FAQs

The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) is one of the most remote and unique Australian Public Service (APS) agencies.

It supports programs across the Torres Strait region, including for the 17 inhabited islands of the Torres Strait and the communities of Bamaga and Seisia on the Northern Peninsula Area of mainland Australia.

This statutory body is the lead Commonwealth agency in the Torres Strait for Indigenous Affairs, operating under the direction of a community-elected board.

The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) operates under the direction of a community-elected board.

Elections are held every four years.

The current TSRA Chief Executive Officer is Charlie Kaddy.

The current TSRA Chairperson is George Nona.

The Torres Strait Islander flag was designed by the late Bernard Namok of Thursday Island.

It symbolises the unity and identity of all Torres Strait Islanders.

The green stripes represent the land, the black stripes represent the people, and the blue the sea.

The flag is emblazoned with a white Dhari (headdress) which is a symbol of Torres Strait Islanders.

The white five pointed star beneath it symbolises peace, the five major island groups and the navigational importance of stars to the seafaring people of the Torres Strait.

The 5 island groups include:

• Northern Division (Boigu, Dauan, Saibai)
• Eastern Islands (Erub, Mer, Ugar)
• Western Division (St. Pauls, Kubin, Badu, Mabuiag)
• Central Division (Masig, Poruma, Warraber, Iama)
• Southern Division (Thursday, Horn, Prince of Wales and Hammond Islands, NPA and Mainland Australia).

Learn more about the Torres Strait Islander flag.

The Torres Strait region is the home of two traditional languages and six dialects:

• Meriam Mir – Mer dialect and Erub dialect
• Kala Lagaw Ya – Kulkalgau Ya, Kalaw Kawaw Ya, Kawrareg dialect and Mabuyag dialect

English and Torres Strait creole are also spoken.

Learn more about traditional languages of the Torres Strait.

Apply for jobs or join TSRA’s employment register at www.tsra.gov.au/jobs

Like our region, our workplace is diverse.

TSRA employs a range of roles from admin, finance, corporate, project management, media and communications to rangers, language leaders, cultural advisors, scientists, climate change experts and marine biologists.