Not-for-profit remote store operator Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ) is proud to reflect on a year of achievements, growth, and community connection in 2024–2025 – a year that reaffirmed CEQ’s unwavering commitment to its vision of Caring, every day, always.
From cost-of-living support and major store upgrades to pioneering initiatives in nutrition, hygiene, and sustainability, CEQ has continued to strengthen its role as a community-first not-for-profit service provider across the Torres Strait, Northen Peninsula Area (NPA), Cape York Peninsula, and in Doomadgee and on Palm Island.
“This year has been about delivering for community – in real, practical and lasting ways,” said CEQ Chief Executive Officer Michael Dykes. “Everything we’ve done, from flying in essential goods during the wet season to refreshing stores and supporting local events, has been driven by our core belief: that community comes first.”
Good Pasin: Giving back where it matters most
CEQ’s Good Pasin (Give-back) program evolved into a formalised community reinvestment initiative, aligned with 17 of the 19 socio-economic targets of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Through Good Pasin (Give-back) servicing over 400 applications, CEQ has provided sorry business support assisting many families through times of grief to help ease financial stress, supported local junior sports teams including the Palm Island Barracudas and Doomadgee Junior Dragons, Mapoon Barra Bash, cultural festivals such as the upcoming Winds of Zenadth and Napranum Ruchook, and significant community events like Mabo Day, Coming of the Light, and NAIDOC Week.
CEQ also championed women’s voices and leadership, providing support for International Women’s Day events and local women’s support groups.
“Our Good Pasin (Give-back) program is about much more than sponsorship – it’s about strengthening identity, fostering resilience, and recognising the incredible work already happening in communities,” said Mr Dykes.
Supporting nutrition, hygiene, and sustainability
This year saw the delivery of 70 hygiene care packs to Torres Strait Kaziw Meta boarding students, supporting good hygiene practices and student wellbeing.
“’Caring, every day, always’ is more than just our vision – it’s how we show up for communities in every aspect of life,” said Mr Dykes. “From nutrition and hygiene to local events and safe spaces, we’re committed to respectful, inclusive support that puts community wellbeing first – wherever people live.”
CEQ also made strong progress on environmental sustainability. As part of its Resource Recovery Project, 20 purpose-built recycling storage containers have been funded by the Queensland Government’s Regional & Remote Recycling Modernisation Fund, with 14 already delivered to store locations to support better waste separation and recycling of cardboard and plastic wrap.
“Caring for Country means acting today to protect tomorrow,” said Mr Dykes. “Our recycling investments are just one step in our long-term vision for environmentally conscious retail in remote Australia.”
Cost-of-living support in tough times
With cost-of-living pressures continuing across remote regions, CEQ remained focused on affordability and fairness throughout 2024–2025.
This included:
- $200,000 invested to bring down the price of staple items for the last three months of the year
- $600,000 investment in Good Pasin (Give-back) to support families and organisations
- $2 million invested in wet season flights over 28 weeks without raising prices
- $415,000 invested to keep water at $1 for our customers (80 cents each after the Queensland Government Remote Communities Freight Assistance Scheme)
- $750,000 in freight efficiencies, keeping costs down as our volumes increase
- Free fruit for kids totalling $50,000.
“Supporting our communities means reinvesting into families,” said Mr Dykes. “No matter the weather or distance, we’re committed to keeping food and essentials affordable and available for everyone.”
More than 202,000 kilograms of goods were flown in during road closures, with additional cold storage and ‘borrowed’ warehousing helping CEQ stay one step ahead for future wet seasons.
Store upgrades and local investment
CEQ continued its Operation Wheel program, which delivers cyclical store refreshes across the network.
Major upgrades were completed and are still progressing at:
- Doomadgee Supermarket – featuring a new store layout, modern signage, and ‘Store of the Future’ initiatives like Deadly Deals, Healthy End, and Wis Wei Café
- Waibene Supermarket – with full refurbishments including new flooring, checkout systems, and merchandising aids
- Mona’s Bazaar – the iconic Waibene store received a full refresh, new signage and layout while retaining its cultural heart
- Bamaga Supermarket – now home to a new solar energy system
- Bamaga Home Hardware – officially opened to provide home and hardware supplies locally.
“These upgrades aren’t just about how stores look – they’re about how people feel when they walk in or work there,” said Mr Dykes. “We want every customer and team member to feel proud, valued, and part of something bigger.”
Creating culturally safe spaces
In December 2024, CEQ opened the Waibene Elders Lounge at IBIS Waibene – a comfortable, air-conditioned, and culturally respectful space for local and visiting Elders to rest, rehydrate and reconnect.
“Our Elders are the heart of communities. This lounge is a small way to honour them – with dignity, with care, and with comfort,” said Mr Dykes.
Building capacity for the future
CEQ continually evaluates and improves by building capacity to meet the evolving needs and expectations of the communities we serve, delivering:
- increased fuel capacity in remote communities, with more upgrades planned
- secured $640,000 to increase cold storage for food security in Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw
- secured local warehousing for greater wet season stock holdings
- continued investment in its team through THRIVE and its Managers Gathering, reflecting the organisation’s internal theme of Thriving Together.
“We’re preparing for the future by investing in our team, our supply chains, and our stores,” said Mr Dykes. “Everything we do is about creating reliable, respectful, and resilient systems that people can count on.”
Looking ahead
As CEQ looks to the 2025–2026 financial year, it remains focused on delivering value beyond the checkout, through genuine relationships, local employment, cultural respect, and food security.
“Communities trust us to deliver – and we don’t take that lightly,” said Mr Dykes. “We’re proud of our Board and what they have directed. We are proud of what we’ve achieved as a team, and we’re even more committed to the work still to come. Together, we’re building something that lasts.”
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About CEQ
CEQ is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for providing goods and essential services to the Torres Strait, Cape York Peninsula and in Doomadgee and on Palm Island through its 31 stores. Of all the remote team members employed at CEQ, 90 per cent identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
CEQ manages Islanders Board of Industry and Service (IBIS) and Aboriginal Business, Industry and Service (ABIS) stores, as well as other stores including Col Jones, Mona’s Bazaar and Mitre 10 on Waibene and Community Home & Hardware in Bamaga.
For more information on CEQ, visit www.ceqld.org.au
