Welcome

Vision Statement

Working together to build loving, responsible and integrated Pacific Island Communities in Australia.

Background

Pacific Communities Council FNQ is an independent community organisation for Pacific islander peoples living in the Far North Queensland region. It has representation from Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Cook island, Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti, and New Zealand Maori.

In 2006, the Queensland State Government presented a Government strategy report for Pacific Islander communities and their settlement needs. The state government report stated, amongst other things, that many Pacific Islanders face high levels of social and economic disadvantage in Queensland due to difficulties associ-ated with settlement such as: unemployment, lack of engagement in education and training, health and family issues. The report added that despite the high level of needs, Pacific Islanders rely on their own community for their settlement needs.

In response to some of these concerns, on April 2007, the Pacific Communities Council FNQ was born, with an interim committee to undertake its operations towards incorporation.

The organisation was instigated with much deliberation to empower Pacific peoples to work closely together with the support of govern-ment and non-government community services to provide support for one another in the region.

(Photos: Cook Island Dancers and Iuto Patolo, Tongan Fire Dancer, performing during the First Pacific Festivial in Cairns Saturday 27th June 2009)

Pacific Fest About Pride

Article that appeared in the Cairns Post on Monday 29th June 2009 after the Pacific Festival. Click here to go to actual Cairns Post Site.

FOGARTY Park came alive with fire, song, dance and food at the weekend as the inaugural Pacific Communities Festival lit up the Cairns Esplanade.

Festival co-ordinator Gillian Tarawhiti said the festival, which is sure to become an annual event, also coincided with the inauguration of the Pacific Communities Council, which will have a specific focus on representing islanders living in Far North Queensland.

Pictures: Cairns Pacific Communities Festival

"Between Townsville and the Cape and out as far as Mt Isa we have a population of about 30,000 Pacific islanders and it has been amazing to be able to have a gathering of all the different cultures," she said.

"With the council, we are hoping to act as a voice for all the groups and lobby to governments and address issues specific to the community."

Groups from Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands all took part in the festival, which had a specific focus on bringing together the youth and celebrating their cultural heritage.

Young performers took part in singing, traditional dance and fire twirling with live music and free islander food entertaining the huge crowd, which Ms Tarawhiti said, came from all corners of the globe.

"The performers were so full of pride," Ms Tarawhiti said

(Photo: Island girl: Talicia Minniecon had a voice to match her dazzling dress with the rendition of Ikeve, a folk song & Junior Niuemata Picture: MIKE WATT)

Formal Launch of PCC FNQ by Hon. Desley Boyle

Sorry, the quality of the video is not too good, but at least someone was able to capture the moment.

Greetings from the Deputy Mayor, Cr. Margaret Cochrane