Whilst you may consider boxing it up and keeping it as a memory, another option is to donate your wear-once formal items. With many under-privileged students missing this milestone occasion due to financial constraints, a number of local companies have made it their mission to help students achieve their dream – without the price tag. If you would love to donate your formal gear in Brisbane and make a difference in someone else’s life, this is a list of where you can do this.

Where to donate your formal wear in Brisbane

Formally Ever After, Logan

IMAGE CREDIT: Formally Ever After on Facebook

One of the most well-known and respected charities in South-East Queensland that focusses solely on recycling formal wear is Formally Ever After. This free community program based in Logan was started by mum Tammy Robinson, who helps those less fortunate in her area (and beyond) find something for their special day.

To ensure no one misses the occasion because of financial constraints, Tammy has numerous drop-off points throughout Brisbane for those looking to donate. You can also help out by donating jewellery, shoes, makeup and perfume to Formally Ever After—all of these things help make their formal just a bit more special for less fortunate students.

Phone: 0401 508 759

Email: tammyrobinson72@yahoo.com.au

Formally Yours, Redbank

IMAGE CREDIT: Formally Yours on Facebook

Formally Yours is a program designed to assist students in need attend their formal at no cost. Reliant on generous donations from the public and from local businesses, Formally Yours specialises in formals for students, but have been known to do big give aways on wedding dresses too!

Email: FormallyYoursIpswich@outlook.com

Address: 1 Collingwood Drive, Redbank

Dare Formal Wear, Strathpine

IMAGE CREDIT: DARE Formal Wear on Facebook

DARE Formal Wear offers donated formal wear at an affordable price to generate funds to raise awareness and to provide ongoing support to families who have been affected by domestic violence. Using the funds from their formal wear store, DARE offers year 12 students the opportunity to attend their end of year formal, if for some reason during the year they realise that financially they will be unable to go. DARE provides students with either a dress, suit, shoes, jewellery or money towards a ticket to the event.

Contact: 0438 056 985

Address: 389 Gympie Road, Strathpine

Dress for Success / Suited for Success, Fortitude Valley

IMAGE CREDIT: Dress For Success Brisbane on Facebook

Dress for Success and Suited for Success help people in Queensland overcome barriers to employment, and provide employment assistance, career coaching, workshops, styling services (including clothing), and peer support activities at no cost to the people who require their services. They greatfully welcome donations of formal wear.

Phone: (07) 3216 1969

Address: Suite 2, 47 Anderson Street, Fortitude Valley

Full Circle Formals, Gold Coast

IMAGE CREDIT: Full Circle Formals on Instagram

Full Circle Formals may be based down on the Gold Coast, but this charity that works at gifting formal wear to disadvantaged school students can also arrange pick up if neccessary. They have also teamed up a with a crew of seamstresses, fashion schools, beauty services, and dry-cleaning businesses to bring a formal dream to those who otherwise would not have been able to attend. You can view their other collection points via their Instagram Story Highlights.

Phone: 0423 947 437

Email: cindy@fullcircleformals.com.au

If you are formal dress shopping, or looking at other ways for you and your children to help others, you may also be interested in:

Formal Dresses Brisbane

Kids Volunteering Ideas Brisbane

If we’ve missed any wonderful businesses taking formal wear donations in Brisbane, please let us know if the comments below!

What is Earth Day?

Climate banners made by children during a Children’s Art Centre activity trial related to the Raquel Ormella project.

Every year on April 22, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement of 1970.  After decades of ecological carelessness – deforestation, oil spills, pollution, toxic dumps, pesticides and more – the loss of wildlife and valuable landscapes and the effect this was having on our planet could no longer be ignored.  A movement started, and on August 22nd, 1970, nearly 20 million people across America took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to protest against the impact.

In the years since then, Earth Day and the drive to do more to support environmental protection has grown in force. Today, Earth Day is widely recognised as the largest secular observance in the world, and more than a billion people mark every year as a day of action to change human behaviour and create global, national, and local policy changes.

How can your family help on Earth Day?

Change starts with action. 

It is a simple statement, but four words have never rung more true when it comes to saving our planet and looking after the environment and wildlife that live here. We should teach our kids that no one should feel like they have to change the whole world in one day, but that if we all make small changes in our day-to-day lives, the difference it makes over time can be substantial. 

This Earth Day, simply raising awareness about the annual event, actively working on ways to change your own daily habits to be more environmentally friendly, and looking for activities to help support this is a great way to start. Below are a range of different ways you can help educate and celebrate Earth Day with your kids.

Creative ways to celebrate Earth Day

Make your own paper

Learn how to save the planet, one tree at a time, by teaching the kids how to make their own recycled paper.

Sew your own recyclable bag

If your kids love to sew, or even if you love to use a hot glue gun, get some scraps of material and help them make their own cloth bag to use at the shops and for school.

