Mapoon Paanja Festival

September 30, 2025

From 26-28 September, a team from Apunipima attended the Mapoon Paanja Festival, the community’s annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, resilience and connection to Country. The festival featured a mix of cultural performances, sports, art displays, and community activities that brought locals and visitors together over the weekend. This year, the festival was held as a joint event with the popular Barra Bash fishing competition.

The weekend was packed with activities for all ages, including cultural dances, live music, information stalls and fun activities for all. Most people spent the daytime competing in the Barra Bash, while others who attended based themselves at the splash park to cool off and to join the activities at the park. The first-place prize for the fishing competition—a dinghy—was won by a local five-year-old.

Apunipima was one of many stakeholders supporting the event alongside Queensland Health’s Kidney and Mental health team, Rio Tinto, Griffith University and Blanco’s sweets and treats.

Apunipima’s Tackling Indigenous Smoking and Health Promotion teams ran fun activities such as Smokes and Ladders and Connect Four, alongside practical education on brushing teeth, men’s and women’s health, FASD and more. Apunipima’s Thimithi-Nhii Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC) provided information on the clinic and services we provide to the community. The team spent the day yarning with community members, answering questions and making services visible in a fun and friendly way.

Apunipima’s Health Promotion team hosted the festival’s colour run, which was popular with the young kids and families and promoted exercise through fun. Zumba sessions brought people together to move, with elders leading the way and the option to join seated or standing — a great, inclusive way to be active. The splash park and kid-friendly activities kept the little ones entertained so adults could chat, connect and learn about local services.

The evening brought the festival’s standout moments, headlined by Australian Idol winner and local Royston Sagigi-Baira, who gave a moving performance for his community. Local bands kept the crowd dancing while cultural dance groups delivered a beautiful display of tradition and pride, with teams from Mapoon, Kalkadoon (Mt Isa), Seisia and the Torres Strait performing powerful routines that celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

Well done to the Mapoon Thimithi-Nhii PHCC staff and visiting Apunipima team for a successful weekend at the Paanja Festival, it was a great opportunity to showcase Apunipima services, be visible in community and engage in meaningful yarns with people.