The Aurukun Youth Stategy employs a two-way learning model to empower local people by genuinely valuing traditional knowledge. One of the simplest ways we do this is by going out on country to catch fish, spear puuy (mudcrabs), find may at(sugarbag honey), collect bush foods including min ochanang (mudshells) and min ongk (longshells), may po’al (yellow fruit) andmay ow (dried yellow fruit). Such activities provide participants with a familiar basis upon which to build literacy and numeracy skills.

This program run at various locations, including the Western Cape College Aurukun Campus, which is situated in an Indigenous community context, rich in Wik historical and cultural practices.  The school has a long history of commuity involvement and works in partnership with  parents/carers and Elders, to develop each child to reach their potential.  In delivering the imperetives of Partners for Success, Aurukun, Koolkan Campus has met a target of 50% Indigenous employment.  Our Wik staff provide non-indigenous staff with a wealth of knowledge and precious insights into the Wik community’s rich history, cultural heritage and living practices. Respect, mutual responsibility and shared vision of positive patways to the future underpin the focus on high expectations and education access.

A report on some of these programs is published under Aurukun 3rd Quarter