Create a terrarium

There are plenty of websites that show you how you can make your own living indoor plant world with the kids.  We love this simple one by Nasa Climate Kids.

Create your own paper mache planet Earth

A great way to get creative, have fun and learn more about our planet, the continents and where they all are in relation to one another is to make your own paper mache Earth!

Gardening way to celebrate Earth Day

Start a small herb or flower garden

As simple as it sounds, starting a small herb or flower garden with the kids is a great way to teach the kids about proper plant care whilst also educating them about plant biology and growth.

Create a butterfly garden

Butterflies are a beautiful addition to any growing garden and our article on how to create your own butterfly garden is a great way to encourage them to come.  Teach your children about how to protect butterflies and ways to make your backyard a safe haven for them.

Create a bird feeder

Using a paper roll, some string and some bird seed, you can create your own backyard bird feeder with your kids.  Of course, you can always put some out for the local birds on a plate, but making your own one that can hang in a tree is so much more fun.  Research which seeds are best for the birds in your area and away you go!

Create a frog hotel

Frog hotels are not only easy to make, but they are also a great way to encourage local frogs to visit your garden.  It is a wonderful animal for your children to study and learn from their own home!

Fun Experiments and Activities to educate kids on Earth Day

Play a game of nature bingo

This is a simple activity that the kids will love. Make up some bingo cards for the kids with different nature elements and animals on them. Take them on a walk and see who can cross off all of their board first!

Oil Spill Experiment

Understanding just how much impact an oil spill has on our waters and the animals within it is an important lesson the kids can learn from this simple oil spill experiment.

Active ways to celebrate Earth Day

Go on a nature walk

Heading out for a day immersed in nature is a fantastic way to get the kids thinking about our environment and how beautiful and precious it is. We have a list of the best family-friendly walks in Brisbane you may want to explore.

Visit a wildlife sanctuary

There are plenty of wildlife sanctuaries in and around Brisbane that offer kids a chance to interact with animals up close while learning about their conservation. One of our personal favourites is the Daisy Hill Koala Centre.  

Embark on a wildlife experience

Many places in and around Brisbane offer kids a hands-on animal experience, where they can get close to our wildlife and learn about them too.  Places like Berrinba Wetlands offer walkways, bird hides, and even an interpretative centre overflowing with wildlife and information.  

Clean up your neighbourhood

Picking up some rubbish and putting it in the bin helps our environment.  Organise a group of family members or friends and head out to your local area.   Make a fun game of it and see who can pick up the most. You can even make a scavenger hunt list and see who can find the most items on it as they go!

Small ways you can support Earth Day

Make a lights on graph

Get the kids to note how many lights are on during the day and at night without anyone needing them. See how many are on and for how long, and then, with the data, they can create a graph.

Limit your shower time

Limiting your shower to only 2 minutes each night can go a long way towards saving water. Buying a 2-minute egg-timer for the ballroom wall is a fun way to keep track of this while you are getting clean.

Check your water usage

Not just in the shower, there are many other ways we use water that can be minimised to save water. For example, you can turn the water off while you are brushing your teeth and only turn it on to rinse, put a timer on your water sprinkler, add special attachments to hoses and taps so that the water pressure is lower, etc. These are all great things you can do each day that will make a difference overall.

Go screen-free for a day

Unplug those iPads and phones and spend the day screen-free.  Save on power and do your part to help save energy.

Use more recyclable items

Make a note of the products you buy, and try to stick to ones with recyclable packaging.  Most importantly, make sure you put them in the correct bin (with nothing else) so that it can be recycled come collection day.

Make some cash and help the environment

Cash for cans (and other listed products) is an excellent way for kids to help the environment through recycling and also earn some pocket money on the side.  Save your cans and plastic bottles and then when you have a bag full take them to your local Containers for Change point and cash in!

Make your next meal plant-based

There is no need to go vegetarian or vegan if you usually enjoy a meat-filled diet. However, maybe on Earth Day this year, you can try to make your meals all plant-based. Maybe even try out a new recipe with the kids and bake something vegan. If they love it, you can add this as a new item to their lunchbox regularly!

Big ways you can support Earth Day

If you and your kids are looking to play a bigger role in supporting the Earth Day movement, jump on their website. You will find a page dedicated to ways you can take action and help out. From planting a forest to joining a clean-up, donating, and volunteering, there are plenty of ways that your kids can help celebrate Earth Day in a big way, too.

Remember, big or small, every step you take to protect our planet is important.  Even just educating our kids about the need to do this and why is a great way to celebrate and support Earth Day with your kids.

Kindergarten Waiting Lists

In Brisbane, Kindergarten is considered by many to be the first valuable step in their child’s educational journey. While not compulsory, most childcare services, schools, and centres offer early childhood education programs to help prepare children for going into preschool.

Unlike the state schooling system, kindergarten is not allocated to your child based on where you live, so researching the type you are interested in early is a great idea, but proximity matters less.

