastic afternoon Anglicare Southern Queensland.
We want to hear from you!
Do you come from a culture that does not have a community group on the Gold Coast?
Are you part of a new cultural community group that needs support?
We would love to grow some of our group programs and identify new and emerging cultural groups that we can support within the community.
Please email advocacy@mccgc.com.au to find out how we can support you!
Meet Kyzzy - Work Towards
Work Towards is a free government funded program aimed at increasing employment opportunities for underemployed and unemployed refugees, migrants and international students. The Work Towards Employment Hub provides a one-stop-shop for you to get the support you need to enter the workforce with confidence and achieve your goals. It's a flexible program and we work with you one on one to provide tailored support based on your unique needs.
Kyzzy is our Work Towards Program Coordinator and was born in Brazil, but has also lived in Italy and England before Australia. Since Kyzzy was a little girl she planned on living in different countries. Her goal was to live in Italy and learn Italian, live in England and learn English, live in Spain and learn Spanish, and live in France and learn French. She achieved almost all her plans, she just ended up learning Spanish and French - not living there too. Go Kyzzy!
According to Kyzzy, she's found her place, where she loves to be, a place in the world where she can call home- Australia.
Kyzzy studied a Bachelor of International Business back in Brazil. She is a lover of traveling, Stand up Paddle boarding, and dancing to Brazilian and Latin music.
Kyzzy is looking forward to helping the community to gain knowledge, up-skilling and to connect them to the right employer to have better employment opportunities now and years to come.
If you want to have a chat to Kyzzy or our about the Work Towards program, you can contact her at kyzzyr@mccgc.com.au.
Website: https://www.mccgc.com.au/.../employment.../work-towards/
Flyer: https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/.../work_towards...
Our Work Towards program operates out of our Bay St, Southport office.
What assistance is available?
Grants of up to $75,000 are available for affected producers following South East Queensland Rainfall and Flooding to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, replace fencing and other costs associated with the recovery process. Producers should take photographs of the direct damage to accompany their application.
Applicants need to show they are an eligible primary producer, within the declared disaster area and demonstrate they have suffered direct impact from the disaster. Read below and the guidelines for more information.
Producers need to show they are an eligible primary producer, within the declared disaster area and demonstrate they have suffered direct impact from the disaster.
The maximum grant amount is $75,000 and is available through two applications:
- An initial amount of up to $15,000 is available to support an initial claim. Evidence of the direct damage is required such as photographs, quotations, tax invoices or official receipts.
- A subsequent amount of up to $60,000 is available to support subsequent claims for which full evidence of payment is required.
Complete applications are assessed in order of receipt and QRIDA may request further information to help assess an application.
Are you eligible?
To be eligible for an Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant, the applicant must:
- Be a primary producer;
- Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the eligible disaster;
- Have a primary production enterprise that is located in the defined area for the eligible disaster that has suffered direct damage as a result of the eligible disaster;
- Have been engaged in carrying on the primary production enterprise when affected by the eligible disaster;
- Be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application;
- For costs relating to 3.1 g) (v), (vi) and (vii) provide satisfactory evidence of the loss of damage; and
- Intend to re-establish the primary production enterprise in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster.
What's happening in the Ukraine?
What’s the latest, and is there any end in sight?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is entering its eighth week. Russian forces control some territory, particularly on Ukraine’s southern coastline. However, attempts to capture the two largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv, have been less successful.
Both sides say progress has been made in peace talks, but it is not yet obvious how or when the war will end.
Here’s a roundup of key events.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Says Ukraine Is Willing To Adopt ‘Neutrality’ To End The War
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told Russian journalists Ukraine is willing to discuss adopting a neutral status between the West and Russia to end the war. Neutrality would mean that Ukraine could not join the Western military alliance NATO.
Zelensky said the proposal would have to be approved by the Ukrainian people in a referendum. He ruled out discussing “demilitarisation”, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has listed as a demand.
