Our Story

WHO WE ARE

RAATSIC, the Remote Area Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation (formerly RAATSICC) is a community‑controlled, not‑for‑profit organisation. We support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities across Far North Queensland. Here at RAATSIC, we embrace a wide range of local community approaches to child safety and domestic violence intervention and prevention, and our success relies upon community participation and self-determination being at the centre of our work.

OUR FOUNDING STORY

RAATSIC was established in 1990 by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women from the five communities of the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA). These women came together in Bamaga to talk about serious concerns, including childcare and domestic and family violence.

At that time, there were no dedicated childcare services in the Cape and Gulf regions. When the women approached government representatives, they learned that existing childcare funding and services did not meet the needs of remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Soon after, a larger meeting was held in an old tin shed. More than 60 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women attended, all sharing a strong commitment to creating safe and appropriate childcare services for their children and communities.

Today, RAATSIC takes a holistic approach to supporting children and families. This means we look at the child and the whole family. Our services support children’s learning, development, wellbeing and cultural identity, and include early childhood services, child protection, youth programs, and family support.

RAATSIC now works across communities throughout Far North Queensland, Cape York Peninsula and the Gulf of Carpentaria. We recognise that each community is different, and we respect local knowledge, culture and ways of working. By working in partnership with communities and stakeholders, we aim to support strong children, strong families and strong communities.