The State Library of Queensland offers a free, play-based program to support Queensland families to connect, talk, read, sing and play with their babies and young children in the first 5 years. First 5 Forever is an early literacy program delivered by public libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres with the primary aim of providing strong early literacy foundations and supporting healthy brain development for all Queensland children aged 0-5 years.
At State Library, this program is delivered in a dedicated space for little ones and their caregivers known as ‘The Corner’. This year, the Corner underwent a full transformation, supported by a Connected grant from the TFFF and an excellent campaign advisory committee that included Gina Fairfax AC. The new look Corner has been purposefully designed to be playful and to create opportunities for imagination, connection, and learning. It has a variety of different spaces, a dedicated art studio, giant building blocks and nooks for books and imaginative play, and a sensory garden to explore outdoors. It has been designed with positive early childhood development at the centre.
Tim Fairfax AC, Gina Fairfax AC, and Senior Program Manager Katie Norman attended the celebration of the new Corner on 9 April 2026 and were pleased to see the enthusiastic engagement of children and their families on the day.
The Family Place is a beloved space in Logan, with families attending playgroups, dropping in for a casual visit and cuppa, or attending any number of social activities. It serves not only as a drop-in, play-based centre for families, but also as a soft entry point for parents, grandparents, and other caregivers to access services for themselves and their children, particularly when it comes to parenting support and child development. Part of the success of the centre has been the longevity of its operations, its central and easy to access location, and its proximity to other facilities, which will soon include a Deadly Kindy next door.
Originally utilised as a community kindergarten in the early 1970s, The Family Place became what is now celebrated for its community and social service when the Salvation Army leased the site from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) in 2014. VFFF and The Family Place are undertaking a major capital works project, and a 10-year lease is in place to ensure this investment will benefit the Woodridge/Logan community for many years to come.
Ningana Trust provided The Family Place with a grant to construct a new play fort in the outdoor area. The bespoke play fort was designed as part of The Family Place outdoor masterplan and made from materials selected for their durability and natural aesthetic. The fort is also designed to harness the imagination of children, foster peer interactions, enable risk taking, and support the development of cognitive and motor skills.
Ningana Trust staff attended the community open day to celebrate the refurbished Family Place on 17 April 2026, and were delighted to connect with The Family Place staff and see just how much the centre means to the community.
Although the centre has only been open for a few weeks, anecdotal feedback from families is extremely positive. One attendee commented that she never thought that such a high-quality facility would be located in a community like Woodridge.
The quality of the overall redevelopment, including the Ningana-funded play fort, is attracting new families that need support but historically were not accessing the free services available. It is also attracting interest from new community service providers and consulting rooms are booking out.
Cover photo: Lucy Coulson, Tim Fairfax AC, Gina Fairfax AC, and Neal Harvey with the new play fort at The Family Place.
The Corner at the State Library of Queensland was supported by TFFF through the Connected funding stream.
The Family Place is supported by Ningana Trust.
Millmerran is a small farming town located on the western fringe of Darling Downs. It is one of the largest egg producing regions in Australia and the site of a critical power station for the surrounding area. Higher than average employment opportunities and a lower cost of living have attracted new residents to the region over recent years – many of them families with children.
While the number of young people in the town has steadily risen, suitable activities to engage these young people were not keeping pace with this growth. This growing cohort of disengaged and bored youths was beginning to create antisocial activities for themselves and in doing so creating a raft of wider problems for the community.
To address this emergent issue, The Millmerran Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA) was founded. Created to engage, enrich, and inspire students to reach for their potential, MAPA commenced providing music and dance education workshops, training, and events.
MAPA successfully applied for a Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal Strengthening Rural Communities Grant of $10,000 to increase the number of opportunities provided and reduce accessibility barriers for vulnerable community members. The funds subsidised education, dance and choral workshops whilst providing costumes and props for performances and events.
