Page 65 - Tropic Magazine Issue 18

TROPIC • COMMUNITY

Q&A

Reggie Jackson
Community Hub Manager

When did you realise there was a
need for a school transport service?
I’d see all the kids and parents
walking by me to school and you’ve
got a preppy, a grade one, a baby in
a pram and I was wondering where
the school was. So I hopped in the
car, drove there and realised how
long it took to walk there from their
accommodation and sometimes
in pouring rain or extreme heat.
I enquired with the bus services
Hand in hand in town to find out there wasn’t a
school bus. That’s how it all started.

UPLIFTING How did you get the service up and
Rejecting government Andrea Jackson running?
funding in favour of a When we first started, The
community approach is we focus on the individual. By not MaraWay had an old van that
just one way Cairns welfare being restricted by the type of people wasn’t being used on a daily basis,
so I’d come to work early and start
organisation The MaraWay is or needs we can work with, we can driving the van. We also introduced
doing things differently. tailor our approach to everyone who a breakfast program with cereal
walks through the door.”
Words Renee Cluff Much of the organisation’s funding and milk. But the big turnaround
for us was when Brothers became
comes from its diverse investment
The word ‘mara’ translates to ‘hand’ and business portfolio, which includes involved because we were able to
lease a proper 32-seat school bus.
in the local Djabugay language. The labour hire, agriculture and business Not only can we now cater to many
MaraWay CEO Andrea Jackson told consultancy. 100% of profits are more families, but we can do the
Tropic that after decades of failed returned to MaraWay’s programs. entire school run in just one trip.
Indigenous welfare initiatives, However, the organisation is adamant
The MaraWay is delivering a new community partnerships such as the What difference has it made?
approach. “We’re bringing many hands one it has with Brothers Leagues Club, The parents love it, the school
together and giving a helping hand for are vital. “This is our community, attendance has increased
people to help themselves,” she said. our problems and we need to own drastically and parents are also
“Our whole purpose is changing lives them and tackle them together,” Ms engaging with the school. Everyone
and strengthening community and Jackson said. “Brothers was the first wants to make life easier for their
we aim to do that by engaging with business in Cairns to come on board kids. That’s the satisfaction I get
the community to work on innovative as a financial partner and they stepped from the job, it’s just realising there
ideas and solutions to tackle those up to help with the Let’s Get Back to wasn’t that support there and being
tough issues that decade after decade School program. Since we started able to provide that. It doesn’t take
are still there.” the program in 2017, academic and much and it goes a long way.
Without government funding, the attendance rates have gone up and
organisation is focused on a more parents have built a relationship of
customised service aimed at change trust with us. We’ve been able to help
over the long-term. “Government them into stable accommodation and
funding is cyclical, it runs out and training, so that’s long-term change
there are no guarantees it will be for that family, and that’s an amazing
there for the long haul,” Ms Jackson spin off.”
said. “The other thing about being The organisation is also partnering
independent of Government funding with Brothers to provide hospitality
is we don’t have to meet the guidelines work placements and training.
that are always attached. Human
beings are a range of complex issues, MORE: themaraway.org.au
needs, history and circumstances so

65 • tropicnow.com.au