PCYC South Burnett’s Gymnastics program is celebrating an outstanding start to the year, with membership numbers soaring past 100 gymnasts.
The remarkable increase in numbers follows a hugely successful school holiday program, which saw the gym buzzing with activity and laughter (and plenty of cartwheels), as children from across the region came together to try new skills and stay active.
The fun-filled sessions gave many local families their first taste of gymnastics and it didn’t take long for the excitement to carry into the new term with the club now home to more than 100 gymnasts.
Club Manager Stacey Perrett said the growth reflects the strong sense of community and the positive, inclusive environment being created inside the gym.
“We focus on making Gymnastics fun and confidence-building for every child,” Stacey said.
“Seeing so many families choose to be part of our program this term has been incredibly rewarding.”
The program caters to children of varying ages and abilities, with a strong emphasis on fundamental movement skills, coordination, balance and teamwork.
With demand continuing to grow, PCYC South Burnett Gymnastics has limited spaces available. Children are invited to come along for a free trial session and experience the fun firsthand.
For families looking to keep their children moving, tumbling, building confidence and having fun, PCYC South Burnett Gymnastics program is proving to be a thriving addition to the local community.
The all-new PCYC Caboolture was officially opened on Thursday, 26 February 2026, ushering in a new era of sport, recreation and youth development for the city.
The opening was attended by representatives from PCYC Queensland, Queensland Police Service, and all levels of government who contributed funding to the project, including the Australian Government ($10 million), Queensland Government ($5 million) and City of Moreton Bay ($2.5 million).
Dignitaries including Senator Corrine Mullholland, Federal Member for Longman Terry Young MP, State Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan MP, and City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery joined the celebration, taking part in a formal opening ceremony and touring the new facility.
The event marked the launch of a significant new community asset that is already making a positive impact since opening its doors.
“We are incredibly proud to officially open the new PCYC Caboolture and share this outstanding facility with the community,” said PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schultz.
“Since opening our doors to the community in late January, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with locals embracing the space and the opportunities it provides.
“This new PCYC will allow us to expand the delivery of life-changing programs and continue building strong relationships with young people and families, right at the heart of the Caboolture community.”
The new club features a dedicated youth space and community hub, high-quality multi-purpose sport and recreation areas, a modern gymnastics facility, a state-of-the-art 24/7 Gym+Fitness centre, as well as an outdoor basketball court and open space areas.”
Senator Corinne Mulholland said it was important to have a safe space for young people, and that’s what PCYC offered.
“A PCYC isn’t just bricks and mortar, it’s a safe space where kids build confidence, where families connect, and where some of the most vulnerable members of our community find support,” she said.
“So as a mum who lives in the suburbs of Moreton Bay, I think this fantastic new $17.5 million facility is one of the greatest investments in local lifestyle and infrastructure that Caboolture has seen in recent times.
“And today’s milestone isn’t the end of the story, it’s just the beginning! With PCYC moving out of 2 Toovey Street, that old site is now getting the upgrade it has long deserved.
“I’m proud to say the Albanese Government has committed $3 million to transform the old PCYC into a brand new facility to house Spiders Boxing Club, the local Men’s Shed, and Lions Recycle for Sight.”
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said the Queensland Government was proud to support the development of a new sport and community hub for the region.
“Queensland is the home of Australian sport and PCYCs offer a central place for Queenslanders to be active and healthy,” Minister Mander said.
“Importantly, this facility will provide youth programs that help to keep young people active, engaged with their communities and on the right track.
“As we build toward the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Queensland Government continues to invest in new and upgraded community sporting infrastructure to help more Queenslanders participate in sport.”
City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said the new PCYC Caboolture will provide immense benefit to the local community.
“City of Moreton Bay is proud to have contributed $2.5 million towards the newly upgraded PCYC Caboolture, delivered in partnership with the Australian Government and Queensland Government. This is a strong example of all levels of government working together to positively benefit the community.
“The new PCYC provides a safe and welcoming space to all members of the community. The new building’s inclusive and accessible design will ensure community members with access needs can participate fully in the club’s offerings.”
PCYC Caboolture will expand access to a range of youth and community initiatives, including youth programs like After Dark, Drop In and the Youth Leadership Team, as well as learner driver mentoring program Braking the Cycle, as well as Gymnastics, under-five physical literacy program Little n Active, and 24/7 Gym+Fitness.
PCYC Queensland’s Oakey Connect, recently recognised in the 2026 Toowoomba Australia Day Awards, has delivered programs to Oakey young people for nearly five years, and has changed many lives in that time.
