Creating new jobs for First Nations people in ecotourism and country management at Cape Tribulation

Young, female employee in front of a tour bus — Photo caption: Jabalbina employee, Asia Diamond.

The Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bamanga Muruku Tourism Hub visitor centre has opened at Cape Tribulation in the Daintree Rainforest, creating a new way for visitors to experience the culture of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people.

Supported by $3.5 million in Australian Government funding and $1.34 million from the Queensland Government, the centre will play an important role in advancing regional ecotourism, allowing the cultural significance of the Daintree to be shared with visitors.

Owned and operated by the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, the operation of the hub is being supported by new local jobs created through the Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) program. Through the first grant round, Jabalbina secured funding to create 11 new jobs, allowing them to hire new employees to help expand community projects, jobs and training.

The RJED program is part of the Australian Government’s commitment to improving economic outcomes in remote communities by creating 6,000 new jobs by 2030, with good pay and conditions. The first two rounds of the program have already funded around 1,700 jobs across remote Australia, with a recent third round expected to create a further 1,300 jobs from July.

Crag Carttling, Tourism Director at Jabalbina, said the RJED funding is helping turn community goals into action.

“The RJED funding is a game changer and will ensure that Eastern Kuku Yalanji Elders and community members can realise a long-held dream to establish a social enterprise arm in Jabalbina, that positions the community to be in the driver’s seat in the tourism space.”

Jabalbina can now expand its work across ecotourism, sea country management, youth engagement and community wellbeing, while creating sustainable career opportunities – particularly for young people. The new roles also help build cultural knowledge through positions for Elders as mentors to support the ongoing delivery of projects that connect caring for Country.

Employees like Asia Diamond, a Yalada Tour guide and proud Kuku Yalanji woman says one of the best parts of her new job is being able to share her culture with visitors while continuing to learn herself.

“This new job makes me feel proud to be able to work amongst the Elders and learn and it is a really fun job. I like talking to visitors about culture and our land. I am hoping to learn about culture, other people from around the world and more opportunities to learn language and travel across country with different Elders.”    

The North Queensland Regional Office is proud to have worked in partnership with Jabalbina and the NIAA program areas through the RJED program to support delivery of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bamanga Muruku Tourism Hub.

With the new visitor centre open, Jabalbina’s work shows how RJED funding guided by community priorities can create jobs and strengthen culture to help communities thrive.

Find out more about the RJED program at: niaa.gov.au/remote-jobs.