Gurridi Work Camp Pilot to start in May

The Gurridi Work Camp Pilot marks an important step in creating stronger, community-led justice diversion pathways for men in Doomadgee who have come into contact with the justice system.

Set to begin in May, the pilot has been developed through a partnership between the Gurridi Traditional Land Trust and Gunawuna Jungai. The project will use Gurridi Country as the testing ground for a community-led work camp model that has the potential to be adapted and delivered across outstations throughout Cape York and the Gulf.

The pilot is about creating practical, culturally grounded alternatives that support men before they move further into the justice system or after they return home to community. The program has been designed to provide structure, responsibility, routine, mentoring and connection to Country through meaningful work and community leadership.

The work camp responds to the reality that many remote communities face limited culturally safe pathways for men who are disengaged, at risk, or already navigating contact with the justice system. Rather than focusing only on crisis responses, the pilot aims to create an environment where men can reconnect with culture, build confidence, strengthen relationships and take part in practical work that contributes back to community and Country.

The May pilot will run over seven days with a small group of participants living and working together on Gurridi Country. Participants will take part in daily work activities, camp responsibilities, mentoring, cultural learning and practical training while contributing to the care and reactivation of the outstation.

Work planned during the pilot includes:

• Site clean-up and maintenance

• Land and infrastructure preparation

• Camp set-up activities

• Practical work and safety training

• Daily shared responsibilities and teamwork

• Cultural learning and time on Country
  

Participants will work alongside local leaders, mentors and community members throughout the camp, helping create a supportive environment focused on accountability, growth and connection.

The pilot is also part of a much bigger long-term vision for Gurridi. The aim is for Gurridi to become a fully functioning outstation that creates real employment opportunities for Doomadgee community members through land management, infrastructure works, cultural activities, training, tourism, aquaculture and other future enterprises developed on Country.

The work camp pilot is an early step in building that future. By reactivating Gurridi and investing in local capability, the project aims to create long-term pathways where local people can work on Country, build skills, support community and contribute to the ongoing development and care of Gurridi.

The partnership between the Gurridi Traditional Land Trust and Gunawuna Jungai is also focused on testing and refining a model that could support similar justice diversion and early intervention approaches across other outstations and remote communities throughout the Cape and Gulf regions.

By using Gurridi as the foundation site, the pilot will help identify what is needed to build sustainable, community-led programs that support stronger pathways for men while also contributing to the care, activation and long-term future of remote Aboriginal lands.

The Gurridi Traditional Land Trust and Gunawuna Jungai acknowledge the local leaders, families and community members who have helped shape the pilot and look forward to sharing updates as the first work camp gets underway in May.