Since 1989 there has been growing interest in Cape York in Montessori education. This interest was inspired by Ardyn Masterman, a Montessori teacher, who has been working to bring Montessori education to the Indigenous communities of Cape York.

These efforts have received the support of Indigenous elders, community members and Education Queensland. In 2004 a retreat was held, bringing together representatives of the Montessori and Cape York communities, to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of the first years of life and to explore ways to support parents, families and communities in their task of nurturing young children. More recently an Indigenous teacher, Letitia Murgha, has undertaken AMI Montessori Early Childhood teacher training, becoming the first person from the Cape to undertake Montessori training.

Update March 2006 - Visit to Cairns West and Cape York Visit by Amy Kirkham and Pam Nunn

Participants at the 2004 Masterman Montessori Indigenous Learning Retreat		Don Anderson, Director, Western Cape College, Education Queensland, visiting Forestville Montessori School in Sydney		Thanakupi, Tribal Elder and renown indigenous artist, admires a Montessori student’s research project about her pottery

In 2007, over $4,000,000 was donated to the Montessori Children’s Foundation to establish the Masterman Montessori Indigenous Children’s Trust, as a bequest from the estate of Leslie Charles (Bob) Masterman. The purpose of the trust is to further the education of Indigenous children in the Cape area of Queensland through the Montessori method. Current projects in Cape York include:

Aurukun: Early Childhood School Holiday Program, Aurukun, Cape York

A school holiday programme is run twice per year in the remote community of Aurukun for children aged two to six, with the assistance of the Koolkan Childcare Centre. The programme draws on Montessori principles in the design of activities for young children that promote various aspects of development, and which also model for parents and carers ways of interacting effectively with children in the age group. The programme provides employment for local assistants, and is seen as a bridging activity towards establishing a more extensive partnership with the Childcare Centre. Discussions in regard to the partnership are well advanced. This partnership will involve establishing a Montessori 0-3 and 3-6 programme and providing Montessori training for members of the local community, initially as programme assistants, and in the longer term as teachers.

Update 5 - 10 September 2010 - MCF Delegates Visit Torres Strait and Aurukun - Trip Blog

Update January 2009 - Aurukun School Holiday Programme

Mapoon: Early Childhood Centre, Mapoon, Cape York

Ongoing discussions are continuing with the Mapoon community regarding a partnership between the Council and MCF to operate 0-3, 3-6 and parent support programmes in the soon to be constructed childcare centre. In preparation, AMI trainer, Cheryl Ferreira conducted an AMI Assistants Course in Mapoon in August 2009.

Update 20-30 October 2009 - Assistants Course Mapoon

Pormpuraaw: Early Childhood Centre, Pormpuraaw, Cape York

Extensive planning has taken place to establish a partnership between MCF and the Pormpuraaw community to operate the Pormpuraaw Childcare Centre. Several meetings have been held between MCF, the Queensland Office for Early Childhood Education and Care, and Education Queensland, and a formal proposal for the partnership was negotiated.  A full suite of Montessori early childhood and parenting support programmes will be phased in over a 3 to 5 year period.

The partnership between MCF and the Pormpuraaw Childcare Centre has produced amazing changes in the services offered to the community’s youngest children. Since the agreement was concluded in May 2010, the Centre has attracted new staff who have transformed the space, and developed engaging and purposeful programmes for the children, all of which have contributed significantly to increases in enrolment and growing levels of community satisfaction and pride.

The engagement of three staff members in the training course conducted by Cheryl Ferreira in Brisbane in September 2010 was inspiring, with two of the staff to begin diploma-level training in 2011.

Update 18 September 2010 - Graduation Ceremony Brisbane Assistants Course

Update 6 - 17 September 2010 - Brisbane Assistants Course for Participants from Torres Strait and Pormpuraaw

Update August 2010 - Renner Family Foundation Supports the MCF Pormpuraaw Project

Update June 2010 - Photos from Pormpuraaw Childcare Centre