MAPA’s newly accessible choir now boasts a minimum of 15 members at each meet, including adults and young people singing alongside one another. Regular dance classes are offered for tiny tots and seniors with more advanced workshops focusing on contemporary, ballet, and jazz. There are now 32 children aged 2-15 years enrolled across these programs. Participants have performed at various race days, festivals, and concerts which as improved their skills and confidence. The Halloween Disco and 2024 Christmas concerts were particular highlights of the annual program of activity.
Impact outcomes of this initiative include participants’ increased self-esteem and improved feelings of connection within the community. This has resulted in improved mental health and a reduction in isolation and school refusal.
“We have had teenagers whose parents have been so concerned about their isolation and battles with mental health confide of their kids struggles and tell us how they have found safety in our classes, expressing themselves in dance, sharing and creating through movement and growing in friendship and confidence”
“We have walked alongside youth and their families as they have struggled battles with mental health and rural isolation - some even requiring hospitalisation. We provide a safe place with programs designed to support opportunities for mental well-being, growth, confidence, value and self-esteem.”
“We offer opportunities for older students to mentor younger ones, not only increasing their confidence amongst peers but giving them a sense of purpose, belief and greater value to their community.”
Natasha Hollis – MAPA President
One student has found so much joy in helping others that she would like to become an exercise physiologist for dancers - we currently are connecting her with mentors who can assist in supporting her journey so that she can successfully finish her schooling and achieve her goals.
– Natasha Hollis, MAPA President
Cover photo: The Milmerran Academy of Performing Arts at the Goondiwindi Apex Eisteddfod.
All photos courtesy of FRRR and the Millmerran Academy of Performing Arts.
Case study from the FRRR in 2024.
The TFFF thanks the Millmerran Academy of Performing Arts for providing permission to reproduce this story.
The Millmerran Academy of Performing Arts was supported through the Connectedness stream in partnership with FRRR.
FY25 saw the TFFF distribute $8.096 million to 43 for-purpose organisations through values-based philanthropy. This included the commencement of three nine-year funding agreements in a new strategic partnership program – the terms of which may constitute a first for Australia’s arts sector – reflecting the Foundation’s belief that long-term, trust-based partnerships enable organisations to focus on their mission with clarity and stability.
The TFFF has long recognised the significance of the work carried out by Indigenous-led organisations in Australia, and the importance of listening deeply to Traditional Owners, amplifying their voices, and supporting their solutions for meaningful change on their own terms. In FY25, the TFFF supported 27 First Nations-led organisations, distributing a total of $3.36M to First Nations leaders, organisations, and projects.
We would like to extend sincere thanks to TFFF Trustees Tim Fairfax AC, Gina Fairfax AC and Jim Peterson, and Advisors Sarah O’Brien, Lucy Coulson, Fiona Poschelk, and Prue Pateras for their commitment to the work of the Foundation. Above all, we thank the for-purpose sector leaders, staff, and volunteers who give their time, energy, and passion to build stronger, happier, healthier, and more inclusive communities. Your work inspires ours.
View the full 2024-2025 Annual Report here.
Cover photo: Lighting the Dark Brisbane Festival Premiere Season - Chris Dyke and the Dancenorth Ensemble. Image: David Kelly 2024, courtesy of Dancenorth.
Palm Island (Bwgcolman) lies north of Townsville, off the east coast of Northern Queensland. The mostly First Nations community experiences chronic social and economic disadvantage, the ongoing impact of historical factors and events, discrimination and lack of support in the justice system and lack of access to (or ineffective) diversionary programs.
The Palm Island Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) was established in 2004, and works closely with the Indigenous Programs Development Unit, government agencies, community organisations and members to provide a range of programs that respond to issues faced by the community. The PCYC is well placed to partner with sporting and other local organisations to provide access to sporting and recreational opportunity for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as they are one of the only positive and neutral organisations where people can safely engage in positive and healthy ways.
