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Iama (Yam) Island

Community profile

​Iama Island (also Yama, Yama or Turtle-backed Island) is an island of the Bourke Isles, 100km northeast of Thursday Island. The area measures about two square kilometres.

For more information, Iama.

​Iama Island (also Yama, Yama or Turtle-backed Island) is an island of the Bourke Isles, 100km northeast of Thursday Island. The area measures about two square kilometres.

For more information, Iama.

Languages

Kulkalgau Ya

Population

275

87.2% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ABS 2021 Census)

Stories from Iama (Yam) Island

Beach shore picture taken from above

Yam Island Little Children’s House nurtures seeds of success

22 February 2013

High quality early childhood education and care is accessible for most Australians, but for many parents inhabiting islands scattered across 48,000 square kilometres in the Torres Strait, this has not always been the case.