What We Do / Our Initiatives
Thriving Places, Thriving Kids Network
Purpose
To grow and amplify place-based work in Queensland.
Partners
This initiative is facilitated by Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership and supported by Griffith University’s Centre for Systems Innovation and UniSQ’s Institute for Resilient Regions, in collaboration with representatives from Cairns South, Yarrabah, Townsville, Gladstone, Gympie, Lockyer, Logan and other places, along with peaks, not-for-profit organisations, Primary Health Networks (PHN) and government agencies.
Places that are good for children are good for us all
The places children live, learn and play, shape them now and into the future.
To give every Queensland kid a fair go, we need to make sure that every neighbourhood has what families need to thrive – including homes for everyone, accessible transport and services, green spaces, well-resourced schools, support for parents, and safe places to connect and make friends.
With six of the ten most disadvantaged communities in Australia located in Queensland, many families are not yet getting the support they need.
However, as a state, we’re in an excellent position to build on Queensland’s long history of delivering effective place-based initiatives. And, most importantly, the knowledge of local people.
Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership is bringing people together to leverage the growing interest in place-based work.
Together, we can create even greater impact for our kids.
What do we mean by ‘place-based’?
“Place-based approaches (sometimes called ‘community-led’ approaches) are … community-led, strengths-based responses that empower local people to respond to complex, interrelated issues in a local place. These approaches bring stakeholders from different communities and sectors together to strengthen collaboration and knowledge sharing. They value First Nations and local expertise and ownership. Local people usually lead design and implementation, and hold decision-making power and accountability.” Jesuit Social Services
Map of place-based initiatives in Australia (hosted by Jesuit Social Services)
What we're already achieving
The Thriving Places, Thriving Kids initiative brings together more than 60 leaders. So far, our combined efforts have:
- Supported strong collaboration across place-based initiatives
- Contributed to the state and federal agenda around place
- Secured funding for place-based initiatives
- Co-developed the Queensland Place-Based Rivermap.
The Rivermap outlines a plan to:
- Unlock the potential of local government as a key contributor in place-based work
- Strengthen strategic investment in place
- Bolster place-based practice and capabilities
- Improve place-based data knowledge, shared decision making and impact
- Build the social infrastructure across systems
- Design a network model that supports and develops early and emerging place-based initiatives.

“To see change, we need a ‘portfolio of experiments’ … When these experiments coalesce around a shared mission, they are useful signals of what might be possible and exploring new terrain.”
Christian Bason
“Children are a kind of indicator species. If we can build a successful city for children, we will have a successful city for all people.”
Enrique Penalosa
How you can get involved
Local people know what their communities need for children. If you’re involved with place-based work in Queensland we’d love to hear from you.
Contact Rowena Cann on rowena.cann@aracy.org.au.
Keen to jump in and learn more?
- Download the Queensland Place-Based Rivermap
Related links & documents
Thriving Places, Thriving Kids Meeting Reports
Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership produces comprehensive meeting reports for the Thriving Places, Thriving Kids Network. These are a useful reference for anyone who is interested in more detail about this important initiative.
DOWNLOAD
Queensland Place-Based Rivermap
The Queensland Place-Based Rivermap proposes systemic actions to support our many place-based initiatives so they can enable all children, young people, and families to thrive.

PDF 1.5MB

DOWNLOAD
Queesland Place-Based Network (2024)
Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership has been co-developing a Queensland place-based network, aimed at ensuring that kids and places in Queensland have what they need to thrive. In 2025, we will be working with partners across places, government and philanthropy to implement the model in Queensland.


DOWNLOAD
Place-Based Data Framework (2024)
Place-based leaders and data experts have created a framework that is not only focused on data access, but guides practitioners in the ‘how to’ of accessing, collecting and using data for the purpose of shared measurement and shared decision-making.


LINK
Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment (PLACE)
The newly established National Centre for PLACE aims to better support and elevate existing work, share successful practices, and inspire new ways for communities to envision and lead their own futures. Visit the website to sign up for updates.


OUR INITIATIVES
WHAT WE DO
Looking for more?
Search the resource library for reports, submission, articles, videos, webinars and more to inspire you and build your knowledge and confidence to create change!
Who's already onboard...
- Act For Kids
- Alliance for Leadership & Learning
- ArcBlue-Q Seed Townsville
- Brisbane North PHN
- Brisbane South PHN
- Cairns South Together
- Centre for Systems Innovation (Griffith University)
- Central Queensland University
- Children’s Health Queensland
- Collective Change
- Collaboration for Impact
- Communities for Children
- Connected Beginnings
- Darling Downs & West Moreton PHN
- Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts
- Department of Education
- Department of Health
- Department of Premier & Cabinet
- Department of Social Services -SPSP (commonwealth government)
- Dusseldorp Foundation
- Gladstone Region engaging in action Together (GRT)
- Goonawoona Jungai
- Griffith University
- Gympie Local Level Alliance (LLA) – Collective Impact in Action
- Hand Heart Pocket
- Health and Wellbeing Queensland
- Helping Hands Network Foundation
- James Cook University
- Laidley Community Centre
- Local Government Association Qld
- Logan Together
- Mackay Regional Council
- Mission Australia
- Neighbourhood Centres Queensland
- Nexus Centre Pathways to Resilience
- Play Matters
- Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP)
- Queensland Brain Institute (UQ)
- Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS)
- Restacking the Odds – Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI)
- Seer Data and Analytics
- Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI) Listeners
- Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Gardens
- Team Bundaberg
- The Bryan Foundation
- The Salvation Army
- The Smith Family
- The University of Queensland
Thriving Lockyer Kids Initiative
Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership is also supporting a partner-led project Thriving Lockyer Kids Initiative (funded by Helping Hands Network Foundation). The Thriving Lockyer Kids Initiative is being led locally in partnership with Together4Lockyer, Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN, Kambu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health (Kambu Health) and University of Southern Queensland, Our Heartland, and Queensland Department of Education.
More Initiatives
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