Following extensive interactions and consultations within the community, PCYC Palm Island, in partnership with Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA), delivered a 3×3 Street Hustle basketball tournament within the Palm Island community. The aim was to support physical and mental health, encourage community connection, achievement, pride and wellbeing in one of the most vulnerable communities of Australia. The tournament provided a platform for people of all ages, particularly young people, to participate in an organised and nationally endorsed tournament. It also contributed towards closing the gap for people on the remote Palm Island. Participants received online player profiles and rankings, providing them with the foundation to move on to additional tournaments.
In addition, PCYC Palm Island partnered with IBA to deliver school-based basketball development clinics with the two schools on Palm Island. This allowed young people to experience invaluable mentoring interactions with Joel Khalu (Basketball Queensland, IBA, and NBL Mackay Meteors coach) and Australian Olympian Annie Le Fleur (FIBA, WNBL, WNBA, Australian Women’s Team and Olympian). In total 441 students (231 girls, 210 boys) participated in the three coaching clinics, and 96 children and 48 adults competed in the Community 3×3 Basketball Street Hustle competition.
Despite experiencing a series of delays due to COVID and staffing issues, Phil Schulz, CEO of PCYC Palm Island, said that the program provided a foundation from which young people can build as they move on to greater challenges in sport and in life. It also provided community members with much needed social connection opportunities and the ability to participate in an activity that supports physical as well as mental wellbeing. This was all made possible thanks to a $10,000 Small & Vital grant from FRRR’s Strengthening Rural Communities program, funded by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation.
It was fantastic to get such quality mentors to deliver our program, and the kids were extremely engaged and excited to be involved to learn new skills. The competitions held were excellent in bringing the community together.
Having such terrific mentors as Joel Khalu and Annie Le Fleur delivering this program with an extraordinary high level of passion and enthusiasm [was amazing]. They took the time to make sure all the kids got involved to realise levels of potential they possessed. Feedback from both schools was excellent with both requesting this become a yearly interaction.
Importantly, the program also enhanced Palm Island PCYC’s relationships within the community and its ability to provide support and programming for young people, improve community partnerships and enhance the capacity of young people to participate in and lead future programs.
- Phil Schulz, CEO, PCYC Palm Island
Take a look at the kids in action and listen to how the Basketball Queensland Indigenous Pathways Program (BQIPP) is making a positive impact on the local community!
Cover photo: A basketball game at the PCYC.
All photos courtesy of FRRR and the Palm Island Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC).
Originally written and published by FRRR on 26 July 2022.
The TFFF thanks the Palm Island Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) for providing permission to reproduce this story.
The Palm Island Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) was supported through the Connectedness stream in partnership with FRRR.
Eastern Arrernte Country
Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School (LACS) is one of the most successful remote Aboriginal schools in central Australia and the NT. It is the only school serving the 600-strong community of Ltyentye Apurte (pronounced ‘L-Ginga Porter’, meaning ‘clump of beefwood trees’ in the Arrernte language) or Santa Teresa. A number of the facilities at LACS are communal, notably the library and computers. The community is 83 km south east of Alice Springs in semi-desert country. Temperatures are extreme, ranging from -1 to 45 degrees but there is year-round access via an unsealed road.
The local Arrernte people are bilingual and speak Eastern Arrernte and English (which is often their second or third language). The Arrernte language and cultural program is a key part of the curriculum at LACS.
In Santa Teresa, extreme socio-economic disadvantage is the norm, with residents and the school facing many challenges, notably extremely poor housing and health, high unemployment with minimal employment opportunities, adults suffering from poor mental health and a high number of students suffering from intergenerational trauma. Remote schools in general have a major issue with teacher retention due to the complex challenges of students and their families. The average stay of a teacher in NT schools is 7 months; 9 months in catholic schools. Existing senior staff frequently work 80 hour weeks, regularly wearing multiple hats in part due to a lack of teachers.
According to the Principal at the time, the future of Santa Teresa depends to a great extent on the school providing the optimal best education for Santa Teresa youth: “To make the remote community of Santa Teresa strong, we must make its school strong.”
