TALEI Elu says she hopes the issues facing Cape residents on a daily basis can be thrust into the spotlight after she was nominated for the Queensland Young Australian of the Year Award.
The Seisia resident said it was important that Australians knew the struggle of remote living and wanted to highlight the inequality for those living in places like the Cape and Torres Strait.
“Remoteness shouldn’t define opportunity or access to quality services,” she said.
“The point of most of my projects in Seisia are about the inequality, such as bad telecommunications and the high price of groceries.”
Talei has used her government experience, knack for media creation and community organisation skills to start positive initiatives in Seisia.
She has worked with the Australian Electoral Commission to enrol and educate more Indigenous people about the importance of voting.
She also arranged for local women to receive free feminine hygiene products, baby necessities, and self-care items.
Talei was also recently named as the youngest member of the Queensland Indigenous Voice panel and co-chair.
The awards ceremony is being staged in Brisbane tonight.
