Head of Campus (Ken Crowther)

p: 07 40694122
f: 07 40694047

Saibai Island State School is situated on Saibai Island in the Top Western Island group in Torres Strait. It is located four kilometers off the Papua New Guinea coastline. Saibai Island is a low, swampy mangrove island.

The population of Saibai Island is approximately 450. The majority of people who live on Saibai Island are of Torres Strait Islander origin. The remaining island residents are mostly of Papuan decent.

The Saibai Island people are very proud of their history, culture and language. The Saibai Island traditional dancers are well recognized throughout Australia and overseas. They have won traditional dancing competitions at numerous cultural festivals over the past years. The school’s dancers were asked to perform at the opening ceremony of the Torres Festival on Thursday Island in September 2002.

The community leaders and elders play a major role in ensuring the culture is taught, practised and promoted.

The Saibai Islanders maintain strong cultural ties with their Papua New Guinea neighbours through trade and traditional visits and intermarriage.

The main language spoken at Saibai Island is the traditional language known as Kala Kawau Ya (KKY). The Papuan residents speak their Papuan language called Kiwai.