In 2022, there were 126 students enrolled, from Pre-School to Year 11. All students are Indigenous and bilingual. Most of the teachers at LACS are non-Indigenous and come with a range of experience from mainstream education. The school is also a major employer of the local Arrernte people, with approximately 60% of Indigenous staff filling a multitude of critical support roles. Teachers work as members of a team in partnership with local Indigenous people and Arrernte assistant teachers and tutors.
Isolation and the challenges of living and working in a community context mean that staff need all the support they can get in terms of building resilience. Ongoing change is the norm, with 2020 and 2021 seeing even higher levels of change and uncertainty. There is often a significant turnover of new staff, which presents additional challenges to building trust and a resilient community.
The impacts of these factors are substantial, including very high levels of stress, distraction from the mission of educating students, lower engagement, uncertainty about the future, change fatigue, staff burnout, talent loss and lower trust in leaders.
To try to address this, the Principal at the time knew they needed to help teachers and staff build resilience, sustainable high performance and change agility. They used a $10,000 grant from FRRR, through the Strengthening Rural Communities program, funded by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, to run the Resilient Educators Program (REP).
The REP began with all teachers completing a Resilience Diagnostic, prior to a two-day workshop. The Diagnostic measured individual resilience in areas such as emotional regulation, self-confidence, compassion, exercise, sleep and nutrition. Staff then participated in a two-day workshop, facilitated by Paul Salmon, called “Thriving Through Change and Challenge”. Each staff member created three goals to help improve their resilience and the option of having an accountability buddy or sessions with a resilience coach to support them in reaching their goals.
After the workshop, the teachers were given access to an app, which provided a detailed resilience report and materials to develop new skills. They also committed to participating in a range of activities in smaller groups and with the whole staff community, such as an evening walking group, weekend trips away and a regular BBQ breakfast. This was followed up with a visit from the Resilience coach, which led to three shared goals being created.
Despite challenges in rolling this out due to the pandemic and its subsequent impacts, staff collaborated to implement wellbeing activities based on their learnings from the workshops and the ongoing use of the Resilience App. They continue to come together as a community to support one another in challenging times.
The outcome has been an improvement on the health and wellbeing of the whole community.
“All staff became more aware of the importance of resilience and the necessity to plan for how to manage stress and cope with the added burden of the pandemic. There is also a greater understanding by leadership of the necessity to prioritise staff wellbeing through strategic planning using an integrated holistic approach,” said Pamela Brown, Acting Principal.
“It has become part of our school culture for staff to check in with each other on how they are travelling, especially concerning sleep, exercise and levels of stress. It is now becoming part of our meetings to start with a partner check in or short meditation activity. We introduced a new wellbeing curriculum program, MindUp for Life, which not only teaches the knowledge and skills children need to regulate their stress and emotion but also supports teachers in building positive relationships with students and the broader community."
“There is a more holistic focus on wellbeing and resilience with an area created in the staffroom where staff relax and do mindful colouring. Plus, there are opportunities for staff to publicly acknowledge and show gratitude for effort, and pampering products for staff in our rest rooms.”
Staff participating in the Resilient Educators Program.
Cover photo: Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School.
All photos courtesy of FRRR and Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School.
Originally written and published by FRRR on 10 November 2022.
The TFFF thanks Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School for providing permission to reproduce this story.
Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School is supported through the Connectedness stream in partnership with FRRR.
Djiru Country
In far north Queensland, 150 km south of Cairns, the Mission Beach Historical Society (MBHS) is a fledgling association – two years young and dreaming big.
Last month FRRR’s QLD programs manager visited the MBHS and invited them to write a story to let everyone know about their great work to curate a historical photographic exhibition.
Before the advent of the MBHS in late 2020, Mission Beach had no effective means of making histories and images easily accessible to residents and visitors of this region.
