Na’Muk’A’Run’! with opportunities in Western Cape

True to their name the “Na’Muk’A’Run’ Mob” (No mucking around mob) in Napranum are already involved in several community projects thanks to ongoing social and economic support from Community Owned Enterprises (COE).

 

The local community had identified an ongoing issue in that older people were meeting with government officials to talk about young people’s concerns. An initial concept put forward early this year by the Mokwiri Traditional Owners has developed to become the successful “Na’Muk’A’Run’ Mob”.

 

To see this idea come to fruition COE facilitated a successful “thousand jobs” grant application, partnering with the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) to employ the group’s coordinator, 32-year-old Jack Wipa and trainee community service worker Shaun Hall (20) for at least two years to kickstart their work. These exceptional young men continue to work closely with us and are mentored by our staff to progress a range of projects.

 

 

Initially developed to talk to and engage with agencies and government departments regarding youth issues in their community, their role has evolved rapidly. Working across the Western Cape region, including Mapoon, Napranum and Weipa, and looking at expanding to nearby communities such as Arukuun, Jack said recently “we are the bridge between these communities, and I love bringing people together.”

 

One of the group’s first tasks was to visit and talk with existing services in the Western Cape to find where the group could best direct their efforts. This engagement revealed a gap in support for 16–25-year-olds in Napranum, especially a cohort of 40 young men that were not attending school, not working, and not registered with the Community Development Programme provider Kuku’nathi Services.

 

COE has also incorporated the “Na’Muk’A’Run’ Mob” support into three Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) Traineeship programs in the region. Over the past six months, Jack and Shaun have mentored and supported ten participants in our current SQW construction traineeship program with Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council. They will perform similar roles in two new programs in early 2022, the first for ten agricultural trainees working on a Napranum farm, and the second for twelve trainees in construction working on Mokwiri’s funded capital works program. The “Na’Muk’A’Run’ Mob” will provide local, tailored and timely support all 22 participants through these programs as they develop valuable skills for future employment.

 

 

In addition, the group are honoured to be leading a project to capture and preserve the local Thanikwithi language and culture through the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF)’s ‘living language’ preservation program. By creating a dictionary of language, stories and culturally important knowledge in the platform, they are working to preserve this endangered language for future generations. Not only does this project serve to engage a young cohort with their culture and community, but is also making inroads to bridge the growing divide between some elders and younger generations.

 

 

Finally (for now), COE is supporting the professional development of the “Na’Muk’A’Run’ Mob” members through their enrolments in Certificate III in Community Services. To address some of the challenges of studying online in a remote community, the Indigenous Student Support unit of North Region TAFE Queensland is providing the group access to additional tutoring and guidance. We are also working to secure IT equipment and video conferencing facilities to aid their study and their future work with external providers.

 

We are very proud to be working closely with the “Na’Muk’A’Run’ Mob”, supporting their projects and development as they continue to find opportunities within Napranum and communities elsewhere in the Western Cape region. If their successes to date are the measure of what is to come, then we expect to be providing regular updates on successful new projects led by Jack and Shaun.

 

You can keep up to date with their activities on the group’s Facebook Page here.

 

Skilling Queenslanders for Work training is made possible by funding from the Queensland Government as part of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

1000 jobs packages are fully funded by the Australian Government.