Mossman Gorge

OPPORTUNITIES

• Cape York Leaders Program • Homelands • Mayi Market • MPower • O-Hub • Pama Platform • Student Education Trust (SET) • Wise Buys

160,213 hectares of land between Mossman and Cooktown, inclusive of the Daintree National Park was returned to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people.

During September, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people took formal ownership of 160,213 hectares of land between Mossman and Cooktown, inclusive of the Daintree National Park. A ceremony was held in Bloomfield just north of Wujal Wujal, where the Queensland Government handed over the land to the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation on behalf of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji People. Although native title was established in 2007, the Traditional Owners wanted more involvement in the management of their land. After years of negotiation, the Daintree Rainforest joined other significant sites such as Uluru and Kakadu, where Traditional Owners are the custodians of the land. The return of bubu (Country) to Bama means today’s Traditional Owners can own their Country, manage their Country and protect their culture in their own way, as their ancestors did many generations before them. Lyn Johnson, Chair of the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, said that looking to the future, they plan to secure more blocks of Daintree rainforest and return them to Kuku Yalanji people. Mossman Gorge residents held the highest average age of MPower signups for the July–December period, with five new members joining between the ages of 32–54. This shows a willingness of residents to engage with their finances no matter their age. During the period there were 37 active plan cases with 34 partners. Cases included attorney enquiries, ABN and business startup enquiries, deceased estates, superannuation, debts and post-incarceration support. Mossman Gorge partners who completed MPower follow-up assessments showed improvements in financial knowledge and the ability to meet their family’s basic needs. Mossman Pama Platform members are the most active to date. During July, 13 Pama members laced up their runners and clocked up the kilometres for the Pama Platform Mossman Gorge Walking Challenge. Members tracked how far they walked or ran over the course of a month, and the highest-ranking members won a number of fabulous prizes. There were six winners in total who won prizes valued at up to $900.

There were 54 Mossman Gorge Pama members at the end of December, with six new members signing up between July–December. There were 54 Mossman Gorge Pama members at the end of December, with 31% of using the app to complete a budget by the end of December. Due to the high completion rate of Pama tasks and participation in Mossman Gorge’s walking challenge, Mossman Gorge members have the highest average number of Pama points earned to date by any community, with an average of 104 points per user. These points can be redeemed for rewards in the form of vouchers or as Opportunity Account credit. Homelands Mossman Gorge opened one new account for a family of three contributors.