On 12 July 2021, Mr C’Zarke Maza commenced duties as the inaugural Commissioner (Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa). Mr Maza will be responsible for independently considering applications for legal recognition of traditional child rearing practice.
The Office of the Commissioner (Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa) is now receiving applications for legal recognition of traditional child rearing practice.
A Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa Program Support Office has been established to provide support to Torres Strait Islander people who are considering applying for legal recognition of traditional child rearing practice.
The name of the Act incorporates language terms from Torres Strait Islander languages. 'Meriba Omasker' and 'Kaziw Kazipa' together translate to 'for our children's children'.
The Act gives Torres Strait Islander families a process for making an application for legal recognition. If granted this will result in a permanent transfer of parentage from the biological parents to the cultural parents.
The process to apply for a Cultural Recognition Order will ensure cultural parents can make parental decisions (for example, education and health) about their child without difficulty and the child will have the same legal rights as other children of the cultural parents, including inheritance rights.
The granting of a Cultural Recognition Order will also facilitate the issuing of a new birth certificate which will help to resolve longstanding issues faced by Torres Strait Islanders whose legal identity does not reflect their cultural identity and lived experience.
The Act also promotes the right of Torres Strait Islanders to enjoy, maintain, control, protect and develop their kinship ties under the Human Rights Act 2019, while still ensuring the protection of children in their best interests.
Email: office@ocmokk.qld.gov.au
Visit the Office of the Commissioner (Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa) website
Last reviewed:29 April 2025
Last modified:29 April 2025
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence
We pay our respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors of this land, their spirits and their legacy. The foundations laid by these ancestors—our First Nations peoples—give strength, inspiration and courage to current and future generations towards creating a better Queensland.
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