If you choose a 5-day fortnight program such as C&K or one run through a childcare facility that offers every day and longer hours, you should put your child’s name down as early as possible. Touring the centre you are looking at first before adding your name to their waitlist is a good idea. 

You can put your name down at as many as you like, and it is usually free and involves filling in a form.  In many cases, it is recommended that you put your child’s name down before they turn two, especially as some kindergartens now offer programs for children as young as 3.5 years.

Many large Prep to Year 12 private schools in Brisbane also offer a kindergarten or Pre-Prep program, and in most cases, it is advisable to put your child’s name down from birth if possible. It is worth noting that adding your name to a waitlist for many of these private schools will usually come with an application fee.

We would recommend checking out our list of kindergartens in Brisbane, and contacting the ones that you feel are best suited to your location and family’s needs before asking them directly when you can add your name to their list.

State Primary Schools and High Schools – In Catchment

In Brisbane, every child has a state primary and high school, which they are automatically allocated a spot based on their ‘catchment area’, the geographical location where a state school’s core intake of students must live. This is measured by the shortest and most direct route by road and is designed to ensure that every student from Prep to Year 12 can be enrolled at their local state school. 

The easiest way to find your designated local state school is to use the EdMap website. You can search by entering your home address and see where your local school is, or search via the school to see if your home is in that catchment area.  Any school that has a star icon next to it is enrolment-managed (this means you are only likely to receive a spot if you live in catchment).

If you are happy with the state primary school or high school in your catchment, then you should only need to enrol in the year before they are due to start. There is no need to go on a waiting list; it is just a matter of contacting the school or heading to their website to find out what you need to do to enrol. 

Note: Some schools are NOT enrolment managed and anyone can apply to these schools. You do not need to be in the catchment of these schools to apply. 

You can read all about school catchments in Brisbane here.

State Primary Schools and High Schools – Out of Catchment

Sometimes, you may want to send your child to a different (enrol-managed) state school than your catchment area has been allocated. This may be because another school outside of your catchment is a better fit for your child due to the programs and opportunities it may offer.  Many people consider buying in a catchment area specifically for a desirable school – but this is not always possible for some families.  In this case, they may look to put in an out-of-catchment application.

Out-of-catchment applications are different depending on the state school you are applying to.  Some highly selective and top-rated state high schools are very tightly enrolment managed, with only a certain number of out-of-catchment opportunities on offer and many times these are only made available due to selective entry (academic, sporting, cultural excellence etc). 

Nearly all state schools have details on their website on when you can put in your out-of-catchment application. This is usually in term 4 two years before your child is due to start or in term 1 of the year preceding their commencement.

Private Schools in Brisbane

Unlike state schools, Brisbane’s private primary and high schools are not catchment managed and nearly always involve putting your child’s name down on a waitlist as early as possible. Doing so nearly always consists in filling out an online form and, in more cases than not, also requires a non refundable application fee to do so.

Although it is still possible to enrol in a private school the year before starting (and often mid-year if you need to change), it is advisable if you want go down this route to do your research and put your child’s name down at your chosen school as early as possible. In many cases, to ensure they have the best chance of securing a spot at their preferred private schools, many parents opt to put their child’s name down at multiple schools from the moment they are born – if the school allows it.  As crazy as this may seem, for many popular private schools in Brisbane many parents pay multiple application fees before their child can even talk to hopefully secure a spot at a few and decide when their child is older and they have received offers. 

Many private schools also offer scholarships, which usually open a few years before commencement.  Details on what scholarships may be provided and what is required to apply can be found on each school’s website.  You can read more about scholarships here.

If you are looking for more information about educational options in Brisbane, you may also be interested in:

School Open Days Brisbane

Reviews of Schools in Brisbane

Questions parents commonly ask are:

How much screen time is too much?

And how can I tell if my child is truly addicted?

Before we get into answering these questions, let’s start with the good stuff because – in moderation – there are so many amazing advantages to starting to expose kids to technology from an early age:

Early “Digital Literacy”: Familiarity with devices, apps, and software from an early age offers exposure and confidence in navigating the digital world.

Enhanced Learning (“Cognitive Development”) Opportunities: Interactive and educational apps, games, and programs designed for kids offer so many benefits. Through technology, kids can explore diverse subjects, languages, and concepts. Our daughter is a talented artist, who never took a formal class. She learned from YouTube. She is always showing me cool cooking and household organisational hacks. Gaming teaches kids leadership skills, teamwork, performance under pressure, problem-solving, creative thinking, and visual-spatial skills. The social aspect of online chats and gaming can benefit many kids and young people.

And of course, there is so much fun and entertainment to be had!

Why is gaming addiction a problem?

Despite the many benefits of device use, there are some serious downsides to over-exposure to technology.