In a lengthy interview with independent Russian media outlets, Zelensky, who spoke in Russian, said Ukraine would consider “security guarantees and neutrality [and] non-nuclear status of our state. We are ready to go for it. This is the most important point”.
Earlier this month, Zelensky said despite years of “an apparently open door” to join NATO it was clear the West was not following through on admitting Ukraine.
THE WAR CONTINUES
The comments come as Russia increases shelling on the western city of Lviv, which had previously been relatively free from attack. Ukrainian officials have also accused Russia of forcibly removing thousands of civilians from Mariupol, where residents have been exposed to heavy Russian attacks without access to water, electricity, or humanitarian aid.
The UK Ministry of Defence, which has been publishing regular updates on the conflict, says Russia now maintains a distant blockade of Ukraine’s entire coastline.
How to help
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has a emergency response for when violence erupts and disaster strikes. Having support from donors allows UNHCR to go straight into action. UNHCR is often first in and last out in a refugee crisis, able to have staff and supplies on the ground within 72 hours.
The UNHCR emergency response mechanisms include contingency planning, mobilising global stockpiles of relief items and the immediate deployment of teams and trained personnel.
Ukraine Crisis Appeal are a Nor-For-Profit that are a collaboration between the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO), Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) and Caritas Ukraine - is the largest Australian tax-deductible fundraising effort for Ukraine.
If it is an option for you, follow the link below to make a donation.
Yes you do. Here is a breakdown of each state and territory rules.
New South Wales
Who must isolate: Household contacts of a COVID case. Non-household contacts who spend a 'long time' indoors with a COVID case are also advised to isolate.
How long: 7 days
Exemptions: People who have recovered from COVID in the last 12 weeks and critical workers with no symptoms.
Victoria
Who must isolate: Anyone who spends more than four hours with a COVID case in a house, accommodation or care facility.
How long: 7 days
Exemptions: People wo have recovered from COVID in the last 8 weeks and critical workers with no symptoms.
Queensland
Who must isolate: Anyone who spends more than four hours with a COVID case in a house, accommodation or care facility.
How long: 7 days
Exemptions: People wo have recovered from COVID in the last 12 weeks and critical workers with no symptoms.
Western Australia
Who must isolate: Anyone who spends at least 15 minutes of face-to-face contact with a COVID case without masks, or more than two hours in a small room without masks.
How long: 7 days.
Exemptions: People who have recovered from COVID in the last 12 weeks and critical workers with no symptoms.
South Australia
Who must isolate: Anyone who spends more than four hours within 1.5 metres of a COVID case in an indoor setting with no mask.
How long: 7 days
Exemptions: People who have recovered from COVID in the last 12 weeks and critical workers with no symptoms.
Tasmania
Who must isolate: Anyone who spends more than four ours in a residential setting with a COVID case.
How long: 7 days
Exemptions: People who have recovered from COVID in the last 12 weeks and critical workers with no symptoms.
ACT
Who must isolate: Household contacts of a COVID case. Non-household contacts who spend a 'long time' with a COVID case are also advised to isolate.
How long: 7 days.
Exemptions: People who have recovered from COVID in the last 8 wees and critical workers with no symptoms.
Northern Territory
Who must isolate: Anyone who spends more than four hours in a residential setting eith a COVID case.
How long: 7 days
Exemptions: People who have recovered from COVID in the last 8 weeks and critical workers with no symptoms.
COVID-19 restrictions are easing for Queensland
From 1am Thursday 14 April, Queenslanders will no longer need to check-in or show vaccination status at venues and events.
There are still settings where people will need to be vaccinated, including:
Anyone visiting or working in vulnerable settings such as aged care, hospitals and disability services
Workers in high risk settings including schools, childcare, prisons and airports
For further information, visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/.../public-health-social-measures
Multicultural Families Organisation is encouraging the Gold Coast community to donate items to their office and will coordinate with other charities to arrange drop off in Lismore.
If you wish to help out with the clean up efforts in person you can contact Volunteering Gold Coast who have been arranging bus loads of volunteers for the past weeks to support the Lismore community.
