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Permission to shine: Hope Vale Indigenous Knowledge and Technology Centre

01 November 2013
Children and Schooling

In Hopevale, the Indigenous Knowledge and Technology Centre has become a window to the world for the small, far north Queensland community. See more in the video story.

Education is a powerful tool that can lead to greater opportunities and a better future all Australians.

Around the country, there are many great things happening at a community level to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids get a better start in life – an important part of the Closing the Gap on Indigenous disadvantage and improving education outcomes.

In Hopevale, the Indigenous Knowledge and Technology Centre has become a window to the world for the small, far north Queensland community.

The centre is a community hub where people can visit to access library books, magazines and DVDs, as well as music, games and the internet.

The centre also runs reading and writing programmes for young children, school holiday programmes, as well as a homework club.

Owned and run by the community, this local resource is giving local kids the chance to learn in a relaxed, friendly environment in surroundings they are comfortable in.

Centre coordinator Shirley Costello is committed to helping people learn, with a particular focus on culture preservation.

Shirley said that keeping the local Guugu Yimithirr history and language alive was a passion for community members both young and old.

“Some stand back and let others go forward and I am just lucky and I’m grateful to be one of those to come forward and not be afraid to share my knowledge with others, especially children,” Shirley said.

Find out more

The Australian Government supports the Indigenous Technology and Knowledge Centre in Hope Vale for its work to preserve local language and improve local children’s reading and writing skills – both of which are an important part of Closing the Gap.

Watch our video here about the centre, or check it out on YouTube.