Indigenous programs

Mapoon

PCYC Queensland’s innovative and collaborative approach with communities allows us to deliver physical, social and wellbeing activities that achieve sustainable outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Queensland.

Through our Indigenous Community Sport and Reconciliation Action Plan Recreation Program (ICSRP), indigenous programs, and our clubs in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander To support our vision for reconciliation communities we provide targeted and a reconciled Australia, PCYC support to build capacity for Queensland engaged in community people and communities who consultations statewide to better need it most. understand how we can show leadership in our communities, and what our communities expect from us as partners in reconciliation.

Napranum

Aurukun

Lockhart

Coen

Pormpuraaw

Mornington Island

Doomadgee Normanton Hopevale Cooktown

Wujal Wujal

Mossman Kuranda

Cairns West

Yarrabah

Mareeba Palm Island

East and West Townsville

Mt Isa

Zillmere Through extensive consultation we were able to capture our intentions and the communities’ expectations, and this year we are excited to launch our inaugural Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2021-2024.

Redlands

Logan

Bowen

Indigenous Clubs

Working in consultation with communities to build the capacity and ensure active participation of our First Nations people, our clubs in Aurukun, Mornington Island, Napranum, Palm Island, Woorabinda and Yarrabah work with key local stakeholders to plan, develop and deliver responsive sporting, recreational and cultural activities and programs that each community needs.

Mackay

Woorabinda

Programs that are key to supporting young people’s health and wellbeing include Youth Support Services, multi-sports programs, community events, cultural programs and holiday activities.

Bundaberg

Hervey Bay

Cherbourg This year with over $75,000 support from Rio

Tinto Weipa’s community development fund, PCYC Napranum was able to commence Braking the Cycle Changing Gears as a test case for remote areas, with the first participant already successfully gaining their driver’s licence through the program.

Waynead’s story

Returning to Aurukun in 2020, 20-year old Wik Mungkan Kugu and Muminh man Waynead Wolmby turned to PCYC Aurukun for support.

At the time I was studying in Brisbane through the support of the Indigenous Youth Mobility Pathways (IYMP) Project. But when our community went into lockdown due to the pandemic I had to return to Aurukun to be there for my family.”

“I am so grateful to the Youth Support Workers at PCYC Aurukun who got me access to a laptop and the internet and coached me to complete my Certificate IV in Youth Work Community Service.”

“Since completing my certificate I have gained employment at Aurukun State Primary School as a Teacher Aide and Student Mentor, and I have also achieved my driver’s licence.”

Recognising his resilience and potential as a young leader and mentor, PCYC Aurukun club manager Sergeant Chris Le Ray encouraged Waynead to participate in the Deadly Runners Program and to get involved in club activities.

In 2020 Waynead was awarded Young Person of the Year 2020 by Aurukun Shire Council and Role Model of the Year.

Now in 2021, Waynead has become one of only 14 young people selected for the prestigious Indigenous Marathon Program, to be involved in the six-month leadership program that uses running to change lives, and provides a sense of empowerment, purpose, and pride.

“I want to show the young people in Aurukun that anything is possible. I want to inspire them to chase their dreams.

Indigenous Community Sport and Recreation Program

83

activities

173,963

participation episodes

10,673 number of sessions

Deadly 3s

Coming alive for the sixth year, Deadly 3s is now the largest Indigenous 3x3 Basketball

Tournament in Australia.

With 140 players representing 16 communities, teams travelled from regional and remote communities across Far North

Queensland including Mareeba, Palm

Island, Cairns, Coen, Yarrabah and the

Torres Strait.

Patrick’s story

Coming from the Tudu Clan in the Central Islands of the Torres Straits, Patrick Thaiday, a former member of the Bangarra Dance Theatre, is now giving back to communities through dance.

My first recollection of PCYC Queensland was in the 80s at the Blue Light Discos. These events were a safe haven for youth to not only engage in conversations with one another and police but express their creativity in the illustrious dance competitions. I remember entering many of them and one time being judged by Molly Meldrum winning $1,000 for Best Dance! These events were a great initiative for bringing the community and police together and helped paved the way for me in pursuing a career in the Performing Arts Industry.

