The Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts has declared that the Indigenous Knowledge Centre (IKC) at Napranum has been refurbished with a new IKC planned for Mornington Island.
IKCs were first established by the State Library of Queensland in partnership with Aboriginal Councils and Torres Strait Island Councils in 2002. The resulting network is the only one of its kind in Australia.
The proposed Mornington Island IKC, supported with funding of almost $60,000 through the State Library, will become Queensland’s 27th IKC, with its completion expected by the end of this year.
The Napranum IKC, established in 2015, will be refurbished through a grant of $12,730.
In a statement, the Department said IKCs offered communities access to collections, programs and online services.
“State Library support includes staffing, collection materials, programing, and professional development,” the Department said.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Leeanne Enoch said that for more than 20 years, IKCs had provided library services in remote Queensland regions, offering a welcoming place to meet, learn and share culture.
“A new IKC in Mornington Island marks another important milestone in ensuring all communities have access to online library resources and early learning opportunities, while the Napranum refurbishment will support enhanced service delivery,” Ms Enoch said.
“IKCs help to support the Government’s Creative Together 10-year roadmap for arts, culture and creativity by strengthening our communities, sharing our stories and elevating First Nations arts,” she said.
