Cherbourg Success Stories

The Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian actively strives to promote the rights, interests and wellbeing of children and young people throughout Queensland. To that end, the Commission has identified initiatives in Cherbourg which are making a difference to the lives of children and young people in that community. They are being published so others can use these ideas if they like what they see.

There are two common themes which run through the following initiatives and these are:

strong leadership, and
the power of community partnerships to bring these ideas to life.

The success of the partnerships depends on each of the organisations having a person who is committed to turning the idea into a reality by working with others for the common good rather than wanting individual recognition for outcomes. These people come together and share resources, take part in group problem solving and show a commitment to the wellbeing of children – the combined effect has created a powerful force which has allowed these initiatives to grow.

Some of Cherbourg’s successes are similar to others across the state. The stories were identified and documented through consultation with the mayor, councillors, community elders and staff involved in the activities and services currently provided in the community. The Commission offers its thanks to the people involved in helping document these stories for other communities to adopt and adapt in their own local area.

By sharing these stories, the Commission hopes to spark ideas in other communities or help those searching to find solutions by providing contacts for those wishing to develop their own ideas into workable programs. As one of our participants put it: “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. There is no point in starting from scratch if others have done it before.”

Let’s hope that over the coming years, more stories will be added and shared amongst many community groups wanting to make a difference to the lives of children and young people throughout Queensland.

Area of wellbeing	Initiative
Physical	Strong and Healthy Program, Cherbourg State School Aboriginal health workers and nurses from the Cherbourg Medical Centre visit the school to provide a regular injury or wound management service to children and teach basic wound hygiene and care. Youth Development Officer, Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council The Council created a position which promotes and co-ordinates relevant, youth services in the community. Deadly Dinners, Cherbourg State School Aims to improve the students' knowledge of nutrition by integrating relevant learning activities into the school curriculum.
Social/ Emotional	Books Books Books!, Cherbourg State School Helps children become confident readers and writers by creating books from local Cherbourg stories. The program is part of the school's vision for literacy to be a part of students' everyday learning. Young Mothers Group and Playgroup, Gundoo Child Care Centre Helps new and young mothers develop supportive child-rearing networks and positive parenting practices. Strong and Smart Values Program, Cherbourg State School An integral and pervasive values framework for curriculum delivery across all year levels. It fosters personal development and social responsibility based on values developed in line with the local community’s values and expectations. School-based Traineeships, 4UM Radio Station. Promoting a strong, vibrant, and socially cohesive community identity within Cherbourg and the wider South Burnett region. These traineeships commenced this year.
Cultural	Junior Wakka Wakka Corroboree Dance Group, Cherbourg State School The group involves participants from Prep Year upwards to learn, celebrate and share their traditional ceremonial and spiritual dance culture. Digital Film-making Project, Cherbourg State School Provides opportunities for students to experience and master multimedia production techniques and skills, and enabled Cherbourg school students to win a national film-making award in 2006.
Economic	Annexe Education and Outreach Programs, Congregation of Christian Brothers Based in Murgon, this program reconnects disengaged Cherbourg students with formal education and training in a safe and supportive non-school setting. The program has recently been handed over to the Murgon-Cherbourg community to maintain and grow. Young Mothers Program, Community Training Centre and Queensland Health Facilitates the ongoing learning and development of young mothers wishing to continue their education and/or gain employment.

About the Cherbourg Community

Cherbourg is situated in the Wide Bay Burnett region, 6 km from Murgon and 280 km northwest of Brisbane. It has an area of 31.6 km². The Cherbourg population is 1241 - derived from 40 different groups, including Wakka Wakka and Western Wakka Wakka (traditional owners) and descendants of people brought from other parts of Queensland under past government policies.

Cherbourg-based community services include a hospital, health service, women’s and children’s shelters, primary school and TAFE college. State government funding also supports emergency relief, family support and youth services, child care and school holiday activities, family violence support and early intervention programs, and programs to alleviate drug and alcohol misuse.

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Cherbourg Success Stories

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