Gur A Baradharaw Kod Torres Strait Sea and Land Council Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Corporation has secured federal government funding to deliver a community-led language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy project across the Torres and Endeavour straits.
Gur A Baradharaw Kod Torres Strait Sea and Land Council Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Corporation (GBK) is the peak body for PBCs across the Torres region, including the Torres and Endeavour straits.
GBK was awarded funding through the Skills for Education and Employment First Nations Delivery Grant program, administered by the federal Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
The grant will support the Torres and Endeavour Straits Community-Led LLND Project, which will provide free, culturally safe foundational skills training to First Nations participants across the region.
GBK said on Monday that the project will focus on strengthening English language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy skills in a way that is "community-based, locally relevant and tailored to the needs, aspirations and employment pathways of people in the Torres and Endeavour straits".
GBK Executive Chairperson Lui Ned David said the funding was a significant investment in local capability, community-led training and long-term pathways.
"This funding recognises the importance of delivering education and training in a way that reflects our communities, our culture and our local priorities," Mr David said.
"Distance is not the only barrier for education and training for many people across the Torres and Endeavour Straits. Other barriers include access, confidence, language, cultural safety, and the relevance of training to their lives and the opportunities it can bring.
"GBK is proud to lead this work in partnership with communities, local tutors, employers, and stakeholders. This project will support people to build practical skills for work, further training, family life, community leadership, and digital participation."
Five place-based hubs complemented by outreach delivery will deliver free foundational skills training through the project to participants from across the Torres and Endeavour Straits.
GBK said that by removing barriers to education and training, the goals of the project "are also aligned with those outlined by in the Closing the Gap strategy".
GBK will now move into the establishment and co-design phases, including setting up project governance, staffing, learning hub locations, mobile delivery arrangements, Community Tutor training, and culturally safe delivery practices.
Mr David said the project would be grounded in local knowledge and community voice.
"This is not a one-size-fits-all training program. The success of this project will come from working with communities to design learning that makes sense locally, supports cultural safety, and creates pathways people can see and use," he said.
"We acknowledge the Australian Government and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations for investing in First Nations-led delivery in our region. GBK looks forward to working closely with DEWR, our communities, and our partners to deliver strong outcomes."
One of the key features of the project is the building of local capability through local mentoring, wrap-around participant supports, and employing Community Tutors.
Tutors will use locally relevant learning resources, including literacy, numeracy and digital literacy activities and plain English and visual learning materials to provide participants with practical workplace-based language.
The project will also include structured community co-design across learning hub locations and mobile service areas, with learning priorities, delivery methods, and scheduling refined through community consultation.
