A signwriting project at Baja Baja Youth Centre is bringing culture and computer literacy together to empower young people in the community. Photo: Supplied.
An emerging community-run signage business is helping Wujal Wujal youth stay out of the legal system and setting them up for success in a technological world.
Eight months after starting a design training program at the Baja Baja Youth Centre, Wujal Justice Group youth justice program co-ordinator Susan Bonaccorsi said the team was ready to take on clients looking for locally made signs.
Since starting at the centre in July 2023, Ms Bonaccorsi said she had focused on a holistic approach to keeping youth out of trouble, with empowering young people to fill a need in community being one of the aspects.
“We’ve got areas screaming out for a sign company up here – even my friends on the road crews always tell me that the one thing they’re always looking for is signage,” she said.
“There are no signwriters up here; Cape York has to go to Cairns, so we offer the service closer, getting these young people learning how to design on the computer, cut the signs, put them together and put them out there.
“We can do vehicles, boats, cars, buildings, windows, banners – everything.”
Ms Bonaccorsi said she had used her background as a qualified signwriter to help the youth with graphic design on the computer, as well as a more traditional brushwork style of sign-making.
“They’re in a modern world, so as much as they need to know their culture, they also need to know how to navigate the modern world,” she said.
“Let’s get them, instead of being on the chats all the time, let’s get them into design, let’s get them into how far they really want to go in this type of field.”
The young people are currently working on a range of signage for the Lion’s Den Hotel, making use of both techniques for a unique and handcrafted feel difficult to get elsewhere.
By having it done locally, Ms Bonaccorsi said there was scope for more clients to get personalised signs that incorporated Cape York’s First Nations culture authentically.
“Rossville Retreat, they’re interested in us doing signage for them, but they want that culture in them,” Ms Bonaccorsi said.
She hoped Cape York businesses would choose to support local, adding while they were selling goods, the project was not motivated by profit.
“Behind it, they’re helping a community in training in having their own business, and the money goes straight back into improving the program and into the community,” she said.
“We can buy more art gear, better equipment, because we want to actually get into printed signs, which has even more potential.
“We could do T-shirts, the ladies from the art centre can print their paintings, and sell them as prints, as well as original paintings; the whole community can grow so much from this.”
Wujal Wujal youth are learning hand-painted signage techniques, as well as graphic designs on the computer. Photo: Supplied.