Multicultural Families Organisation is located at 79 Scarborough St, Southport QLD 4215.
The recent floods through the east coast have impacted an area longer than the entire United Kingdom.
It's a big job, but GIVIT is here for the short, medium and long term recovery of each city, town and village. The team continue to work with charities and community groups on the ground to identify need and ensure that your generosity is providing real help for people who've lost their home, livelihoods and priceless memories..
How GIVIT helps...
- Individuals - people get in touch with an org near them givit.org.au/need-help/individuals
- Charities - register with GIVIT for free to begin requesting and accessing what's needed: givit.org.au/need-help/organisations/organisation-details
- People who want to give meaningfully - FUND or GIVE exact need online: givit.org.au/storms-and-flooding
To celebrate Harmony Day, Multicultural Affairs' Queensland want to hear how important an inclusive and united Queensland is to you.
By completing the Multicultural Queensland survey you can share your views about inclusion and living in Queensland.
Your responses will be used to help the Queensland Government address the needs of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Anyone over 18 years of age living in Queensland can have their say. https://bit.ly/3qr9lUx
Survey closes on Friday, 15 April 2022.
The AEC needs to employ over 100,000 people across the country to help deliver the 2022 federal election. Paid temporary roles are available before, on and after election day. Training is provided and no election experience is necessary.
COVID-19 safety measures will be in place at election workplaces to help protect you.
Find out more and register your interest today at www.aec.gov.au/electionjobs
Ramadan (Arabic: رَمَضَان, romanized: Ramaḍān [ra.ma.dˤaːn]), also spelled Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan or Ramathan, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), prayer, reflection and community. A commemoration of Muhammad's first revelation, the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
Fasting from dawn to sunset is fard (obligatory) for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, travelling, elderly, breastfeeding, diabetic, or menstruating.
The predawn meal is referred to as suhur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is called iftar. Although fatwas have been issued declaring that Muslims who live in regions with a midnight sun or polar night should follow the timetable of Mecca, it is common practice to follow the timetable of the closest country in which night can be distinguished from day.
The spiritual rewards (thawab) of fasting are believed to be multiplied during Ramadan. Accordingly, Muslims refrain not only from food and drink, but also tobacco products, sexual relations, and sinful behavior, devoting themselves instead to salat (prayer) and recitation of the Quran.
To learn more about Ramadan, click below.
From Easter egg traditions to chocolate bunnies to family gatherings, Easter is a major holiday for people all over the world. But despite the common ground at the center of the celebrations — Jesus rising from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion, death, and burial — not everyone around the world celebrates the holiday in the same way or with the same traditions.
Here's some unique traditions from all over the world!
Śmigus-dyngus in Poland
Be careful where you walk in Poland on Śmigus-dyngus (Easter Monday). You may be assailed with buckets, balloons, and pistols filled with water. Wear waterproof clothing or be prepared to get soaked. It’s believed the tradition dates back to fertility rituals, but today the holiday is just an excuse for the young and young-at-heart to join in a country-wide water fight.
Easter Festival in Antigua Guatemala
The Easter Festival in Antigua, Guatemala, is the largest Easter celebration in the world. It’s a week-long celebration during which the community commemorates the passion and crucifixion of Jesus by conducting somber processional marches, carrying floats with large sculptures of Jesus and Mary.
Sand and colored sawdust are painstakingly designed and laid in the streets in intricate patterns for the march to proceed over. On Easter Sunday, the city joyously celebrates the resurrection of Jesus with fireworks and the solemnity of the Lenten season is over.
Påskekrim in Norway
Norway celebrates Easter in a very unusual way: by reading and watching stories about crime (påskekrims). This “Easter crime” tradition is unique to Norwegians, as no other country around the world celebrates the sacred holiday by obsessing over mysteries, murders, and violence.
You’ll see more crime novels displayed in bookshop windows than chocolate bunnies and Easter scenes if you visit Norway around Easter time.