The following trends are alarming:

• Only 1 in 4 Australian kids meet the daily guideline of at least 1 hour of active play per day.
• Childhood obesity is on the rise
• Short-sightedness is on the rise
• Gross motor development is on the decline
• Our kids aren’t getting enough sleep
• Some kids are missing out on learning how to build real-life relationships
• Teachers are reporting it being more and more difficult to keep kids engaged in school
• Increase in ADHD, ASD and behavioural disorder symptoms
• Links between screen time use and mental health concerns in young people.

Not to mention the anecdotal stories we hear every day about the tension created in homes all over the world with the continuous fights over moderating technology.

Then, there’s the addictive nature of screens.

In 2020, the World Health Organisation added a new category in their classification of diseases: “Gaming Disorder.”

This is a widespread global problem – you are definitely not alone!

How the addiction cycle works

The addiction cycle is driven by a neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Believe it or not, the process for screen addiction is no different than alcohol or even cocaine or heroin addiction.

Dopamine is released in the brain in anticipation of a reward. It makes us feel good and is an essential hormone to motivate us to do pretty much anything – seeing friends, cleaning the kitchen, eating, going to the gym. It’s essential for all aspects of life.

What happens when a child spends to much time on screens is that these Dopamine releases (or “hits”) happen much more often than in non-screen life.
Scrolling Facebook or Instagram? Hit, hit, hit.
Playing an online game and getting points and uplevelling? Hit, Hit, Hit, Hit, Hit.

You get the picture. What happens to the brain with these additional hits is that it doesn’t respond to each hit in the same way. The threshold of how much dopamine you need to release to get that feel good feeling increases and increases. And before we know it, time away from screens feels increasingly dull, boring – almost painful.

(I know many parents reading this can relate, our reliance on technology to do anything is overwhelming – I consider myself to be quite addicted to picking up my phone most of the time).

Game & App creators deliberately tailor each game for maximum engagement, so it’s a difficult thing to break. But with routine and consistency, good habits and balance can be achieved.

How many hours of gaming is recommended for children?

How much screen time is too much? I hear you ask.

Unfortunately, the answer isn’t clear cut, it depends on your child, what they’re watching and how they’re responding.

Most Government authorities around the world suggest that:

• Children under 2 should have no exposure to screens;
• from 2-5 no more than 1 hour a day;
• from 5 – 12 no more than 2 hours a day and
• from 13-18 no more than 3 hours per day.

Given kids often use laptops or ipads for school, we believe these numbers are quite unrealistic. The Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2021 reported that 25% of children aged between 5 and 14 use screens more than 20 hours per week. We suspect the actual screen use is much larger than this.

These figures are kind of irrelevant because some kids can tolerate more screen time than others, and it often depends what they’re doing on screens as well. 

We prefer to talk about what a healthy relationship with screens looks like.
Is your child:

• Getting enough sleep
• Able to socialise IRL, including family time.
• Keeping up with school tasks
• Able to function without screens for any period of time
• Contributing to the home environment
• Eager to participate in sports or other activities that might take them away from gaming.

Warning signs – Prevention is better than cure

If you have answered “no” to some of the points about a healthy life-balance for your child, or you suspect that screen time is becoming an issue for your child or causing undue tension in the home, then it’s time to take action.

The earlier you can put the following strategies into place, the better. I suspect you are reading this article because you’re concerned, so start with #1 right away and work through the remaining steps.

Strategies and ways to manage unhelpful patterns of gaming or addictions

Become interested in what they’re doing.

The first thing you need to do (if you haven’t already) is to take some interest in what they’re doing on their screens. Ask them what their favourite games are, who they’re chatting with online. Ask them to show you and explain what they’re doing. Keep it friendly and be interested. You are much more likely to be able to connect with your child in the next point if you have first taken an interest in them. This might take a couple of weeks, but is a critical step.

Have a connected conversation with your child.

Explain to them how much you hate the conflict around screen time and how you’re concerned that they think about nothing else but their screens. Talk about how you notice that they’re moodier when they’ve been playing too much and they never want to be around their family. Empathise with them – you know how much they love their screen time and share your own struggles with it too. Avoid preaching, lecturing or getting upset – it will only end in tears and more defiance!

Tell them that you would like to start a new screen time routine and you want them to help you create it.

Getting their “buy in” is critical to this process. Ask them how much screen time they think is reasonable, and what tasks and chores they should be doing in order to have a healthy balance. Write the routine & guidelines up on the fridge or somewhere you can all see them to make it easier to stick to.

You might want to do a complete screen detox to reset your child completely (note: this should not be done if your child is truly addicted – see below).

Instructions for “How to have a complete screen detox and keep your sanity intact” can be found here. https://www.myscreencoach.com/post/how-to-do-a-screen-detox-and-keep-your-sanity-intact/

 Consider using an App such as ScreenCoach to support you in your screen time management and rewards system.

(Full disclosure – the author is a founder of ScreenCoach, it was created from their own experience with their screen-loving kids.)