For the two last years, MBHS members have captured and documented some of the Mission Beach histories, having made a bright start with that endeavour. The society’s growing challenge was to find effective ways to share and exhibit MBHS collections. Being without a museum or a building, MBHS relies heavily on online presence and displays. Despite such hurdles, a range of interesting and innovative projects have been undertaken. One of these projects was to present a photographic exhibition.
In 2022, MBHS partnered with Community for Coastal & Cassowary Conservation Inc to receive an $8,925 Strengthening Rural Communities grant, funded by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, to develop a photographic exhibition ‘Echo of the Past – Historical photographs from Mission Beach, 1890s – 1950s’ and present a series of historical photographs and Djiru cultural objects – coinciding with the anniversary of the 1918 cyclone which devastated the area.
The exhibition project aimed to facilitate cultural connection and transmission of culture of and with Traditional Owners through community engagement, cultural expression and on Country experiences.
The exhibition project was led by MBHS president, Dr Valerie Boll, anthropologist and curator, who worked with Djiru Traditional Owner, Elder and artist Leonard Andy and the Warrangburra Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC – PBC, to source and document Djiru history and photographs. Mission Beach residents were also able to bring in old photographs to be scanned and used to illustrate stories that had been researched by MBHS members. The provided material was then collated.
An enthusiastic crowd gathered on 10 March for the opening of the exhibition ‘Echo of the Past’, at the Art Print Frame Gallery and was enjoyed by the wider community until the exhibition closed in April.
A smaller version of the show was displayed at the Mission Beach library, and the exhibition was also shown at other locations in the region for the rest of the year.
Opening of the Echo of the Past exhibition. Photo credit J. Larson.
Cover photo: Valerie Boll and Leonard Andy preparing the exhibition.
All photos courtesy of FRRR and the Mission Beach Historical Society.
Originally written by the Mission Beach Historical Society for publication by FRRR on 24 April 2023.
The TFFF thanks the Mission Beach Historical Society and Community for Coastal & Cassowary Conservation Inc for providing permission to reproduce this story.
The Mission Beach Historical Society is supported through the Connectedness stream in partnership with FRRR.
Iningai Country
For years, Central Western Queensland has been heavily impacted by the economic, environmental, and social effects of a prolonged drought. Topology, a grassroots community arts organisation, decided to tackle these impacts and empower their communities with music and performance.
Topology’s goal is to build the creative capacity of their participants and to help increase social connectedness through much needed community-based and intergenerational events. And that’s exactly what they achieved when they launched Top Up Central Western Queensland. This initiative consisted of a series of 12 workshops and a four-day creative bootcamp that culminated in a free community performance in Longreach, which was attended by 2,000 people.
Through [FRRR's] Tackling Tough Times Together program, Topology received a grant of $10,000, funded by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, as well as separate funding through the Building Better Regions Fund. This money paid the local artists who hosted workshops, as well as covering venue hire and event costs.
One of the things we are most proud of is seeing people of all ages, some with no previous experience of the arts, learn about their own potential for creativity – and to perform in public a new piece they have written and contributed to themselves. The feelings of self-accomplishment and pride achieved by the participants is a real and invaluable outcome of this program.
- The Topology team
The program was also the catalyst for Topology consulting with the community on the development of a Regional Creative Hub (RCH). This hub will have lasting impacts for local communities, as it will help to support and upskill rural creative practitioners and community arts organisations.
Top Up Central Western Queensland empowered, educated, and inspired the community to create, perform and tell their stories, while celebrating their community. It was a much-needed reminder of their resilience and their ability to thrive through tough times together.
This mini-documentary showcases some of the highlights from Topology’s Creative Boot Camp which took place in Longreach, QLD in September 2019. This video features a number of young musicians from across the Central Western QLD region alongside Topology’s Creative Tutors.
All photos courtesy of Topology.
Originally written and published by FRRR on 30 September 2021.
The TFFF thanks Topology Inc for providing permission to reproduce this story.
Topology is supported through the Connectedness stream in partnership with FRRR.
