Project overview
Led by Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC), the project:
- established facilities to support and enable positive learning exchanges
- increases the skills and capacity of Quandamooka people and residents on the island
- brings together learners, providers, community members and local businesses
- produces high-quality learning materials and activities drawing on the island's physical, social, cultural and ecological history and current context
- develops education and training as an economic activity by coordinating, delivering and promoting the island as a destination for education and training to attract education focused visitors.
To deliver this training, QYAC worked with the Queensland Government's Department of Trade, Employment and Training and the University of Queensland.
The guiding principle is to build respect for and recognition of Quandamooka custodianship, language and culture.
QYAC will continue to work in partnership with the Queensland Government to improve education and training opportunities and provide meaningful pathways to employment and economic prosperity for Quandamooka People.
QYAC will advocate for connection to culture, language and history embedded in young people’s learning. QYAC will also leverage skilling and re-training opportunities through the Vocational Education and Training in Schools initiative, user choice (apprenticeships and traineeships), Certificate 3 Guarantee, the free TAFE and free apprenticeships for under 25s initiatives, and the Skilling Queenslanders for Work programs.
Pre-COVID, Employment and Training of Traditional Owners as well as community members saw unprecedented levels of formal training and staff development at Ganaba.
Minjerribah Ganaba
The Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) project, in collaboration with the Queensland Government and the University of Queensland, aims to enhance education and training on the island, thereby respecting and recognising Quandamooka culture and supporting…
Ganaba is QYAC’s head office.
It used to be the Dunwich State High School,
but a number of years ago
closed and we've taken it over
and under the Minjerribah Futures funding
we were able to renovate and expand it
to make a more enjoyable training
and learning space for the community.
So we have a computer room.
Resumes is the biggest thing.
How to write a resume
and set up an email account.
So we've got that training
opening up.
We've got other areas
like the children's area and elder’s space,
and our cultural heritage space
where at the moment we store
all our cultural heritage items.
The tuck shop has been changed
into a commercial kitchen.
We can get different scopes of training.
We're working
with University of Queensland
around having cultural heritage training
and land management
training, wildlife rescue training.
So we're getting all these
new different things that we would not
have had the space to do years ago.
So I think it's great that we'll be able
to offer the opportunity to have a place
where people can come and get training on
country in their community.
Current operations
QYAC can facilitate training at Minjerribah Ganaba based on identified needs. For more information, visit QYAC.
Facility refurbishment
QYAC has refurbished the old secondary school campus in Gumpi (Dunwich) to provide a modern venue for education, training and employment on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).
The facility offers a variety of flexible spaces for hire, including five large seminar rooms, commercial training kitchen, meeting spaces, amenities, indoor and outdoor workshop spaces and studios, and shared spaces for gathering and performance including a covered outdoor ceremonial space and fire pit.
Quandamooka Elders have a meeting room, Quandamooka artists have indoor and outdoor weaving areas and studios, and there are dedicated cultural heritage conservation, exhibition and storage spaces. There is also a Jandai Language Centre and workshops to revive traditions such as the carving of canoes and other art forms.
Designed by Reddog Architects, the refurbishment was managed by the Queensland Government's Department of Housing and Public Works on behalf of QYAC.
Benefits
- Create new education, employment and training centre
- Grow education and training opportunities on the island
- Stimulate local business development and growth