Hope Vale has a strong track record of success in education fields and teaching with the highest number of Indigenous registered teachers of any community in the Cape. Although some have retired or have had other successful careers we are proud to have a significant number of local Indigenous teachers on staff and leading the school community.
Hope Vale campus is a primary school encompassing prep to Year 6 and does not offer secondary education in the community. Students often travel south to attend boarding school or attend the secondary school in Cooktown.
Approximately 100 students are enrolled at the Hope Vale campus. The school is staffed with a full complement of registered Indigenous and non-Indigenous teachers, and a strong contingent of Indigenous teaching assistants. The teaching team are supported by the campus principal, an instruction coordinator and a head of club and culture. A team of student case managers support students and families with daily engagement and school readiness. This strong support has been integral to the success of our educational reform.
Levels of schooling: Pre-prep–Year 6
Campus Principal: Finn Buckley
Hope Vale community
Hope Vale is an Indigenous community situated approximately 370 km north of Cairns, 50 km north of Cooktown and 10 km off the Battlecamp Road that leads to Lakefield National Park and Laura. Road access from Cairns to Cooktown is via the Peninsula Development Road after which the Endeavour Road from Cooktown continues on to the community of Hope Vale.
Hope Vale is geographically bounded to the north and south by the Cook Shire and has a population of approximately 1500 residents. The community encompasses 110,000 ha and comes under the trusteeship of the Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council.
Culture
The Guugu Yimidhirr people consider Hope Vale home. The diverse community of Hope Vale is comprised of traditional owners and a mix of people who were relocated from surrounding areas and have now lived there for generations.
Aboriginal people have occupied and continued to practice their own cultural traditions on and maintained the land in Cape York Peninsula for many thousands of years. The Indigenous people of the region comprised several language groups living in discrete areas.
The Hope Vale population is comprised of thirteen immediate clan groups in the land surrounding Hope Vale. In addition to these clans, the community is made up of approximately nine clans within the Guugu Yimidhirr speaking people.
The most commonly spoken languages within Hope Vale today is Guugu Yimidhirr. Related languages to Guugu Yimidhirr and English are also spoken within the community. The traditional land and sea country around Hope Vale community cover freshwater springs, palm tree lined rivers and beautiful bright coloured sand dunes.
Alcohol management plans
Since 2003, legalised restrictions to the type and quantity of alcohol that may be brought in to a number of Indigenous communities have been in place. These restrictions vary from community to community. The law applies to all residents and visitors to the community. The aim of alcohol reforms is to reduce alcohol-related harm, especially to children, women and other vulnerable community members. This is being achieved through alcohol restrictions and improved services and partnerships between government and community, including support for positive community actions. It is important that all employees are fully aware of the restrictions for communities and the subsequent implications for living and working in the community.
Further information can be obtained from the Queensland Government. Please ensure that you have checked these recently as some plans have been re-negotiated.
Currently Hope Vale community has a range of restrictions on the possession or carriage of alcohol in the community. Please check the link above.