Child and Family Queensland

03/11/2026

Turing 18 is a big milestone. For young people in child protection, it is the beginning of a new chapter as they prepare for life beyond care and greater independence.

Throughout November, Transition to Adulthood (T2A) Month highlights the importance of ensuring young people in care have the skills, knowledge and support they need to navigate adulthood and build the future they want for themselves.

Run by the Create Foundation, this year’s theme “Your Journey. Your Power.” is about empowering young people as they take the next step into adulthood.

The Create Foundation runs free events and workshops where young people can learn practical life skills and connect with services.

Find out more about T2A Month, register for an event or see what resources are available to young people at: https://www.create.org.au/t2a/

[Image description: On a purple and blue background, white, yellow, blue and pink text reads: T2A transition to adulthood. Your journey. Your power. 2026 T2A Month. A photo of smiling young woman with red hair and a green shirt sits to the right, and the Create Foundation logo also appears on the image.]

29/10/2026

Reading and storytelling from a young age will help grow your child's brain, imagination, language and learning ability.

Raising Children Network has partnered with Story Box Library and Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth to create a free 12-story wellbeing playlist with suggested activities and printable resources that can be accessed by parents, caregivers and educators. The stories explore elements that shape a child's wellbeing, including relationships, belonging, learning, safety, health and participation.

You can access the Wellbeing Playlist at https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01n3590

[Image description - Short video featuring Derek McCormack, Director of the Raising Children Network, and Professor Sharon Goldfeld AM, paediatrician and Director of the Centre for Community Child Health in Victoria, speaking about the release of the new wellbeing playlist.]

27/10/2026

Parents and carers can learn how to create safer online experiences for children at free webinars hosted by Australia's eSafety Commissioner.

Topics include:
>> Navigating screentime: tools for today's families
>> How AI is influencing new online risks for children and young people
>> Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into secondary school
>> How connection and belonging shapes children and young people's vulnerability online
>> Recognising online coercive control in young people's lives.

To learn more and register visit https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars

[Image description - On a navy background, a headline reads Free parent and carer webinars. Beneath the headline are listed in boxes the dates and topics of the different webinars available.]

Final dates for our 2026 parent and carer webinars are here!

There is still time to build your knowledge, skills and confidence to help your children have safer, more positive experiences online 😊💻

Join us for practical conversations about:
👦 the online experiences of young men and boys
📱 navigating screen time
🤝belonging and connection
🔐online parental controls
🤖 AI.

Register now and join us for our final webinars of the year. Don't miss the opportunity to learn, ask questions, and feel better equipped to support your child in their online world: https://news.esafety.gov.au/41hNsb3

27/10/2026

Big feelings can be challenging for our little, and not so little, people, especially those dealing with extra challenges.

Learning how to recognise and understand feelings helps them to:
>> express themselves calmly
>> recover quickly after feeling disappointed or frustrated
>> control their impulses
>> get along better with others
>> stay safe and thrive.

Kids Helpline Official has created 'mood critters' to help young children identify and respond to their feelings.

To learn more about 'mood critters', watch the video at: https://www.kidshelpline.com.au/mood-critters

Read about understanding and managing emotions at: https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/development/toddlers-social-emotional-development/understanding-managing-emotions-children-teenagers

[Image description - Short animated video beginning with a child walking alone through a forest, then introducing some of the mood critters to help explain how the child might be feeling.]

25/10/2026

This Friday 30 October is World Teachers' Day.

Let's celebrate the thousands of teachers across Queensland, making a difference in the lives of children every day.

Teachers like Emily, who give students the confidence to celebrate who they are.

There's still time to find resources and plan how to celebrate. Find out more: www.qld.gov.au/world-teachers-day

[Image description: a photo of a woman wearing a t-shirt featuring the Aboriginal flag, sitting on the floor of a classroom filled with art, smiling as she plays the bongo drums with students.]

Emily went to the Torres Strait to teach, but she learnt far more than she ever anticipated.

'It shaped who I am as an educator,' Emily said.

During her five years teaching, she worked across seven different islands – each with its own unique culture, language and way of life. 🌏🌴

'All of my students spoke English as a second, third or sometimes even fourth language,' she said.

'It completely changed the way I thought about teaching.

'For some students, their first real exposure to English is through their teacher.

'It taught me that to be a good teacher, you need to understand and value the language, culture and experiences your students bring with them.

'It gives them confidence that someone is willing to listen, learn and make space for them to celebrate who they are.

'That experience showed me how powerful it can be when students see their identity reflected and respected in their classroom.'