When to seek help for gaming addiction in children

True screen addiction is no joke and should be treated very seriously. Taking devices away from addicted kids is akin to taking heroin away from an addict – they need professional support from a psychologist or mental health practitioner. Speaking to your child’s school is often a great place to start, they may be able to recommend someone.

If your child is completely obsessed with their devices, gets violent if you try and take them away, has lost interest in other activities, or won’t allow you to connect with them at all in conversation, you definitely need to seek help. If these behaviours are just beginning, then you may want to seek professional guidance or parent coaching for yourself to help you connect to your child.

I recommend two books which have been written by experienced professionals. I have found them both very informative with practical, step-by-step guidance for parents.
“The Tech Diet for your Child & Teen” by Brad Marshall, https://unpluggedpsychologist.com/books/

And if you love geeking out on Neuroscience, “Reset Your Child’s Brain” by Victoria L Dunkley is a fantastic resource with a 4-week screen detox plan.

https://drdunckley.com/reset-your-childs-brain/

About the expert: Stephanie Kakris

Stephanie is a Mum of two teens, has a Masters in Psychology, and is a published parenting author. Along with her husband, Stephanie co-founded ScreenCoach to manage kids’ screen time. ScreenCoach is designed to make life easier for parents and restore home harmony.

It blocks the devices when the kids’ time is up, and they can go and do tasks to earn more screen time. You can block or allow certain Apps at certain times (eg. for School work), set up daily total allowed time and multiple time slots across the day they’re allowed on their devices. It works across iPhone, iPad, Androids, PC’s and Macs so if your child’s time is up on one device, they can’t simply pick up another. The optional ScreenCoach hardware box manages the TV and anything connected to it such as an XBox or Playstation.

Read Stephanie’s blog and sign up to ScreenCoach at myscreencoach.com

Where it all began – the history of Scouts and Guides

Image Credit: Scouting for Boys by Lord Baden-Powell

Following a childhood filled with adventurous outdoor play and a career as a solider in the British Army, Lord Robert Baden-Powell founded the concept of Scouts in 1907.  With an initial desire to train fellow soldiers in the art of ‘scouting’, Baden-Powell eventually created camps for young boys from all walks of life, with the idea to teach them valuable outdoor and life skills. They lived in tents, cooked their own food and learnt many essential skills through games.  Writing down his experiences in a book, in 1908 Baden-Powell’s Scouting for Boys was published in fortnightly parts and very quickly became a much-anticipated best-seller.  And thus the international Scouts movement was born. Scouting spread to Australia, New Zealand and India in 1908 and other countries followed shortly after.

Two years later, Baden-Powell’s sister, Agnes, formed Girl Guides. Although it followed a similar framework as scouts, Girl Guides was female-focussed and only for girls.

Scouts Australia

Scouts have come a long way in the century since it first began. Now open to boys and girls, Scouts have over 1300 groups in Australia alone.  All Scouts in Australia make the Australian Scout Promise and agree to follow the Australian Scout Law, which outlines their values and are the foundations of the Scouting program. With around 70,000 members, it is one of Australia’s largest youth development organisations.

Today’s Scouts can take part in an extraordinary variety of outdoor activities, from ‘traditional Scouting skills such as camping and bushcraft, to more extreme challenges such as abseiling, overnight hiking, rafting, canoeing, canyoning, snow activities, rock climbing, sailing… even flying!

Scouts offer an Award Scheme that encourages participation in the full range of activities available and provides recognition of individual achievement.

Girl Guides Australia

Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/GuidesQueensland

Girl Guides offer girls aged 5-17 years a unique girl-led experience – a safe, welcoming girl-only space where girls experience a great variety of activities aimed at helping girls to become confident young women. The Australian Guide Program comprises adventures, leadership opportunities, badges and the chance to give back to communities. They can learn new skills and grow in confidence by challenging themselves as Brisbane girl guides.

Members of Girl Guides can choose activities, badges, certificates and Awards to work towards and earn as part of the Girl Recognition System.  Their trained volunteer, Girl Guide Leaders, create space for girls to learn about themselves and their place in their community and the world. Weekly Unit meetings, camps, and adventure-based and community service activities make up the Girl Guiding experience.

The Differences Between Scouts and Guides

The similarities between scouts and guides are apparent.  Aside from the fact that a brother and sister founded them originally based on the same concept, they offer many of the same experiences.  Each group has programs that teach valuable, hands-on lessons to children.  They both offer practical experiences and life lessons, each earning awards and badges based on individual and team goals and experiences that have been met.  So, what are the differences then? Below we answer some of the main questions people want to know about how the Scouts and Girl Guides programs work.

Who Can Join?

Whilst Scouts was initially created only for boys, over the years this has changed and both sexes are now welcomed equally into the program.  Girl Guides, however, is only for girls, stating that it offers a safe and free environment for girls to grow and learn together.  

