The Woodleigh Residential College Council has decided to embark on a new direction for the historic boarding facility in order to explore innovative Indigenous educational avenues for the strategic Herberton site.

The Woodleigh Council comprising community elders and leaders from Cape York came to the decision after calls from various Indigenous communities for an integrated boarding and educational facility.

Woodleigh Chairman Rev Shayne Blackman said the new focus for the College would be on an amalgamated model of educational delivery and boarding designed in the best long term interests of Indigenous students and their communities.

"Our foremost concern will always be for Indigenous students, their parents and our staff, and to this end we need to focus on utilising the existing site and infrastructure to better respond to the growing need for a sustainable and merged model of Indigenous residential and educational delivery" said Rev Blackman.

Woodleigh College is a strategically located boarding facility close to many Gulf Communities, and the Council is in discussion with various Government bodies and agencies to explore this increasing call for a facility that not only offers quality Indigenous boarding but complimentary educational programs.

"As a potential new model of Indigenous educational delivery is explored, it will mean the consequential upgrading of existing infrastructure, capital works, program development and other measures during 2011 to better deliver premium Indigenous educational outcomes.

Through this renewal process we will be working in close collaboration with Indigenous communities, partner schools, staff and all our stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcome for all - and, most importantly, the Indigenous students we serve" said Rev Blackman.

Rev Shayne Blackman 
Chairperson
Congress Community Development and Education Unit Ltd