Doomadgee

About Doomadgee

Location

Doomadgee is located in the Gulf of Carpentaria, approximately 140km from the Northern Territory border and 93km west of Burketown. The community sits alongside the Nicholson River and provides access to the coast, freshwater rivers and Lawn Hill National Park, one of the Gulf’s most popular natural tourist attractions. The Waanyi and Gangalidda people are recognised as the Traditional Owners for the region surrounding Doomadgee.

Languages

English is the predominant language spoken in Doomadgee. However, several First Nations' languages are also spoken, including Waanyi, Gangalidda, Mingginda, Lardil and Garawa. Assistance may be required for some Aboriginal complainants, witnesses, victims and defendants who come before the court.

History of Doomadgee

• read the recent history of Doomadgee

Doomadgee facts and figures

Key social indicators from the 2016 Census for the Doomadgee community include:

• 10.3% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 15 years and over had completed year 12 or equivalent
• 44.8% of households with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were overcrowded.

The following figures are from the 2011 Census and will be updated later in 2017:

• 61.0% of dependent children in families with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were from jobless families
• 24.0% unemployment rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 15 to 64 years
• 25.8% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 15 to 64 years worked in the Other services industry.

For more 2011 and 2016 census information on education, employment, income, housing figures and more, build a statistical profile for Doomadgee on Know Your Community.

Native title information

Search for native title information on the National Native Title Tribunal website.

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Visiting Doomadgee

Getting to Doomadgee

Doomadgee is about 1,200km from Cairns and 475km from Mount Isa. While most roads in the area are sealed bitumen, there are large stretches of graded dirt roads. Roads can easily and quickly become flooded during the wet season (October to April-May), making them impassable.
Regular flights operate from Cairns and Mount Isa to Doomadgee. Cairns to Doomadgee flights take around 4-5 hours, depending on stop-overs. From Mount Isa, the flight is about an hour.  

Seasonal considerations

Getting to Doomadgee during the wet season may be difficult, and the season can last beyond April and into May. Before planning travel, contact the Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council or the Manager, Government Coordination on 07 4799 7671 or 0477 398 224.

Alcohol restrictions

Alcohol restrictions apply in Doomadgee. 

Local government

Search the local government directory for information about the Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council. 

Who to contact if you have questions about your visit

Manager, Government Coordination, Doomadgee (Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships)

Phone: 07 4799 7671
Mobile: 0477 398 224

Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council

Phone: 07 4745 8351
Fax: 07 4745 8390
Email: ceo[at]doomadgee.qld.gov.au

Sorry business

Sometimes in the Doomadgee community, the terminology “we had sadness in the family” means that someone has passed. The intensity of mourning is reflective of the importance of the family or person who has died. The mourning process enables healing for the family and community involved.

The death of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person impacts on the whole community. Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council has its own set of council-endorsed funeral protocols. For more information contact the CEO at Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council at ceo[at]doomadgee.qld.gov.au.

In Doomadgee, if a funeral is held in the morning, council staff generally do not attend work until 1pm. Where funerals are held after 1 pm, council staff members are generally unavailable after this time. The council office will also be closed during the morning or the afternoon depending when the funeral is to take place. Essential services such as policing, child safety, health, education and justice will continue throughout this period. 

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Community justice group

The role of the Community Justice Group (CJG) is to ensure that clients of the service are given appropriate cultural support for court matters. The CJG also provides cultural reports to the courts at sentencing and bail applications, assistance to the courts in managing community-based offences, and networking to implement crime prevention initiatives.

Members of the CJG work closely with a number of justice agencies including the Queensland Magistrates Court, Department of Corrective Services, Queensland Police Service, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service. The CJG works to support the community’s understanding of and access to the justice system by working in conjunction with Shire Council by-laws and victim support agencies.

Key ways the CJG is able to assist the community and the courts include:

• participation in community consultations relevant to the CJG’s role within the criminal justice sector
• preparation and presentation of written and oral sentencing submissions to the court
• defendant support and referral (including court support)
• victim support and referral (including court support)
• support for debtors wishing to access the State Penalties and Enforcement Registry.

The local CJG for Doomadgee is:

Doomadgee Community Justice Group
Sharpe St, Doomadgee 4830
PO Box 324 Mt Isa 4825

Director/Chair:
Fiona Hill, CEO, North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services
Coordinator:
Deborah Harris

Phone: 07 4749 8500
Fax: 07 4749 4564
Mobile: 0488 116 499
Email: fhill[at]nwqicss.org

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Community services

Use the Queensland Government's one place service directory to find up-to-date contact information for local support services including:

• legal advice and support services
• youth justice and support groups
• domestic and family violence support
• drug and alcohol services
• men's and women's groups
• accident, emergency and medical services.

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More information

• Equal Treatment Benchbook (Supreme Court Library Queensland) 
• Information about the development of the justice resources.

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