What age can you join?

Both Scouts and Girl Guides allow children to join from age 5.

Do they have separate groups based on age?

Scouts groups are broken up into different sections, based on your child’s age.  These include Joey Scouts (5-8 years), Cub Scouts (8-11 years), Scouts (11-14 years), Venturer Scouts (15-18 years), Rover Scouts (18-25 years).  

Girl Guides are no longer specifically broken down into designated age groups. If you join Girl Guides between 5-17 you will be a youth member and placed into a Unit.  

Both Scouts and Girl Guides have units (your local group), where members will be put into smaller youth led, adult supported teams (Patrols) where experiences are shared. 

Can adults join?

In Scouts, adults are welcome to join as team leaders or volunteers.  There are also scouting programs designed to cater to members up to 25.

You can be an adult member of Girl Guides in several capacities.  You can be a member of the Olaves (18-29 years) which focuses on the three aspects of community, adventure and self-development. Or you can join as a leader or volunteer.

Promise and Law

Both Scouts and Girl Guides make a promise on joining and follow a particular ‘law’, which outlines their values, and are the foundations of their program.

Where Scouts make the Australian Scout Promise and agree to follow the Australian Scout Law, Girl Guides make the Promise and follow the Guide Law.

Do they wear a uniform?

Both Scouts and Girl Guides wear uniforms. 

Do they do awards and badges?

Yes.  In both Scouts and Girl Guides, members can work towards achieving a wide range of badges, depending on their interests.

Many different Girl Guide badges can be earned as part of the Girl Recognition System. Some allow for selecting preferred clauses and others require a certain skill level. Some can be completed in the unit, and others as personal challenges.

Scouts have a series of challenges aimed at their age group, which allows them to strive to earn a badge in a fun and achievable way. Scouts participate in the Achievement Pathways and are given badges to recognise their achievements. The Achievement Pathways are a continuous series of personal achievements throughout the program. 

What activities do they do?

Both Scouts and Girl Guides have a wide range of adventurous activities that they can be involved in, such as canoeing, archery, abseiling, camping, skiing, hiking overnight, cooking damper over a fire or just sitting around a campfire singing, chatting and sharing a joke. Girl Guides also have some fashion and domestic-focused activities too.

You can find more detailed information on both organisations by visiting the Scouts Queensland and Girl Guides Queensland websites.

One of the greatest gifts you can give your own child is an understanding and appreciation of how fortunate they may be to have these necessities.   

Even if you aren’t rich in material things, how easy it is to share the joy and good cheer with those around you.  You might like to do this to offset the feeling of a commercial Christmas or simply an idea you add to your family vision board. Whatever the case, we have tried to provide ideas for you based both around Christmas but also ideas you could explore any time of the year.

Brisbane Basket Brigade

The Basket Brigade is the annual campaign to provide food and gifts for people that need a hand – children, the elderly, hungry & homeless – during the Christmas season each year.  Your family can help by registering to become a Basket Buddy.  Basket Buddies is a community of volunteers across the Brisbane area willing to add an extra (nominated) item or two to their shopping basket each week leading up to Christmas.

By the beginning of December, we’ll have full baskets to give to Brisbane families in need. These items like tinned vegetables, pasta, and some small treats won’t break the bank. On average, the items cost less than $4 per week and make a difference.

Once you have signed up you are sent a grocery list of items, one for each week in the lead up to Christmas.  Your kids can be assigned this and can help you check off the items. They can then help package and delivery the baskets, too if desired. Find out more

BCC Library Amnesty

Do you, or any of your family members have outstanding library fees? Did you know that every year, between December 1^stand December 31^styou can have any existing overdue fines, processing fees and/or hold fees waived in exchange for a can of food? 

And even if you don’t have any fines (and are better than me), you can still donate cans of non-perishable food to your local BCC library in December.

This year, Council’s library amnesty will donate all food to Foodbank Queensland, which distributes food to charities and community organisations that assist those in need. Find out more

Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal

The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal is Australia’s largest and longest-running Christmas gift Appeal.  With your gifts in tow, visit your local Kmart store and take a tag from the Wishing Tree. Using one end of the tag, indicate the age group and gender of who you think might like to receive your gift then place it under the Wishing Tree. Don’t forget to take the other half of the tag home to hang on your tree!

Alternatively, you can leave your gift at the express drop-off point at the store’s front. A Salvation Army representative will then collect the gifts from Kmart stores and oversee their distribution to those in need.

Gifts do not need to be purchased at Kmart, nor do they need to be wrapped. Find out more

Christmas Appeals

• Fare Share Christmas Appeal
• The Smith Family’s Toy & Book Appeal is your opportunity to help bring a smile to a disadvantaged child’s face this Christmas.
• Volunteer with Operation Christmas Child and join our happy band of volunteers reaching children in poverty with gift-filled shoeboxes
• Micah Projects Christmas Hamper Appeal
• Children’s Hospital Foundation
• Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital
• Share The Dignity
• Youth Off The Street Christmas Appeal
• World Vision
• The Little Elves Project
• The Pyjama Foundation
• Starlight Foundation

Charitable Ideas

Some of these are Christmas ideas, and some of these apply all year round.

