Family matters for Gulf islanders
Mayor says $330,000 funding package can give his community a better future
A REMOTE Queensland island is expected to benefit from a locally-led program strengthening family connections in the community.
Mornington Island is one of 15 local government areas with alcohol restrictions in place, and criminal offences at eight times higher than the Queensland average.
The state government has announced $300,000 over 12 months to deliver the Sustainable Families Program.
The program will provide culturally safe support for residents, to promote the strengths of parenting consistent with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customs and knowledge.
Mayor Kyle Yanner, a tireless and vocal advocate for his community situated 700km northwest of Cairns and 125km north of Burketown, welcomed the initiative.
“This is an important locally-led initiative to re-establish a positive familyfocused culture within community that integrates our traditional history and culture with today’s modern lifestyle,” he said.
“It will help provide the right tools and knowledge to create and underpin strong family relationships that will help build and sustain happy and healthy lives for current community members and future generations.”
Cr Yanner said healthy relationships among families was a community priority identified by the Mornington Shire Council to improve physical and emotional wellbeing, especially in supporting healing for the Stolen Generations.
In addition to $335,000 for Mornington Shire to support alcohol management community safety planning and service enhancement, the $300,000 SFP will also address the impacts of alcohol and home brew in the community.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Craig Crawford said the SFP, through greater collaboration, would take a trauma-informed and health-focused approach to address the underlying causes of harmful drinking.
“It’ll also provide a measurable impact on harm reduction and community wellbeing,” he said.
Ministerial Champion for Mornington Island Meaghan Scanlon said she was committed to looking at what more can be done to deliver improved outcomes for the community.