CAPE YORK

Cape York is on the northern tip of Queensland and encompasses the area north of Port Douglas. 

Jawun has been operational in Cape York since 2001 and is fondly considered the birthplace of Jawun. 

Of the 17 remote communities across Cape York, Jawun has historically supported Aurukun, Coen, Cooktown, Gordonvale, Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mossman, Pormpuraaw, Seisia, Umagico and Weipa. 

Published in 2000, Noel Pearson’s paper ‘Our Right to Take Responsibility’ set the early agenda for Cape York as well as Jawun itself. In 2005, Noel Pearson’s ‘Cape York Reform Agenda’ – the right of Cape York people to have the capabilities ‘to choose a life that they have reason to value’ – became the foundation for much of the work in the region, including the Cape York Welfare Reform trials and establishment of the Family Responsibility Commission. 

This new approach to welfare was initially trialled in the Cape York communities of Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge. The reforms, which have now been in place since 2008, are based on the view that to engage individuals in the real economy, and for there to be social development in communities, four things must occur: 

• Rebuilding of norms 

• Reform of incentives 

• Normalisation of housing 

• A retreat of government from the domain of individual responsibility 

Building on the original reforms a new Agenda, Pama Futures, was developed in 2018 following extensive community engagement to concentrate on a sustainable future for the people of Cape York.