Cape York Partnership today celebrates the historic milestone of 20 years of the Cape York Leaders Program, highlighting the extraordinary achievements of Indigenous families and students which show closing the gap is not only possible – it's already happening.
Driven by the wisdom and counsel of the pioneering reform leaders of Cape York, Noel Pearson founded Cape York Partnership to tackle the scourge of passive welfare and rebuild capability through responsibility and opportunity. The Cape York Leaders Program, launched in 2005, has become a beacon of success for youngsters from very remote communities, where education, housing, and health services have long failed them.
A new report by Indigenous-owned and operated consultancy Gargun details the Cape York Leaders Program's success, including:
- A Year 12 completion rate of 95% – more than double the national average for remote Indigenous students and on par with Australia's largest and best-performing scholarship programs.
- A student retention rate from Year 7 through to Year 12 graduation (securing a QCE) of 85%.
- Economic Impact: For CYLP Year 12 graduates, 70% go on to secure full-time employment (with others pursuing tertiary studies). Graduates earn on average $50,000 per year more than welfare recipients.
- Since its inception, CYLP has supported more than 600 secondary and tertiary students, producing over 250 Year 12 graduates and tertiary scholars.
Cape York Partnership CEO Fiona Jose said the results were a powerful rebuttal of low expectations.
"Cape York has shown what's possible when we back families, when we refuse to settle for business-as-usual and instead build scaffolding that supports opportunity," Ms Jose said.
"Year 12 is the powerhouse outcome that drives everything that follows — jobs, higher incomes, better health, reduced incarceration, and longer life. Every student who finishes school doesn't just change their own future, they shift the possibilities for the generation that follows."
The program's success is built on family responsibility met with quality opportunity. The program is led and staffed by Indigenous people who mentor, coach, and support both students and parents.
"We're seeing results because we set a high bar and then walk with students all the way," Ms Jose said. "Our results are not theoretical. Our families and children have shown us they can do it - they have closed the gap."
The Challenge of Scaling Success
Despite having a proven model, Cape York Partnership is urgently calling on policymakers to scale up the opportunity.
"The Cape York Leaders Program remains a limited offering with 20 new scholars each year," Ms Jose said. "We are forced to turn away children who are ready, children who we know can succeed, because the system still refuses to scale what works.
"The responsibility belongs to all of us to ensure this opportunity is not rationed, but realised, for every child in Cape York and beyond."
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of Cape York Partnership. Events are being held in Queensland and around Australia to celebrate the achievements of those who have passed through the Cape York Leaders Program and other CYP initiatives and to thank key supporters.
