Cook Shire Council has officially launched Pathways to Cultural Understanding, a bold new initiative inviting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents to help shape the future of reconciliation in the region.
More than just a project, Pathways to Cultural Understanding marks a fundamental shift in how Council approaches its relationship with First Nations communities — moving away from traditional frameworks and focusing instead on listening first, acting with integrity, and building trust through genuine connection.
Following the completion of Council’s current Reconciliation Action Plan, this next chapter centres on conversations, not checklists. The aim is to embed cultural understanding into the everyday work of Council — not through assumptions, but through self-determined insight from the people who know their communities best.
The engagement phase of the project begins the week of 28 July 2025, with opportunities for First Nations residents across the Shire to participate in a way that feels comfortable and meaningful to them. Options include one-on-one yarns by phone or online, yarning circles in key communities, and in-person sessions in Cooktown and Coen.
“This project is a natural next step for Cook Shire,” said Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes. “We believe that reconciliation should not be a ‘tick-the-box’ process — it needs to be lived and led together, in a way that respects our community’s diversity and history. Our goal is to embed cultural understanding into the heart of Council’s everyday work.”
Cook Shire Council has officially launched Pathways to Cultural Understanding, a bold new initiative inviting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents to help shape the future of reconciliation in the region.
More than just a project, Pathways to Cultural Understanding marks a fundamental shift in how Council approaches its relationship with First Nations communities — moving away from traditional frameworks and focusing instead on listening first, acting with integrity, and building trust through genuine connection.
Following the completion of Council’s current Reconciliation Action Plan, this next chapter centres on conversations, not checklists. The aim is to embed cultural understanding into the everyday work of Council — not through assumptions, but through self-determined insight from the people who know their communities best.
The engagement phase of the project begins the week of 28 July 2025, with opportunities for First Nations residents across the Shire to participate in a way that feels comfortable and meaningful to them. Options include one-on-one yarns by phone or online, yarning circles in key communities, and in-person sessions in Cooktown and Coen.
Face-to-face yarning sessions will take place as follows:
Cooktown – Cooktown Events Centre
29 July 2025
• 10:30 AM – 12:15 PM: Traditional Owners
• 2:00 PM – 3:45 PM: First Nations Organisations
30 July 2025
• 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Broader Community
Coen – Coen Community Hall
31 July 2025
• 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Drop-in Sessions
These sessions are designed to create safe, respectful spaces for truth-telling, storytelling and shared design — and are guided by the needs of participants. No preparation is needed, just a willingness to share and be heard.
All participants will receive a copy of the community consultation summary, along with the opportunity to confirm that their input has been respectfully represented.
Pathways to Cultural Understanding is about doing things differently — taking the time to ask the right questions, listen deeply, and create lasting change through relationships, not just resolutions. While all residents are welcome to share their voice, Cook Shire Council especially encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to take part, recognising that their knowledge, perspectives and lived experiences are essential to creating a stronger, more culturally informed future.
Expressions of interest are now open. To participate, register online here.
For more information, contact Cook Shire Council via email at mail@cook.qld.gov.au or phone 4082 0500.