Support for First Nations parents and carers in Rockhampton (THRIVE program)

The Together Helping Resilient Indigenous Voices Emerge (THRIVE) program is a trial program designed to uplift and empower young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers. With a focus on early intervention and prevention, THRIVE will help you:

• strengthen your leadership skills
• foster resilience
• create positive change for yourself, your children, and your community.

THRIVE is more than a program—it’s a movement to support, uplift, and celebrate young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents, caregivers, and their children as future leaders of their communities.

Built in collaboration with young First Nations peoples, community members, and youth sector organisations, THRIVE takes a place-based approach to ensure sessions reflect the unique needs of participants.

Program details

The program will be held:

• in Rockhampton 
• from 2–6 June 2025.

Daily sessions will run from 9.00am – 4.30pm. You will need to attend all 5 days, as sessions will progressively build leadership capabilities.

If you have children that require care, we are looking at childcare options for the duration of the program. We want to make sure you can learn in a good space, and at the same time, make sure your children are taken care of in a safe and engaging way. In order to provide this, we may need further details to make sure everything is safe and that each child gets the attention they need. Childcare is subject to availability and conditions.

Who can apply

The THRIVE program is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people who:

• live in the Rockhampton region (Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Gracemere, Mount Morgan, Woorabinda, and the areas in between)
• will be 16–25 years of age by 2 June 2025
• are a parent, carer, foster carer, or kinship carer for a child aged 0–12 years.

How to apply

As part of your application, you’ll need to respond to leadership and community questions. Selection for the program is based on your responses and how they show leadership potential and community impact.

Places are limited so your responses will help us assess your suitability for the program.

Applications close 5.00pm, 20 April 2025. We’ll notify successful applicants within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Apply now

What to expect

• Culturally responsive workshops for parents and carers on leadership capacity building topics.
• Mentorship and guidance from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, community leaders, and youth advocates.
• Connections to support networks in health, education, employment, and community services.
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth, strengthening confidence and skills.
• A strengths-based approach that empowers young parents and carers to shape their future.

What you’ll gain

By participating in THRIVE, you’ll develop:

• stronger leadership skills to guide your children and community
• connections with key stakeholders in employment, training, and support services
• post-program support and access to professional development grant opportunities
• a network of peers, mentors, and Elders to support your journey.

More information

If you're curious about anything or need more information, get in touch with us at youth@housing.qld.gov.au. We will post any updates here on our website or you can follow us on Instagram or Facebook.