The TFFF has long recognised the significance of the work carried out by Indigenous-led organisations in Australia, and the importance of listening deeply to Traditional Owners, amplifying their voices, and supporting their solutions for meaningful change on their own terms.
At a moment of conversation throughout Australia, we felt it important to use our platform to cast a spotlight on the remarkable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and people with whom the TFFF has a relationship, and the transformative work being carried out by those who lead the way toward positive change.
Throughout our 2022-2023 Annual Report, we have identified Indigenous-led organisations or agreements where TFFF funding has directly enabled the employment of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. In total, the TFFF made 27 distributions in support of First Nations people and communities in 2023, and 16 of the 40 organisations partnered with were Indigenous-led.
37% of total funding in the past 12 months was directed to First Nations organisations, initiatives, or projects, with a total of $3.4M allocated to Indigenous led organisations and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wages.
The Annual Report also highlights three partner organisations led by or working with First Nations members to enact change:
The MJD Foundation is a grassroots, Aboriginal-controlled organisation that partners with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities to support families living with Machado-Joseph Disease (MJD) and Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7 (SCA7).
MJD is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease found worldwide, with a higher prevalence among Aboriginal people with genetic ties to northeast Arnhem Land.
Established in 2008 on Groote Eylandt, the MJD Foundation addresses the lack of services and information for affected families. Its 'Our Way' approach includes primary health and disability support, genetic counseling, therapy, education, respite accommodation, visits to Country, research, and advocacy, and is based on a strong Aboriginal Community Worker two-way engagement model.
Gayangwa Lalara OAM, a Warnindilyakwa woman, plays a vital role in the organisation as Vice Chairperson and Senior Cultural Advisor. Under her leadership, the Foundation has expanded its reach to 26 remote communities, with funding from the FRRR SRC program enabling the development of permanent ‘in-place’ support services in Ngukurr.
Aboriginal Art Co. was founded by Amanda Hayman (Kalkadoon and Wakka Wakka) and Troy Casey (Kamilaroi) in 2019 to combat the issue of inauthentic Indigenous-style consumer products in Australia. The 2022 Productivity Commission revealed that up to 75% of such products were fake, resulting in substantial income losses for First Nations people.
Aboriginal Art Co., as Brisbane's first Indigenous Art Centre, connects Indigenous Art Centres and artists from regional and remote Australia to the Queensland market. It prioritises ethical practices, with approximately 70% of sales revenue returning to artists and art centres, and is working towards the realisation of a self-sustaining and self-determining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander retail and arts industry in Australia.
Aboriginal Art Co. is committed to connecting Indigenous culture and commerce, providing employment and development opportunities that include its artist-in-residence program, retail and gallery assistants, workshop facilitators, caterers, photographers, and models, along with its social enterprise fashion label Magpie Goose.
The Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership (TQKP) is addressing the need to ensure all Queensland children and young people have a positive start in life. By working to connect organisations, individuals, services, and systems, and to facilitate shared access to resources, knowledge, and networks, TQKP aims to ensure children, young people and families are supported to thrive.
TFFF has invested in two of TQKP's ten initiatives: the Thriving Queensland Kids Country Collaborative and the Thriving First Nations Kids Initiative (TFNKI). TQKP prioritises supporting the self-determination of child health related First Nations leaders and organisations, working closely with a range of First Nations leaders, organisations and communities, including Queensland Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP) to advance a co-design process for the TFNKI.
Sarah Callinan, a Wangkangurru woman with expertise in early childhood development, has been appointed as the First Nations Strategic Partnerships Lead. Sarah has been involved in a range of initiatives and strategies aimed at improving early childhood outcomes for First Nations children, and has an exceptional understanding of brain and early childhood development. The active involvement of Sarah, Garth Morgan (CEO, QATSICPP) and others will help support First Nations leadership and drive collective effort across systems to better enable Indigenous children to thrive.
View the full 2022-2023 Annual Report here.
Cover photo courtesy of Children's Ground.