Emily’s work in the Torres Strait was recently recognised when she was honoured as the 2026 Australian Education Awards Primary School Teacher of the Year (Government). 🏆

Emily is quick to credit the people she learnt from.

'I was especially fortunate to work alongside teacher aides, community teachers, families and the broader community, who all shared their knowledge with me. 🤝

'The people I have worked alongside have been some of my greatest teachers, and their influence continues to shape the way I see education today.'

Emily also hopes her story encourages more teachers to consider a career in rural and remote communities.

'If you genuinely immerse yourself in a community and allow yourself to listen, it can change who you are as an educator and shape every classroom you teach in afterwards,' she said.

Congrats on the win, Emily. 🌟

22/10/2026

It’s time to get bushfire-ready

It’s important to talk with your family about what you plan to do if a bushfire threatens your home. A good bushfire survival plan is:
• written down/typed out and easily accessible
• practised regularly
• created with your whole household in mind
• clear about when you will stay, and when you will leave
• reviewed every year.

Create your plan online by visiting: https://www.fire.qld.gov.au/prepare/bushfires

[Image description: a young family sit around a dining table, talking. They have notepad and paper, an iPad and coffee cups on the table. The Queensland Fire Department and Rural Fire Service Queensland logos sit at the top. Text on the photo reads: "It's time to get bushfire ready." The fire.qld.gov.au/bushfires URL and Queensland Government logo sit along the bottom of the image].

21/10/2026

Next Friday 30 October is Day for Daniel, Australia's largest child safety education and awareness day. It's an opportunity to support children to recognise, react to and report situations where they feel unsafe.

We can all show our support by wearing something red and taking some time to talk with the children and young people in your life about personal safety.

You can find educational resources to help start the conversation at https://danielmorcombe.com.au/keeping-kids-safe/day-for-daniel-resources/

[Image description - A large group of people wearing red items of clothing and holding red balloons stand out against a red background. White words on a blue circle read: Friday 30 October 2026. More white words below the image read: We're proud to show our community support this Day for Daniel! Day for Daniel: WEAR RED educate DONATE.]

21/10/2026

Children’s Week is a national celebration aimed at raising awareness and educating the community about the rights of children. This year it will be celebrated from 24 October to 1 November under the theme, “Children have the right to use their own language, celebrate their culture and practice their religion”.

If you're a parent, educator or part of a community group, you can find activities and tips to get involved in using the free Children’s Week 2026 Guide and Inspiration Booklet at https://childrensrights.org.au/childrens-week/qld

[Image description - On a green background with a gold border is a map of Australia containing the faces of people from different ethnic backgrounds. Small white words surround the map. The words 'Children's Week' appear in various languages, including English. White words above the map read: Children's Week 2026, childrensweek.org.au. Below the map are gold words reading: 24 October - 1 November, and more white words reading: Theme: Children have the right use their own language, celebrate their culture and practise their religion - Based on Article 30 of the UNCRC.]

18/10/2026

A few simple checks around the home can help keep children safe from accidental poisoning.

Curious kids often explore the world by touching, tasting and putting things in their mouths. That's why it's important to make sure the spaces where they play are safe from potentially harmful products.

Children's Health Queensland has shared some practical tips to help parents and carers create a safer environment for young children.

[Image description - Square divided into four quadrants. The top left quadrant has a sand coloured background overlaid by two medicine bottles. Blue words read: How to prevent. White words on a blue background read: accidental poisonings. The right quadrant has a sand coloured background overlaid by a medicine bottle and black words in list form reading: store medicines, cleaning products and poisons out of reach; put child-proof locks on doors and drawers; always secure lids on bottles properly and tightly; keep medicines and products in original packaging; put medicines and cleaning products away immediately after use. The bottom left quadrant has a sand background overlaid by white words on a blue background that read: Seek help. A mixture of black and maroon words read: call 13 11 26 for poisons information and advice; if your child has collapsed or isn't breathing, call Triple Zero (000). At the bottom of the quadrant is an illustration of a spray can and flying insects. The bottom right quadrant has a thick blue border around a white background overlaid by words that read: Found this useful? Share this post with family and friends; save this post for later; follow us for more health and advice tips.]

14/10/2026

Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, remembering the lives of thousands of babies who pass away each year as a result of miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death. It is a day parents remember and celebrate the little ones held dearly in their hearts, but no longer in their arms. 💜

Send some love today to those you know who have experienced this grief. 🌻

If you or someone you know needs support, visit https://rednose.org.au/grief-and-loss-support/find-support/ or call the Red Nose 24/7 bereavement support line: 1300 308 307.

[Image description: On a blue background, an illustrated light blue heart features baby footprints. Underneath, white text reads: "Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart" A.A. Milne]