Fiery Easter traditions in Greece
Over 80 percent of the population of Greece belongs to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Accordingly, Easter holidays are sacred and celebrated with great devotion and fanfare, but differ in scope and tradition all over the country.
On the island of Spetses, for example, fireworks are set off from churches all over the island to mark the turn of midnight on the night of the resurrection, as Easter Saturday turns to Easter Sunday. (Fireworks are a common way for Orthodox Christians to celebrate, especially in Greece, but they’re usually set off on Easter Sunday.)
Bread arches of Italy
Easter festivities take place all over Italy, a country with deep religious roots and major historical significance in the Christian realm. Perhaps the most unique, however, takes place in Sicily. In San Biagio Platani, you’ll find a tradition called archi di pasqua — the bread arches of Easter — in which the citizens decorate the town’s main street with gigantic and elaborate archways, domes, bell towers, and other structures made of natural elements like breads, willow, fennel, asparagus, bay leaf, cereals, river reeds, rosemary, dates, and more to mimic the feel of the inside of a cathedral.
Semana Santa in Spain
During Semana Santa (“Holy Week”) in Spain, a variety of festivities and traditions take place in provinces all over the country. Perhaps the most elaborate, however, takes place in Andalusia, where the week leading up to Easter is alive with color, parades, and religious fervor.
This fervor is most notably demonstrated in the somber processions; sometimes these are flanked by penitents dressed in long robes and tall, pointed hoods (symbol of religious penitence), and sometimes this means floats with statues and other depictions of dramatic Biblical scenes, carried on the backs and shoulders of men and women of faith.
The Multicultural Queensland Awards recognise outstanding contributions to an inclusive and cohesive Queensland.
Now is the chance to celebrate your achievements or tag a well-deserving colleague or friend in the comments below and encourage them to submit a nomination for #MQA22.
The categories in this year’s awards are:
- Outstanding Contribution by a New Queenslander
- Diversity and Inclusion Champion
- Multicultural Sector Outstanding Achiever
Be quick as nominations close 1 May, 2022.
For more information or to apply visit: www.qld.gov.au/MQA
Our Bay Street office has officially opened a new Community Hub! We will be offering free weekly drop-in sessions with friendly support, translators and interpreters.
Monday 2-4pm: Tax information- Understanding tax and superannuation, applying for TFN and ABN.
Tuesday 2-5pm: Form Filling Support - Helping filling out rental applications, Centrelink forms, identification documents (currently excluding immigration forms).
Friday 2:30 - 5pm: Job Club - Help searching an applying for jobs, updating resume and cover letter + interview skills.
Address: 9 Bay Street Suite 204 Southport - Take the elevator to the second floor and go left until you see the MCCGC sign!
The schedule for Marcus Mission's April events is now available. Take a look at events near you and join any of their free BBQ's or resilience workshops for men.
Marcus Mission is a non-profit service of Wesley Mission Queensland offering free Resilience Building Workshops to help build skills, knowledge, confidence, and to empower men to reach out for support when times are tough.
If you or a loved one may be interested in any of these events, please contact Gay on 0427 863 658.
欢迎喜欢打羽毛球的朋友们加入我们大家庭一起打球
Australian Chinese Women's Federation welcomes all to come along to their weekly Badminton Family social games
They encourage their members to gain a greater sense of self in an Australian cultural context, with a strategy of social engagement and joyful interaction with team members of all ages, all nationalities and cultures.
Location
Tallebudgera Leisure Centre
1525 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
Sessions
Tuesday 6:30pm-8:30pm, Wednesday 11:00am-1:00pm, and Sunday 10:00am-12:00pm
Pay correct cash before play
$10 members or $12 for non-members.
Contact
0423 167 450 Gai
0434 128 923 Simon
Proof of vaccination must be presented.
Here at MCCGC, we get the honor of working with many diverse languages and cultures. We thought it was about time that we introduced some of our amazing community through MCCGC Cultural Atlas. The aim of this is for an educational resource on the cultural background of some of the Gold Coast's diverse cultures.
