Thursday, 8 September 2022
Stories and events of the Kaurareg homeland of Kaiwalagal, the Torres Strait homeland and Cape York homelands of the Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaykenu and Gudang Peoples.
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Cabinet backs school investment
tagai meeting: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Education Minister Grace Grace and local MP Cynthia Lui with Tagai State College secondary students before the Community Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Pics supplied. More than $30 million is to be invested in modern and upgraded school infrastructure and facilities over five years in the wake of this week’s Community Cabinet meeting – which was held at Tagai State College’s Waiben campus – Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says. “More than 1500 students attend Tagai State College, spread across 17 sites throughout the Torres Strait islands,” the Premier said. “Remoteness should not be an obstacle to success and that’s why our government is investing in school infrastructure, creating learning environments and recreational facilities that support all students to excel.”
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said as someone who had spent the early part of her life attending school in the Torres Strait she was thrilled. “I am thrilled to see these opportunities opening up for kids and families in this remote part of Queensland,” she said. “The infrastructure investments our Government is delivering for schools in the Torres Strait are critically important to help Torres kids have the best chance to empower themselves for a bright future.” Tagai State College Executive Principal Michael Ward said the community welcomed the new facilities confirmed for the Thursday Island Secondary and
Primary campuses. “Works currently happening under the Housing Improvement Program for staff accommodation are making a big difference to improve the quality and attractiveness of staff housing for our workforce,” Mr Ward said. “Tagai State College is currently partnering with the region to identify opportunities to improve play spaces. “This will mean a lot to the students to enhance their playtime by providing safe and attractive environments for their fun, socialisation and fitness.” Education Minister Grace Grace said infrastructure projects at the various College campuses included refurbishing the Thursday
hands-on: The Premier meeting manual arts students and teachers at the Tagai Secondary Campus.
Island Secondary Campus library and amenities block, providing a covered outdoor learning area and replacing the Primary Campus amenities block, with oval upgrades and enhancement of outdoor play spaces in planning for other campuses. “The school community is benefiting from a $330,000 new outdoor play space for the kindergarten at the Masig Island/ Yorke campus,” Minister Grace said. “Along with another outdoor play space at the Warraber Island campus worth $250,000, these innovative projects support early childhood learning, providing a great foundation for our youngest students.
“The Tagai State College campuses will also benefit from the Department of Education’s $187 million agreement with Telstra to upgrade bandwidth across the state schools network with a direct and positive impact for the 21 schools and associated departmental locations within the Torres Strait. “Four sites have already received their full upgrades, and another four have had an interim upgrade – all of them more than doubling their bandwidth – and we’ve delivered 250 IT devices for students with another 530 on the way.” See inside for full Community Cabinet coverage PAGES 3, 8, 9 & 10
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