Now as an Indigenous Community Sport and Recreation Officer I can give back to community and incorporate dance into some of my Indigenous programs.

Seeing community members from all age groups actively involved and returning each week to participate in the programs gives me a sense of hope and pride. Dance can be physically challenging and contributes to a healthy body, mind, and spirit.

Some people do not consider dance to be a sport, however we train just as hard and use more muscles through movement than the most trained elite athletes! Dance is such an integral part of our culture and we connect to land, saltwater, freshwater and skies through ceremony, song, language.

To be able to deliver this through our Indigenous Programs in our community is so unique and such a privilege.

Au Esoau (Big Thanks).

Title

Wariganda Golf Tournament

Bringing together elders and young people, the Wariganda Golf Tournament saw 220 players come together from Mackay, Bowen, Burdekin, Townsville and Palm Island to create community connections and celebrate Reconciliation Week and MABO Day.

Catch Me If You Can Dalari Fast 5s Netball Tournament

Welcoming 121 girls aged from 11-14 from communities including Cairns, Mareeba, Mossman, Kuranda, Townsville and Cape York, the Dalari Fast5’s Netball Tournament held at PCYC Yarrabah increases participation of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls in sport and provides a positive event built on the foundations of fun and friendship.

Sprinting to new heights this year, Catch Me If You Can uses sport to develop and improve relationships between Indigenous school students and local police, allowing students and police officers to engage in a healthy environment to build positive, respectful relationships.

Running at PCYC Hervey Bay, PCYC South Burnett, PCYC Logan and PCYC Cairns, this innovative youth mentoring program engaged dozens of primary and high school students to break down barriers and form friendships with police mentors,

Arika’s story

Local North Queensland Gudjala woman Arika Appleby was among 33 young Queenslanders invited to participate in the 2020 Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (QIYLP). She continues to lead and mentor young people through PCYC Queensland Indigenous Programs.

To be selected to attend the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program was a huge honour and I was thrilled to meet a diverse range of attendees and collaborate on ideas on how to lead our own community projects and help drive improved outcomes in our local communities.

The program was incredibly valuable, and included intensive leadership workshops, mentoring and networking opportunities and career development opportunities to improve my leadership and self development skills.

One of the highlights was definitely the one-day Eric Deeral Indigenous Youth Parliament, giving us a true-to-life parliamentary debate, speech writing session and panel discussion on the importance of youth engaging with Parliament.

I was lucky enough to speak at Parliament House during this session and I mentioned my beautiful daughter Miss Sunny in my speech, and the important part my daughter will play in the development and future of Queensland.

I was pleased to support the motion of acknowledging First Nations cultures as I believe young Indigenous people should be provided with the opportunity to grow and prosper, where our culture and heritage is embraced.

It is about acknowledging the past, but more importantly acknowledging our future. A future where my daughter can fully embrace her culture whilst also influencing the wider community.

I learnt so much from the program and I was excited to take these learnings back to my community and implement ideas through my role as Indigenous Sport and Community Recreation Officer at PCYC Upper Ross. I am passionate about helping Indigenous people of all ages fulfil their potential, and I try to inspire them to take the lead in improving their active lifestyles, and benefit themselves, their communities, and their families.

I would like to acknowledge all the efforts made by the Indigenous Community Sport and Recreation Officers in Queensland.

We all face our own separate challenges within our communities whilst still managing to create engaging programs, which draw interest from the community members and stakeholders.

It is exciting to see all the different age demographics becoming involved in physical activity, particularly our children and Elders. Currently I have been running an Elders gym group which has seen nothing but success! With the support of our personal trainers, they are loving the opportunity to socialise with others as well as feeling fit and young again in the gym.

Our youth boxing program has taken off again at PCYC Upper Ross, which has the local community buzzing with excitement! It is a great opportunity for young members to let off some steam and learn some new skills in a safe and practical environment with the support of some amazing mentors and trainers. The boxing program has always been an integral part of PCYC Upper Ross, so we are excited to see its return.

The PCYC Indigenous Community Sport and Recreation Program has provided me the opportunity to grow professionally and to witness participants grow as they feel culturally safe and connected through working together with the community.