India is home to over a billion people, accommodating incredible cultural diversity between languages, geographic regions, religious traditions and social stratifications. In recognition of this large demographic diversity, the following descriptions are not intended to represent every Indian person. However, there are common themes and principles that contribute to the values, attitudes, beliefs and norms of the dominant society. Generally speaking, Indians tend to have a strong sense of pride in the distinctiveness and diversity of their culture
Greetings
- In many parts of India and during formal occasions, it is common for people to greet with the traditional Hindu greeting of “Namaste” (‘I greet the divine within you’). This is accompanied with a nod of the head or a bow depending on the status of the person you are greeting.
- A common gesture when greeting is pressing the palms together with the fingertips facing upwards (i.e. in a prayer position). This greeting is sometimes accompanied with a slight bow.
- Verbal greetings vary between regions and also differ depending on people’s relationships. For example, a common Gujarati greeting is “Kem cho” (‘How are you?’).
Religion
Religion has historically influenced Indian society on a political, cultural and economic level. There is a sense of pride associated with the country’s rich religious history as the traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism all emerged out of India. Moreover, while a majority of people in India identify as Hindu (79.8%), the medley of religions that exist within the country continually impact contemporary society.
Dates of Significance in India
- Pongal Festival (Varies each year, generally in mid-January)
- Republic Day (26th of January)
- Guru Ravidas’ Birthday (Varies each year, usually late January to early February)
- Dr B.R. Ambedkar's Birthday (14th of April)
- Guru Rabindranath’s Birthday (9th of May)
- Independence Day (15th of August)
- Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday (2nd of October)
- Maharishi Valmiki’s Birthday (October)
- Diwali (October or November)
Interested in learning more? Visit here for more on Indian culture.
Indian Community Of Gold Coast are hosting a Mother's Day dinner at the Hellenic Function Centre on May 2nd!
Book tickets here: www.trybooking.com/bymcr.
Kakadu National Park handed back to Aboriginal traditional owners in historic ceremony
Traditional owners in Kakadu are celebrating the formal handback of their ancestral lands following a ceremony in the heart of one of Australia's most iconic national parks.
The World Heritage-listed park was established in the 1970s but until 24th of March only half of the region had been returned to its traditional custodians.
The historic ceremony on the 24th of March at Cooinda, near the famous Yellow Water billabong, means the majority of the park is now in Aboriginal hands after the deeds of title were handed over to the newly recognised land holders.
"For too long there have been two classes of land in Kakadu National Park — Aboriginal land and other land 'subject to Aboriginal land claim'," Northern Land Council chairman Samuel Bush-Blanasi said.
"Today that has been fixed once and for all time."
He said the campaign for formal recognition began in 1977 when a federal inquiry into the Ranger uranium mine recommended the Alligator Rivers region that covers Kakadu be declared as Aboriginal land.
The handback includes around 10,000 square kilometres of land that is the traditional country of the Limilngan/Minitja, Murumburr, Gianduja, Yurlkmanj, Wurngomgu, Bolmo, Wurrkbarbar, Matjba, Uwinymil, Bunidj, Djindibi, Mirrar Gundjeihmi and Dadjbaku peoples.
Read more of the ABC news article here.
We're excited to be expanding our team across South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales and are looking for dedicated individuals to join us.
As part of our 2021-2024 Strategic Plan, we are recruiting a range of new positions and increasing service delivery across several areas to support more community members in the regions we serve.
- Care Advisor - Sunshine Coast - Full Time
- Home Care Worker Gold Coast – Casual
- Home Care Worker Tweed Shire – Casual
- Home Care Worker Sunshine Coast – Casual
- Home Care Worker Moreton – Casual
We look forward to your application!
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we operate, the Kombumerri people, the Gubbi Gubbi people, the Jinibara people, the Turrbal people, the Quandamooka people and the Bundjalung people. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging and extend our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and acknowledge their ongoing connection to land, sea, culture and community.
