Whilst only a very small committee, Every Child CQ (ECCQ) has been working in the background to support groups and individuals who are forging ahead with a range of initiatives to “shift the dial” on improving the lives and futures of young people in this region.

As we are an unfunded organisation, ECCQ has focussed on what we can achieve without paid staff and have taken on an auspicing role for unincorporated organisations over the last 6 months, thanks to the generosity of expertise, time and energy of the Management Group.

Every Child CQ continues to look for opportunities to pursue a collective change agenda to ensure our young people can grow, thrive and be happy in the Central Queensland region.

The Rockhampton Community Based Crime Action Committee (CBCAC) that has taken a lead role in building strong collaboration and understanding to address youth crime in the Rockhampton area. Several activities have been funded by CBCAC and auspiced by ECCQ, including the following initiatives:

• Our Space is an exciting and innovative initiative, supported by Stockland Rockhampton providing a shop front where services can connect with community in a safe space. CBCAC have funded a Coordinator for this initiative and are seeking further support from anyone interested in contributing beyond the funding period.
• The aim of the space is improving health and well-being outcomes for our children, youth and families with a primary focus on vulnerable and at risk youth.
• The target group for the space are the at risk and vulnerable youth and families that can be hard to reach via regular service delivery models.

• This activity is aimed at contributing to the Rockhampton CBCAC “priority gap” of Agency Collaboration. Further, it will provide the following community benefits in support of addressing disadvantage and reducing youth crime
• 1. A documented approach to doing place-based community development.
• 2. A blueprint for undertaking community development projects, including milestones.
• 3. A common language around community development.
• 4. A set of practical tools with clear instructions.
• 5. A local cohort of trained people with an understanding of community development, and the ability to use the model and tools.
• 6. A set of training materials for use again in the future.

• Using successful crowd sourcing collective experience intelligence to develop a framework for structured, coordinated, whole of community response to youth crime.
• Gathering global expertise, through an respected online platform, to seek and discuss what has/has not worked elsewhere and provide opportunities for our region.

• Provide opportunities and resources for young people to explore, experience, connect and engage in pilot program that includes, support and pathways to making better choices, positive personal growth, develop goal setting, and grow to their fullest potential. Increasing positive youth engagement, reducing unhealthy activities and reducing youth crime.
• Courses are held 3 days per week for 10 weeks and include Wellbeing, Personal Care, Dressing for Succes, Sexual & Reproductive Health, Alcohol & Other Drugs Session, Nutrition & Exercise, Low budget health food, Hair, Healthy Relationships, Social Media Use and Safety, Self Confidence.
• Provide resources for other disadvantaged young people who are not in the course but visit Our Space.

Maxine Brushe
President
Every Child Central Queensland Inc.

“Well what a very turbulent and unsettling year it has been for everyone, including Every Child Central Qld Inc.” This was how I began the Annual Report to Members at last year’s AGM, and the words fit the 2021 year just as well as they did back twelve months ago.

Every Child CQ had signed a contract with Stronger Places, Stronger People in September 2020 and were looking to engage a suitable person for this important work. Geoff Higgins was employed and gave great service in working in and with community to build on already established relationships as well as new ones. We take this opportunity to thank Geoff for his short, but very respectful and outstanding service to Every Child. Thank you Geoff.

Every Child was pleased to be able to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Darumbal People Aboriginal Corporation (DPAC) at beginning of last year’s AGM. The purpose of the MOU is to establish a formal relationship between DPAC RNTBC, as the custodians of Darumbal country, and Every Child CQ aimed at providing a platform for collaboration and equity in decision-making on Darumbal country in the Rockhampton district. The document recognises DPAC and Every Child CQ share a commitment to developing a new approach to improving the future for our families, children, youth and young adults in this place. We have a collective responsibility to provide a positive future for all.

I, as Every Child CQ Chair, also stated last year that we “anticipate that this will be the first of many agreements that commit to a strong focus on working collaboratively to break down barriers” and build shared acknowledgement , respect and understanding towards collaborative positive outcomes, with people of all backgrounds. We still see great benefit in establishing these agreements across community.

