Community leaders from across the Lower Gulf of Carpentaria are travelling to Brisbane to meet with Commonwealth and Queensland Government officials on Wednesday to progress their proposal to establish a Gulf Academy in the Region.

Welcoming the initiative, the Member for Traeger, Mr Robbie Katter MP, said “For decades the communities of the Lower Gulf and their leaders have been talking about and advocating the need to improve education and local employment outcomes for local young people.”

With the support of Bynoe Community Advancement Co-Operative Society (Bynoe) and Gulf Savanah Development along with many local service providers and employers, the communities of the lower Gulf have produced a compelling business case for the establishment of a Gulf Academy to provide integrated education and employment opportunities within the region for local young people.

“The impressive Gulf Academy business case provides a compelling argument for its establishment in terms of the benefits to local young people and their families, to local employers and ultimately to the regional economy and future development of the Lower Gulf” Mr Katter said.

Regional leaders representing Carpentaria Land Council, Doomadgee Shire Council, Mornington Island Shire Council, Kowanyama Shire Council, Carpentaria Shire Council, Bynoe and the Aboriginal Development Benefits Trust will meet with Commonwealth and Queensland Government officials to discuss the way forward in establishing the Gulf Academy.

“There has not been a coordinated delegation like this from the leaders of the Lower Gulf in over 30 years” Mr Katter said. “I congratulate and support the leaders and communities of the Region for getting the Gulf Academy proposal to this point. I look forward to discussing with them the outcome of their meeting and working with them to bring the Academy into being.