Mission statement.

CYWAFA Inc. is a community Indigenous organisation whose role is to help address natural resource management challenges in Cape York. Activities include but are not limited to:

  • Weed Management

  • Weed  Identification

  • Weed Control

  • Weed Surveying/Mapping and Technical Advice

  • On Ground Feral Animal Trapping

  • Ground Shooting

  • Aerial Shooting

  • Aerial Surveying/Mapping

  • National AC/DC chemical training qualifications

  • Formal quad bike operational training

  • Informal and formal Conservation and Land Management training

  • Cattle, horses, fencing, property maintenance. 

  • Informal training for NRM, including a range of GIS, Fulcrum products.

    We work closely with  Indigenous land corporations in Cape York and have a focus on the Indigenous Advancement Strategy.

    Our project outcomes directly intersect with Indigenous jobs, land and economy,  children and schooling, safety and wellbeing.

Our team.

  • VINCE HARRIGAN

    CHAIR

    He is passionate about caring for country and has been our Chair because he wants to make a real difference in our Cape York Community.

    He is a local Indigenous man born and bred in Cape York, a Traditional Owner and Ranger from Normanby Station in Southern Cape York.

    The 31,400 acre property was returned to his family in the 1990s.

    Vince says he can see Our Country becoming healthy again.

  • CARL DOUGHBOY

    DEPUTY CHAIR

    He is passionate about caring for country and has put his hand up to be our Deputy Chair because he wants the world to know our Cape York Community.

    He is a local Indigenous man born and bred in Cape York, a Traditional Owner with experience working and looking after his country.

    He has a strong connection to Cape York with family ties to Gungarde (Cooktown) and Hopevale.

  • KATHLEEN ELMES

    TREASURER

    She has been our long-term financial wizard. Born and bred in Far North Queensland, She loves Cape York and wants to see our work continue many years into the future.

    She says it is amazing what our small group has achieved with very little resourcing.

  • TREVOR MELDRUM

    ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATIONS MANAGER

    SECRETARY

    Born and bred Cape York Peninsula Indigenous local.

    Trevor’s family has ties with the Princess Charlotte Bay region, as well as Lakefield, and the Palmer River.

    This year marks 30 years service in the Environmental Field for thirty years for Trevor.

Experience & expertise.

CYWFA Inc. has amassed considerable experience and expertise since its establishment in environmental management in both land and water environments.

The other significant achievement that has been developed by CYWFA Inc is strong and collaborative relationships partnering with other TO groups, community based NGOs and environmental organisations, and last but not least a considerable number of private grazing operators across the Cape.  

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Funding partners.

    • Designs and implements the government policies and programmes to protect and conserve the environment, water and heritage and promote climate action.

    • Hon Warren Entsch MP

    • Warren works hard to support opportunities for economic development in Far North Queensland and Northern Australia, particularly in relation to his vision for a strong and sustainable commercial, recreational and sports fishing industry.

    • He also advocates for a range of social issues such as the arts, aged care, mental health, marriage equality and reducing discrimination for LGBTI Australians, and the tuberculosis challenge in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea.

    • Investing in research, innovation, and leadership to strengthen our rural industries and regional communities.

    • AgriFutures Australia is one of 15 Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) that service the Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) needs of Australian rural industries.

    • We represent the research needs for 13 thriving rural industries (chicken meat, rice, honey bee and pollination, ginger, tea tree oil, pasture seeds, export fodder, thoroughbred horses, kangaroo, buffalo, deer, goat fibre and ratite), delivering research and innovation that aims to give our farmers and producers real returns, as well as prepare them to thrive into the future.

    • We support people and communities, particularly those experiencing disadvantage and exclusion in rural Australia.

    • We do this through our annual small grants and longer term programs where we partner with local community organisations to build stronger communities.

Supporting partners.

    • Management organisation for Traditional Owners and Entity holding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land under the Aboriginal Land Act 1991 and/ or the Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991

    • Management organisation representing Traditional Owners

    • Management organisation representing Traditional Owners

    • Gungarde Community Aboriginal Corporation is a not for profit organisation delivering a range of services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Cooktown and surrounding districts.

    • Gungarde vision is to provide a sustainable service to the Indigenous Community in Cooktown and surrounding areas. Act in the best interest of indigenous people, and foster positive initiatives for the greater benefit of the region as a whole.

    • Our corporation aims to provide our community members with adequate accommodation, health programs, access to education and work opportunities. Whilst promoting the preservation of Aboriginal social and cultural integrity.

    • Gungarde Community Centre Aboriginal Corporation is based in Cooktown Far North Queensland and has been operating since 1982.

    • Specialists in profit, diversity and growth, Outsource Management are leading experts in tailored business strategy and consultancy solutions since 1998.

    • Our services are not geographically constrained and we regularly carry out client support work across Northern Australia.

    • Outsource Management Pty Ltd (OM) is a diverse, corporate advisory and business improvement organisation established in 1998.

    • Bob Cobavie and the team have successfully built a company that is actively growing and operating across Northern Australia.

    • Catchment management groups.

    • The Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) is a not-for-profit incorporated association that acts as conservation council for the region from Cardwell north to Torres Strait and from the east coast to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

    • Investing in research, innovation, and leadership to strengthen our rural industries and regional communities.

    • AgriFutures Australia is one of 15 Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) that service the Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) needs of Australian rural industries.

    • We represent the research needs for 13 thriving rural industries (chicken meat, rice, honey bee and pollination, ginger, tea tree oil, pasture seeds, export fodder, thoroughbred horses, kangaroo, buffalo, deer, goat fibre and ratite), delivering research and innovation that aims to give our farmers and producers real returns, as well as prepare them to thrive into the future.

    • Collaborating with our community in catchment restoration and water quality improvement for a sustainable future.

    • The Mitchell River Watershed Management Group was formed after a conference on watershed management hosted by the Kowanyama Aboriginal community in 1990.

    • Since then it has grown into an independent, not-for-profit organisation working in partnership with local communities and stakeholders towards:

    • A balanced approach to the use of the catchment resources; and sustainable and integrated management of the Mitchell River catchment area.

    • A startup precision agriculture company founded in May 2019 to deliver robotic weed control solutions to Australian land managers.

    • Experts in machine vision, deep learning and robotics.

    • Our "green-on-green" detection system is currently trained to eight nationally significant weed species.

    • Our flagship robotic prototype is presently being utilised on farms across Northern Australia.

    • My Pathway is a social and economic development organisation delivering services from the Top End and Torres Strait to Tasmania.

    • We have been developing people, connecting them to opportunities and supporting communities to grow since 2007.

    • Our businesses deliver employment services, training, business mentoring, community projects and facility services through a mix of government and private contracts.

    • We also fund regional and remote enterprise development through our not-for-profit organisation, Community Owned Enterprises.

    • Local drone operator in the agriculture sector.

    • Applying new tech to traditional methods to improve work flow and safety.

    • strav@travearth.com.au