Warraber, also known as Sue Island, is situated in the central island group of the Torres Strait. The island is located around 100km north-east of Thursday Island.
The predominant language spoken on the island is Kulkalgaw Ya [Kool-karl-gow Ya]. Torres Strait Creole and English are also spoken. Assistance may be required for complainants, witnesses, victims and offenders who come before the court.
For 2011 and 2016 census information on education, employment, income, housing figures and more for Warraber, build a statistical profile on Know Your Community.
Search for native title information on the National Native Title Tribunal website.
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Warraber Island is part of the Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC). The TSIRC asks all visitors to Warraber Island to register their visit before they arrive. It is also recommended that visitors read the TSIRC's information on culture, protocols and heritage.
Warraber can be accessed by air or boat. The island has a small all-weather airstrip located close to the township, and there are regular flights and charter flights available from Horn Island to Warraber.
The wet season in the Torres Strait starts around October and ends in April-May. The region may be subject to cyclones during this time.
When visiting the Torres Strait you need to observe the quarantine regulations. It is against the law to move plant and animal material, including fruit, from the Torres Strait to the mainland.
For more information visit the Australian interstate quarantine website.
There are no alcohol management plans for islands in the Torres Strait. Please check with the local council as some island communities may have preferred protocols in relation to the consumption of alcohol.
Search the local government directory for information about the Torres Strait Island Regional Council.
When a member of the Warraber Island community passes away, the family members will be notified to come together, where they will be informed the family about the Sad News.
If a death happens outside the community; in-laws (both male and female) referred to as Marigeth [Mari-get], gather families together and it is their role to inform the families of Sad News. After this time, the community gathers together daily to share comfort and support each other until the day of the funeral. On the day of the funeral, the community closes its businesses for the whole day. A feast is held after the funeral to conclude the initial stage of the mourning period. The terminology used for mourning in the central islands of the Torres Strait region is Thoerbaw-ay [Thur-bow Ya].
For Torres Strait Islander cultures, ‘Tombstone Openings’ are a time for celebration and symbolise the point that brings closure for the family of the deceased through the celebration of the person’s life. There is a lengthy mourning process from the time of the person’s death, culminating with the unveiling of the tombstone ceremony, which is followed by feasting and dancing. This process usually takes place about 1 or 2 years after the funeral; however, some families may take longer to prepare for this event.
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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:
For more information about your local Community Justice Group:
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Use the Queensland Government's one place service directory to find up-to-date contact information for local support services including:
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