The history of Old Mapoon is one of both trial and resilience, and the significant cultural sites that record this, including parts of the original Mapoon settlement that was razed in the 1960’s, are being actively explored and protected by the community.

Our latest Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) Project has begun with works to do exactly this. Since beginning in the Queensland Government funded program four weeks ago, six dedicated local participants, led by local supervisor Addi Mamoose and Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council’s Infrastructure Executive Manager Victor Mills, have begun working on fencing and drainage works around the site of the original mission buildings. The SQW Program grows employable skills through certificate level qualifications and real employment experience over six months while participants work on important community projects.

For remote Mapoon, skills in construction and trades are highly sought by the local community, especially as the approximately 450-strong population grows. Our Project Support Officer Kami Samson-Narara said the skills the participants would gain from their certificate 1 in construction would make them very employable in the community and the wider region, while the projects they would assist MASC with would leave a lasting legacy for the community.

“Mapoon suffers a skills drain as our young people move away to chase trades and careers after finishing school” she said.

“But with pressure on council to not only maintain our community infrastructure, but also to protect our historic sites and to build new housing, we desperately need skilled tradies here in Mapoon.

“It’s great to see all six so actively engaged and showing up keen to work every day.

“The participants in this project are already learning valuable skills and doing really important works for the council and the community.

“With more and more people visiting the historic sites at Cullen Point each year it’s vital that we preserve and protect these important relics of our history so we can show future generations the sites that have formed our community.”

Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council Interim CEO Amanda Ewart said the project was being received positively and would help council deliver future works in the community.

“It’s very positive to see residents of Mapoon being involved in the training project” she said.

“Council has many construction and civil works projects commencing in 2026 and 2027, we will need a capable and qualified team of workers from Mapoon to get the work done.

“Thank you to COE for partnering with Council on this very valuable project.”

The team are improving drainage and erecting fencing to preserve community sites

We run SQW projects in remote communities throughout Cape York, this being the second one hosted by Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council following a successful project in 2021-2022. Our support staff ensure participants progress through the program, with supervision and support provided to the team and Council daily. We also equip participants with appropriate PPE and tools to undertake the work, setting participants up for future roles and opportunities.

With wet season setting in and Christmas break, the team have taken a couple of weeks to rest and enjoy time with family and friends. They will return early in the new year to begin their dedicated training modules, and to assist in the exciting new council projects.

SQW projects are an initiative of, and proudly funded by, the Queensland Government.

This story first appeared in the Cape York Weekly.