On the Tiwi Islands, 80km north of Darwin in the Northern Territory, you’ll find a business called Tiwi Enterprises. It strives for the economic betterment of Tiwi people and their community.
The organisation’s vision is “self-reliance through skills development and productivity”. And it is doing a great job, employing 26 Tiwi people, who make up 75% of the company’s workforce.
Since 2007, this 100% Tiwi owned organisation has grown to include 11 business units, and other Mantiyupwi-owned rental properties and assets:
One of Tiwi Enterprises’ contracts is with the Office of Township Leasing for the management of grass height and rubbish removal for the 114 tenants living in the area. In December last year, Tiwi Enterprises received a $10,000 Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) grant, funded by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, to purchase additional equipment for its gardening services. Thanks to the SRC funding, it was able to afford a heavy-duty ride on mower to add to its fleet.
The new mower helped Tiwi Enterprises win another contract to mow all Community Yards on Bathurst Island, which is 321 lots. Many of these yards were overgrown, representing a fire risk, and home to a number of snakes. But thanks to the work of the Tiwi team over an eight-week period, the whole community is enjoying improved safety.
The new contract also meant that nine new employees were hired, four of them women. There will be opportunities for any of these employees to become Leading Hands and Supervisors and to learn new skills including maintenance of machinery, supervising and administration work.
Cover photo: Starting the day on Tiwi Enterprises' new ride on mower. All photos courtesy of Tiwi Enterprises.
Originally written and published by FRRR on 12 September 2022.
The TFFF thanks Tiwi Enterprises for providing permission to reproduce this story.
Tiwi Enterprises is supported through the Connectedness stream in partnership with FRRR.
The visit included several site visits to learning and family centres in Mount Isa with sector colleagues Matthew Cox and Jill Simes from The Bryan Foundation, and Jacinta Perry from Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership. Jacinta and Katie also attended the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association Queensland State Conference in Julia Creek, an organisation Ningana Trust has supported since 2011.
Due to their geographical isolation, students in rural and remote areas often face limited access to education, technological barriers, and social and cultural considerations unique to rural life that can affect their learning opportunities. The Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) is a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation that advocates for and supports the educational needs of students living in rural and remote areas, ensuring that they have equitable access to quality education.
The group began their tour in Mount Isa at the Centre for Learning and Wellbeing, known as the CLAW, where they were welcomed by representatives from the Department of Education (DoE) and local school principals. When visiting primary schools and early years places, conversations opened up around the challenges faced by children, families, and educational facilities in the area, along with information about the innovative Project 1000 and the strong partnerships that exist in Mount Isa’s early years workforce.
At Ngukuthati Family Centre, the group learnt about the significant impact of foetal alcohol syndrome, the defective playground, the value of the men’s shed, and the lack of public transport available. In Mount Isa, early learning centres are visited by LEADSmart to educate children on how to avoid lead poisoning when playing outside. In such a remote environment filled with unique challenges, the information, resources, advocacy, and support provided by ICPA Queensland are invaluable.
The ICPA Queensland State Conference is designed to provide an opportunity for government representatives, authorising stakeholders, boarding school staff and other key organisations to hear issues from those experiencing them directly. The 2023 Conference, which is in its 52nd year, had more than 100 delegates in attendance, including parents. Attendees are not only able to bring the issues they face in outback Queensland to the attention of policymakers, but also have the opportunity to foster a network of support that extends well beyond the conference.
After years advocating for an increase to the Living Away From Home Allowance Scheme (LAFHAS), success was achieved in 2023. LAFHAS is an initiative designed to support students who do not have reasonable, daily access to a school and therefore attend boarding school.
At the State Conference, the DoE’s Director General, Michael De’Ath announced that the Queensland Government would increase the LAFHAS by $4,000 in 2024 - the full amount requested by ICPA Qld. This major announcement was met with a standing ovation from delegates. Ningana Trust is pleased to support this important outcome, which will benefit 1,400 families in isolated areas of Queensland.
The Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association is supported by Ningana Trust.
