PORMPURAAW Youth Summit
WHERE: Pormpuraaw
WHO: Hosted by Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation and the Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council As many as 2-400 visitors – youth, community people and presenters – are expected to participate including 50-100 young people from all over Cape York and south to Rockhampton.
WHAT: See the full program at pormpurpaanthu
All workshops and forums are supported by qualified presenters and leaders in their field.
IN A NUTSHELL there will be:
• Talking: yarning and singing circles, young person’s health checks, leadership, identity, social and emotional wellbeing, sexual health, friendship, job creation, goals and aspirations; listen and sharing
• Playing: Indigenous Hockey, NRL, PCYC, Live, Learn Leap Program: netball, touch, softball, basketball, Traditional Indigenous Games
• Arts: dance workshops- hip hop, contemporary, songwriting, jamming, art.
• Ongoing: health and career expo.
• Openings (Thursday 25 September): Outside School Hours & Vacation Care building renaming by Traditional Owners to ‘Culture, Knowledge and Learning Centre’; Resource Cooking Book launch; HitNet Kiosk launch.
HOW: For more information contact Christine Howes on 0419 656 277
High res pics and broadcast quality videography and film footage will be available to media on request.
Skytrans flies in and out of Pormpuraaw daily.
Some limited accommodation is available for media if required.
Watch us on Facebook and Twitter throughout the week for updates and pics.
Media Release: Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation
Pormpuraaw Youth Summit paving a positive future for young people
Pormpuraaw is taking positive steps to help their youth take control of their lives with a huge summit planned this month 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 and click here for more.
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.
“Everyone will be arriving on Monday 22 September for registration and to set up their beach camps,” Ms Deakin said. “The opening and welcome will start on Tuesday 23 September, with activities kicking off after that.
“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 non-government 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.”
For more information contact Christine Howes on 0419 656 277
High res pics and broadcast quality video footage will be available to media on request.
Skytrans flies in and out of Pormpuraaw daily.
Some limited accommodation is available for media if required.
Watch us on Facebook and Twitter throughout the week for updates and pics.