Teaching our kids the gift of giving doesn’t just have to be in monetary or material goods. Sometimes, just doing something generous for someone else can bring happiness to those around them.  

One idea I love is adding a small note along with their treat in each advent calendar pocket.  Things like, “Make someone smile today”, “give someone a compliment”, and “Help someone with something” are friendly ways for them to feel good about themselves while doing the same for others too.  Other things may be “go through your clothes/toys and put together a pile of any you may not need anymore or that may not fit for donation”.

• Help a sibling with their chores
• Pack a Christmas shoebox for Operation Shoebox
• Make a “grateful jar” for each family member and whenever you think of something you’re grateful for about that family member, write it down and place it in their jar
• Go on a trash walk and help clean up your neighbourhood
• Make pretty bookmarks to leave in library books – be sure to write a note to tell that the bookmark is intended to be used and shared!
• Donate books to a library or a doctor’s office
• Bake cookies and treats for local emergency services

Do you have any other ideas for giving back or volunteering at Christmas? We would love to hear about them, comment below and we will add it to this resource.

Things to See and Do at Samford Museum

Since the Samford Museum opened in 1986, its members have been collecting objects from the district’s rural, domestic, educational, railway, timber, transport and local village history.

The museum houses an array of fascinating antiques (including an old school toy collection) within old-fashioned, purpose built buildings that provide visitors with a real sense of what life was like in the 19th and 20th centuries. 

You can step inside the Grovely Train Station building and the Albany Creek State School headmaster’s residence. The museum is also the starting point for the Samford Village Heritage Trail.

On the first Sunday of each month, a blacksmith is at work, demonstrating his craft. Passionate volunteers run the museum and are always available to explain or demonstrate how things work. As you wander the exhibits, you may see a volunteer working away. The volunteers also have a thorough understanding of the Samford regions history. 

Educational programs for school groups are available. During a school visit, volunteers dress in clothing of the era and undertake everyday tasks. Hands-on experiences involve students by writing on slate while sitting at the desks in the replica school, putting some hand washing through a washing copper and seeing milk churned into butter the old fashioned way. Bookings are essential and further information about the program is available on the website.

Family Events at Samford Museum

Annually, Samford Museum opens its doors to celebrate Australia Day on the 26th of January and ANZAC Day on the 25th of April. Each year the celebrations will feature different experiences, so to find out more, contact the Museum.

Research your Family History

If you are interested in researching family members who lived in the Samford District, there are photo albums, a collection of maps dating from 1864, Samford Reminiscences publications and other published local history books to view.

Accessibility at Samford Museum

Samford Museum is mostly wheelchair accessible due to the flat footpaths. Some exhibits are located in old-fashioned buildings with front steps. 

Accessible parking is located outside on Station Street and the toilet facilities are wheelchair friendly.

Samford Museum features

• Accessible toilet facilities
• Original Grovely train station building
• Farm machinery display
• Replica 1872 school building
• Horse and cart display
• War memories exhibit
• Blacksmith at work (first Sunday of the month)
• Family history research resources
• Special events held annually
• Small shop selling publications and other resource material
• Group and school bookings available
• Accessible parking

What We Thought of Samford Museum

We think Samford Museum is a great location for Brisbane Kids to take their parents and grandparents for a visit. It will take you back in time and open many opportunities for discussion (and realisation) about how life and technologies have evolved.

Planning your Visit to Samford Museum

The museum is open on Wednesdays and Sundays from 10am until 4pm and at other times by special arrangement. A small admission fee is required for entry to the Samford Museum. 

Visit the Samford Museum website for more information.

More Family Fun in Samford Village

Today, visitors can enjoy the modern facilities of Samford Village which grew around the historic Samford Railway Station, now the site of the John Scott Park. If you want to make a day of it, pack a picnic or enjoy a meal at one of Samford’s family-friendly restaurants.

How to Get to Samford Museum

Samford Museum is located at 21 Station Street, Samford Village. 

More Photos of Samford Museum 

Schools across Brisbane have the chance to apply to join Brisbane City Council’s Active School Travel program in 2024 for its special 20th anniversary year to help make active travel easier and more fun.

The program is designed to support schools and families and encourage an active school community. Places are limited and applications close on 15th September 2023, so jump on board today!

What is the Active School Travel program?

The Active School Travel (AST) program aims to improve road safety, create closer communities, and encourage students, teachers and families to use sustainable and healthy travel options to get to and from school.

This award-winning, free three-year program is available to Brisbane primary schools and provides a wide range of resources to support families to leave their cars at home in favour of healthier alternatives, including walking, bike riding, scootering, carpooling and using public transport.

