Read below an article about the Pormpuraaw Youth Summit, which Jobfind was involved in, published on 23 September 2014 in the First Nations Telegraph.
Pormpuraaw is taking positive steps to help their youth take control of their lives with a huge summit on the tiny community, situated on the western side of Cape York about 650km north east of Cairns by road.
Youth from Lockhart River to Yarrabah and as far south as Rockhampton are expected to attend five days of health and wellbeing, dance, sport and leadership workshops, and yarning circles.
The Pormpuraaw Youth Summit has been organised by Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation (PPAC), a non-government, grassroots, community-controlled organisation, which serves the community in social and emotional wellbeing, youth and childcare services.
A 12-month youth development grant along with partners Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council and Jobfind, as well as several in-kind contributions will fund the Summit.
PPAC Chair Vanessa Deakin said the Summit would offer Pormpuraaw youth exposure to ideas and issues beyond their own community.
“Everything from personal problems to career opportunities will be covered at the Summit,” Ms Deakin said.
“This is about empowering them to take control of their lives instead of just sitting down, getting dole money and living a hopeless life. We want them to have positive messages starting with ‘you don’t have to be sitting here doing nothing’.
“We hope more of our young people will want to stand up with the capacity to change their ways and not be ashamed of trying to reach their dreams.”
Rita Gibuma, 20, said it was a great opportunity for her and her peers as a modern get-together with a youth focus.
“It’s a really great opportunity for us to get together and learn about each other but also see what other communities are looking at, like how they’re helping the youth get out there and explore the opportunities,” Ms Gibuma said.
“I really, really hope that we have a lot of kids come and experience what we have lined up for them cause it will be really good to see. “It’s something different for the community, kids here have been talking about it. For just one week it will be the biggest thing that ever happened in Pormpuraaw. “It’s like a modern get-together focusing on the youth, it can and hopefully will be life-changing.”
Ms Deakin said the program was as diverse as it was packed.
“We want these young voices of Cape York to be heard and they will be presenting a communique and Indigenous Youth Strategy to Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet representatives on Thursday 25 September.
“Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation and Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council want to demonstrate to the government how investing more in place-based approaches provides opportunities for mobilising young people.
“This is an opportunity to positively impact people’s lives by helping create individual, families, community and societal outcomes that contribute to the safer model of care for our community.” CEO Liz Pearson said the importance of youth culture and different ways of learning could not be underestimated.
“Governments and nongovernment sectors working with young people needs to have a grasp on youth culture and the range of elements and modes of learning synonymous with young adults,” she said.
“In the long term Pormpur Paanthu would like to create a Bush University model where these concepts of learning are captured to build on young peoples’ strengths, gifts and talents thereby empowering and enabling them to continue on with their chosen crafts and education.”