Following last year’s AGM, Geoff Higgins held a workshop to build the Rockhampton Community Alliance, to take the work done over the previous year on developing partnerships and collaborative thinking, as well as building required capacity and resources. It was time to start the action phase – developing policies, procedures, collecting and analysing data. evaluating the outcomes and doing all of this in truly collaborative and collective manner. The Rockhampton Community Alliance was the opportunity to create a safe space for this to sprout, nurture and grow.

As most of you would be aware, Every Child CQ withdrew from the contract with Stronger Places, Stronger People in July 2021. This was a decision that the Management Committee agonized over for some time, but was inevitable given the fact that we could see no appropriate role for Every Child CQ in the proposed move forward.
Every Child CQ’s Management Committee ultimately determined that it would be in our best interests, to withdraw from the program and the funding, and to revert to our original Charter in creating social innovation by using the principles of collective impact to bring about systemic and long lasting change to health, wellbeing and life outcomes for Central Queensland children, to ensure that every child has every chance to reach their full potential.

Every Child CQ’s vision and drive remains the same and we continue to value – connecting, collaborating, changing, coordinating and challenging community to get results that make a positive difference in children’s lives.

Since we withdrew from SPSP, we deliberately stepped back for a while as we did not want to be seen as an impediment to the proposed work of Stronger Places, Stronger People in the Rockhampton region.
We have had no indication from government, either Federal or State, or the Stronger Places, Stronger People officers, as to where the program is now at, but there were millions of dollars allocated to the Rockhampton Region to roll out the program that has not yet been allocated, to our knowledge.

Our Space, the project at Rockhampton Shopping Fair that has been supported through funding from the CBCAC, has been auspiced by Every Child CQ Inc. This is a great opportunity to engage with community in their space, time and safety.

Every Child CQ still sees the great value of a Rockhampton Community Alliance that has broad community involvement, bringing voices from across community, the seen and unseen, the hear and unheard, the fortunate and those that struggle from day to do, because everyone has lived experience that can help understanding, acknowledgement and explore solutions. This is an opportunity we need to continue to explore with community and government, to continue working towards building positive futures for our children and community wellbeing. Hopefully early in the new year, we may be able to share with you some ideas and opportunities.

We thank you for your attendance today. Every Child CQ appreciates your support and continued involvement in creating a safe, secure and happy future for children and families across Central Queensland.

Maxine Brushe
President
Every Child Central Queensland Inc.

Keppel MP and Assistant Minister for Education Brittany Lauga has opened the first Child and Family Health Clinic at ‘Our Place’ Stockland on the 16th of January 2020.

“When I was a young mother with a small baby I found Stockland a great place to be, so I was delighted when I was asked to open the first Child and Family Health Clinic. The way Every Child CQ, the Community Police Board and Stockland Rockhampton have worked as a collective to provide this dedicated space is something we can all be proud of” Ms Lauga said.

“The fact that it has grown out of the work of the Community Police Board really demonstrates that if government works hand-in-hand with community and business, we can together find new approaches that positively impact underlying needs in our communities.”

‘Our Place’ is an initiative of Every Child Central Queensland Inc., the Rockhampton Community Police Board and Stockland and provides a dedicated space in Stockland Rockhampton, where community can access services and services can engage with community.

Coordinator for Every Child CQ Susie Cameron explained that “a range of services and activities are being run out of Our Place with Every Child CQ the lead agency for the Management Committee which includes Stockland Rockhampton, Darumbal Youth Services, Queensland Police Service (QPS), PCYC, Central Queensland Hospital & Health Service (CQHHS), Education Queensland and Qld Dept of Youth Justice.”

Ashley Hull from the QPS stated “the Community Policing Board which is made up of several agencies has done some good work with Stockland Rockhampton over the last couple of years and this success has helped bring us here today”.

“Everyone involved in this initiative want the community to feel that this is their space” said Christine Stevens from the PCYC.

“The CQHHS are very pleased to be able to bring their Child and Family Health Clinic to Stockland Rockhampton and to be a part of a collective way of supporting community. The clinic will run every Thursday from 9am to 3pm providing a drop-in service for well-babies and children 0-8yrs. The Child Health Nurse can monitor children’s growth, development and behaviours and support parents on the parenting journey” said Christine Young the Nurse Unit Manager for Child and Maternal Health, CQHHS.

The official launch for Our Place is being organised for the 28th of February 2020, and will include the announcement of a competition to design a logo for Our Place.

For more information about Our Place please email coordinator@everychildcq.org.