Land transfer to boost childcare options on Horn Island  

• Site of former Horn Island childcare centre returned to Traditional Owners.
• The Kaurareg Native Title Aboriginal Corporation now holds the land as inalienable freehold.
• Miles Labor Government continuing to work with Traditional Owners to secure childcare services for island.

A new childcare centre for the people of Horn Island is one step closer with the completion of a land transfer to Traditional Owners today.

The Kaurareg Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (KNTAC) has been given the title deeds for a block of land at Wasaga under the Aboriginal Land Act 1991.

The land transfer means KNTAC now holds inalienable freehold of the block – it can’t be bought, sold or mortgaged – and is held in trust for the benefit of the Aboriginal people connected to that land.

The block is home to the island’s Ngurupai Kazil childcare centre, which has been closed for several years, forcing families to travel to nearby Thursday Island via ferry to access childcare services.

In addition to the transfer, the Miles Government is providing KNTAC $247,000 from the State Budget to ensure the building complies with modern safety standards. 

KNTAC is also partnering with Goodstart Early Learning to seek Federal Government funding to restart childcare services. This transfer is the first step and allows Traditional Owners to provide local childcare service for their community.

Quotes attributable to Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart:

“Today’s land transfer brings the prospect of reopening the local childcare centre one step closer to reality.

“The Miles Government has been working with the Kaurareg Native Title Aboriginal Corporation to carry out some urgent repairs to the building to bring it up to standard and I’m looking forward to one day seeing local families able to drop off their kids at this centre.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts Leeanne Enoch:

“The Queensland Government is committed to reframing its relationship with First Nations Peoples and recognising their inalienable rights to self-determination – a commitment laid bare in the implementation of the Path to Treaty Act.

“Today’s land transfer supports KNTAC to provide practical, self-governed solutions, for meeting Closing the Gap targets in their community”.

Quotes attributable to Member for Cook Cynthia Lui:

“For far too long the people of Horn Island have had to travel to Thursday Island to access childcare services and that simply doesn’t make sense,” he said.

“It costs families more and restricts employment opportunities.

“It’s so important people in the Torres Strait have the right services close to home and I will always advocate for the community.

Quotes attributable to Kuarareg Native Title Aboriginal Corporation Chair Eliziah Wasaga:

“There will be a lot of happy elders, parents and children celebrating today because Horn Island (Ngurupai) has something great to look forward to for our families and we should all feel very proud of this wonderful achievement,” he said.

“We wholeheartedly intend on reopening the Ngurupai Kazil Centre and providing critical early childhood care and education services to our community.

“KNTAC is supported in this endeavour by a dynamic team of inspirational professionals and government departments who are working tirelessly with us to ensure we set the foundation to build a strong sustainable and thriving early learning service for the children and families of Horn Island (Ngurupai).”

ENDS