Gunawuna Jungai has received $900,000 over three years through the Queensland Justice Reinvestment Grant Program to deliver a community-led early intervention and peacemaking initiative in Doomadgee.
The Doomadgee Early Intervention Peacemaking Initiative will support local leaders to work with families, police and service providers to identify concerns early, strengthen relationships and improve community safety through culturally appropriate pathways.
The initiative was developed through community engagement and Gunawuna Jungai's justice reinvestment work.
It is one of the first major community-designed priorities to move from planning into implementation through the organisation's work in Doomadgee.
Gunawuna Jungai Chief Executive Officer Massimo Zaini said the funding marked an important step for the organisation and the Doomadgee community.
"This investment recognises what the community has been saying for several years; that the best solutions to our challenges are those designed by the community, for the community," Mr Zaini said.
"Too often, people only become involved once situations have reached crisis point.
"This initiative is about creating pathways for trusted local leaders to support families earlier, helping resolve issues before they escalate into violence or police involvement."
The project will establish the early intervention and peacemaking initiative, support the creation of a dedicated Women's Group, strengthen community conflict resolution and build long-term systems for local people to resolve issues earlier.
It will also include the recruitment and training of local peacemakers and community coordinators, stronger coordination between community leaders, police and service providers, a Community Domestic and Family Violence Plan and ongoing evaluation.
The initiative builds on work with Traditional Owners, Family Groups, community members, government agencies and research partners.
Gunawuna Jungai said the project was designed to strengthen partnerships and provide earlier pathways, rather than replace police or existing services.
Board Chair Athol Walden Athol Walden welcomed the Queensland Government funding and said it recognised the value of community-designed solutions.
"This funding is a strong endorsement of community-designed solutions," Mr Walden said.
"It recognises that local people understand their own challenges and are best placed to help shape practical solutions that work for our community.
"We've already seen encouraging outcomes when local cultural leadership and Police have worked together to identify issues early and support families before situations escalate."
The three-year project will complement Gunawuna Jungai's broader work to strengthen self-determination, improve community governance and support locally led responses to complex social challenges in Doomadgee.
The Doomadgee model can also provide an example for other remote and discrete Aboriginal communities in Queensland seeking to develop community-designed approaches to early intervention and peacemaking.