How can we take part?

To take part in the AST program, you need to express your interest to your school or submit an expression of interest form to the AST team here. The AST team will get in touch with your school to encourage them to apply. If your school decides to take part, principals need to submit an application with more information available here.

Remember that places on the program are limited. Applications for the 2024 AST program close on Friday 15th September 2023, so make sure you contact your school to see if you can take part soon!
If your school is successful, the fully supported program will begin in Term 1 in 2024. Parents and guardians of AST schools can be involved in the program by volunteering to be part of their school’s active travel committee.

What are the benefits to schools?

The Active School Travel program improves the health and wellbeing of students, teachers, families and carers. An equally important benefit will be the improved safety of the streets surrounding the school with less congestion during peak school times. Imagine streets filled with families moving to and from school, and the community and social benefits associated with this! The AST program models sustainable living – not just in theory, but in practice.

The program offers a whole range of support to encourage the school community, including free resources, tools and incentives. There are programs included to educate and motivate kids. In addition, the school will have the support of a dedicated officer to help make the process of creating a greener and more active community even easier. Participating schools will be able to provide feedback to Council on local roads, detailing any possible improvements that could be made to improve safety and help increase active school travel.

Do kids need to live near their schools to benefit?

Schools will benefit from having a program that can be tailored to suit the individual needs of their own school and the local community. One misconception is that school students need to live near the schools to participate in the Active School Travel program. However, parents can choose to park a short distance from school and walk their children in, instead of leaving them at the drop off zone. Even if this is something that you do one day a week, these simple actions provide a more active lifestyle and form the foundation of the AST program.

What resources will schools receive?

As part of the Active School Travel program, schools will receive a vast range of supporting resources, which are provided for free.

Each school will have its own dedicated officer, who can help to identify the best ways for the school to increase active travel and provide schools with specialist advice.

Students work together to win class and school awards. They also receive a customised active travel map, showing different active travel routes.

Educational resources will help to increase knowledge of road safety. These include RACQ Streets Ahead road safety sessions, curriculum links for teachers to use in class, and assembly performances.

Schools will also have the opportunity to participate in bike and scooter skills training and bus orientation sessions.

Finally, the school will receive collated statistics to track their progress and achievements.

How can we find out more?

For further information about the Active School Travel program and how to apply to take part, visit Council’s website. You can also email the Active School Travel team at activeschooltravel@brisbane.qld.gov.au, or you can call Brisbane City Council on 07 3403 8888.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact your school today to take part in this amazing initiative to make kids more active, school communities healthier, and local streets safer!

Program Testimonials

But being part of a sport or recreational activity can be expensive. There are membership fees, uniforms, equipment, transport and other considerations. And if you have more than one child playing, the costs really begin to add up.

Queensland Sports Vouchers

That’s why the Queensland Government is again offering the $150 Get Started vouchers, to encourage families who might otherwise not be able to afford the cost of their children joining a sport or recreational activity.

More than 4,100 clubs across Queensland are registered for the Get Started Vouchers program, ensuring a huge range of activities on offer.

Millions of vouchers are snapped up every single year, but they are issued on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, so families need to be quick when applications for extra vouchers open.

Key dates 2023

Eligibility

You can apply if your child:

• Is a Queensland resident aged from 5 to 17 years (inclusive) at the time of application
• Did not already receive a FairPlay voucher this year
• Holds, or whose parent, carer or guardian holds, a valid Department of Human Services Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card with the child’s name on it.
• If you are experiencing financial hardship but don’t meet the eligibility criteria, you can seek to apply through a registered referral agent.

How to apply for a sports voucher

For more information on how to apply online for Get Started Vouchers, visit: https://www.qld.gov.au

Choosing the right sport for your child

The sports that you loved to play as a child, or enjoy as a spectator, maybe a good place to start, although you may find your kids have different ideas.

In Brisbane, we are spoilt with choice, and there is a sport to suit everyone’s individual preferences and abilities. Popular sports include netball, basketball, soccer, football, swimming, cricket and athletics, and are played in clubs around the city and surrounding areas.

But don’t overlook the less common sports, such as martial arts, fencing, hockey, rowing, gymnastics and table tennis. After all, these are all Olympic sports!

When kids are young, it’s a good opportunity to try several different sports until you hit on something that they love. It’s also a good idea to attend trial classes and “come and try” days, to ensure your child wants to commit to a whole season of that particular sport.

Sports for kids, particularly club and team-based sports, tend to be seasonal – summer and winter. Sign-on and “come and try” days for winter sports begin in late January, through to late February, and the season usually commences in March or April. Summer sports begin their sign-on and try-out days in August and September, with the season starting in October.

To find out which sports are covered by the Get Started vouchers, visit the Fair Play Provider link

You may also enjoy our post about unusual sports for kids in Brisbane.