Learning Hubs
Queensland Hubs Exchange of Expertise & Learning (QHEEL)
Child and family hubs provide safe, friendly places, where families can access the supports and services they need, and connect with others.
For those of us navigating the journey of parenting, hubs can be like lighthouses or safe harbours – especially when we’re going through rough waters.
Hubs play an important part in supporting Queensland communities, families and children to thrive.
The aim of Queensland Hubs Exchange of Expertise and Learning (QHEEL) Initiative is to support hubs with the connections, knowledge, skills and strategies they need to best support their communities.
NEW!
Invitation for child and family hubs in Queensland to access a FREE 3-day immersive learning opportunity to increase understanding and application of First Nations ways of Knowing, Being and Doing
Would you like to deepen your understanding of how to apply First Nations ways of Knowing, Being and Doing to your work?
Do you work with a child and family hub based in Queensland (this can include hubs that are in planning, under development or existing)?
Are you interested in a 3-day package of deep relational learning (including 2 days of Waterways training and 1 day of visiting First Nations hubs)?
If you answer ‘yes’ to the above questions, find out more below…
What will the 3-day immersive learning package involve?
This unique opportunity is being offered through a collaboration between Queensland Kids Partnership with the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP).
Participation is designed as a complete learning journey, with attendance across all three days strongly recommended to ensure depth of learning and application.
The first 2 days will be the Waterways training
Waterways is a culturally grounded professional learning package that builds the capability of services working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. The training supports participants to build an understanding of trauma, culture and self-determination, and is underpinned by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of Knowing, Being and Doing.
It was developed by QATSICPP in partnership with SNAICC, and other state-based peaks as well as independent consultants Yamurrah. Funded by Department of Social Services (DSS), the partnership worked together in solidarity to build the cultural responsiveness of DSS funded services working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families across Australia.
Waterways offers tools to support ‘wise and reflective practice’ when working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
Here’s what people say about the 2-day Waterways training:
The third day will involve visiting First Nations hubs
To further extend Waterways learning from theory to practice, participants will also visit two local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations (ATSICCOs). This will enable them to deepen their cultural understanding, and build meaningful, place-based relationships.
Participants will meet the people working in the hubs and see first-hand how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders ways of working are put into practice.
Participants in an immersion tour of hubs in Logan, earlier this year, found this style of learning extremely valuable.
When and where will the 3-day learning opportunities be held?
We plan to deliver two separate 3-day learning opportunities in Queensland before the end of 2026.
The locations are to be confirmed. Locations will be guided by the availability of host visit sites as well as the feedback from this invitation process (in order to ensure that we have sufficient participants in each area).
This invitation process will also help us confirm the dates, with both to be held before the end of 2026.
We’ll advise of more details as soon as we have confirmed participant interest and engaged potential hosts.
How to register your interest?
To express your interest in this opportunity, please email Queensland Kids Partnership’s Principal Partnership Manager – Hubs, Sophie Morson, on sophie.morson@aracy.org.au by Friday 10 July.
In your email please include details of your hub/organisation and who would be likely to attend (ideally the manager/coordinator and a practioner).
Of course, we understand that your commitment to attend will depend on the locations and dates. This process is to gauge interest – we’ll let you know as soon as locations and dates have been decided, so that you can confirm your involvement.
Also to note:
Attendance at this opportunity (including all catering) is free, but participants will need to cover any expenses associated with travel/accommodation to attend.
Participants will also be asked to take part in an evaluation, including involvement in a brief online follow-up interview that will further support application of learnings into practice.
This important opportunity is being offered exclusively to child and family hubs in Queensland to help bring to life the First Nations underpinning outlined in the Queensland Child and Family Hubs Framework.
For the purpose of this work, we use the following definition of hubs from the National Child and Family Hubs Network (NCFHN) & Social Ventures Australia (2023):
Child and family hubs (i.e. hubs focused on pregnancy to children aged 12 years) provide a supportive, social space with integrated service offerings that support child development and learning, facilitate relationships with others and improve child and family health and wellbeing.
They do this through two critical roles:
- Providing opportunities to build adult capabilities and for families to create social connections
- Improving equitable access to a range of health, learning and social services using a family centred approach.
Background about QHEEL
The aim of Queensland Hubs Exchange of Expertise and Learning (QHEEL) Initiative is to support hubs with the connections, knowledge, skills and strategies they need. So they can support children and families with the right supports at the right time.
QHEEL is designed to provide a range of opportunities to engage in capability building and innovation.
Immersion e.g. visits to other hubs for peer-to-peer learning
Accessing Capability e.g. through accessing free training, peer mentoring, coaching, community of practice
Delivering Capability e.g. through funding to deliver training, peer mentoring, coaching, community of practice
Innovation Groups to collectively develop and test solutions to system challenges as referenced in the Queensland Child and Family Hubs Framework
About QHEEL activities so far
The first immersion bus tour of hubs in Logan
In March 2026, ten participants from across Queensland took part in a two-day immersion coordinated by QKP – the first offering of the Queensland Hub Exchange Expertise and Learning (QHEEL) initiative funded by Minderoo Foundation to June 2027.
Together, the group visited five hubs in Logan, with learning opportunities including a cross-sectoral panel considering the impact, needs and policy landscape of hubs, and a networking dinner.
A recurring theme was that each hub is shaped by local voices in finding their own way to provide children and families with the right supports, at the right time, in the right way. And for families navigating the journey of parenting, hubs are like welcome lighthouses or safe harbours, especially when the waters get rough.
A big thanks to immersion hosts Settlement Services International, Village Connect, Gunya Meta, the Benevolent Society, and FamilyLinQ.
How you can get involved
To find out more and talk about ways to get involved, contact us at sophie.morson@aracy.org.au.
To find out more about hubs, visit our Supporting Child and Family Hubs page, which collates information including:
Child & Family Hubs Framework documents
What are Child & Family Hubs?
Hubs in Queensland (including mapping)
Supporting the work of the National Child and Family Hubs Network
Back to main Child & Family Hubs page
For overarching information including Framework document, mapping, definitions and collaborations.
The QHEEL initiative is funded by Minderoo Foundation
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