Nominated for Community Group of the Year, the team headed by Dale Smith and Nicole Fagan with the support of Sergeant Chantal Kelly and Senior Constable Fraser McLauchlan, deliver youth and community programs via outreach, heading to local schools, hosting barbecues and providing fun, opportunities and support to young people in the area.
The Oakey Connect team spends the majority of time running in-school programs encouraging teamwork and resilience building across the region. They are also active in the community with weekly Drop In basketball sessions and weekly barbeques in Oakey.
Program Coordinator Dale Smith said some of the schools are an hour out of Toowoomba and don’t have access to many events or programs.
“We provide something they can look forward to each week. Something fresh and fun,” Dale said.
Program Coordinator Nicole Fagan said the Oakey Connect team all love working with young people and in some cases, helping change their lives.
“We spent a lot of time and effort with one girl who was having trouble with a teacher. We worked on building resilience and communication skills. With our help and guidance this young lady improved her relationship with the teacher and had no negative behaviour reports! It’s cases like this that reinforce the value of what we do,” Nicole said.
Oakey Connect is funded by New Acland Coal to provide services and support to young people in Oakey and surrounds including Goombungee, Kulpi, Jondaryan, and Quinalow.
The wait is over for the Caboolture community, with the all-new PCYC Caboolture officially open.
The hotly anticipated new club has reopened in a modern, fit-for-purpose new space conveniently located at 152 King Street after 30 years in its previous location.
The new club has a dedicated youth space, multipurpose sport, recreation and community areas, an upgraded gymnastics facility, a state-of-the-art 24/7 Gym+Fitness centre, and an outdoor basketball court. This will allow PCYC to build on its strong community connections and welcome even more locals to enjoy everything it has to offer.
PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schultz said the response from the community had been incredibly positive.
“We have had so much interest and excitement from the local community which is really encouraging,” he said.
“I know this club will cement itself at the heart of the community here in Caboolture.
“Even more young people can access programs like After Dark, Drop In, our Youth Leadership Team, and our driver mentoring program Braking the Cycle, families can enjoy Gymnastics and Little n Active, and we’ve already had lots of interest in our Gym+Fitness Centre.”
The new, $17.5 million PCYC Caboolture is being delivered in partnership with the Australian Government ($10 million funding), the Queensland Government ($5 million funding) and Moreton Bay Regional Council ($2.5 million funding).
2026 started with some wild weather across Queensland, with Winton being just one of the places heavily affected by rain and flooding. Winton has just one SES member so the community relies on extra support in times of disaster. This time PCYC Emergency Services Cadet Sally was there to help!
Sally worked alongside SES personnel, door-knocking and advising residents to evacuate as flood waters rose. Sally found the experience incredibly meaningful, feeling a strong sense of purpose in supporting a community in need and helping ensure residents’ safety.
Sally says her time in Emergency Services Cadets has helped her feel more knowledgeable and confident when approaching situations like this, particularly in communicating with others and delivering important safety warnings to the community.
Well done Sally!
As Term 1 approaches, 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year for PCYC Aquatics, with PCYC Queensland set to take over management of the much-loved learn-to-swim school at The Gap in late January.
This marks the organisation’s second PCYC Aquatics service, following the recent opening of its first facility in Allora, and signals PCYC Queensland’s growing presence in the sport and recreation space.
PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schultz said the move into aquatics was a natural next step for the organisation and welcomed the opportunity to establish a presence in The Gap just months after the Allora opening.
“All Queensland children need to learn to swim, and as an organisation with such a long history of providing high quality sport and recreation activities, we are well placed for this,” he said.
“We look forward to working with the local community to make it a vibrant hub for health and connection.”
PCYC offers a range of engaging aquatic programs, including learn-to-swim classes. The pool will also open up employment opportunities for locals interested in aquatics and youth development.
Sport and Recreation Manager – Aquatics Ilka Lebbink said the response from The Gap community had already been enthusiastic.
“We have had so much interest in our learn-to-swim programs already, and we just can’t wait to welcome the community to the pool to enjoy all PCYC Aquatics has to offer,” she said.
“We are pleased to become a part of this great community.”
Our Emergency Services Cadets Youth Psychological First Aid (PFA) pilot has now wrapped up across all participating Units in the Wide Bay-Burnett region, and what a powerful journey it has been.
Across Gin Gin, Biggenden, Hervey Bay and Childers, Cadets and Volunteer Leaders embraced the training with a strong sense of responsibility to their communities. Our young people showed us that they are more than ready to engage in conversations about wellbeing, support, leadership and resilience.
Dilo Alazeez, 17, has passed his driving test, and that’s not the only milestone he’s marked – he is the 550th graduate of Braking The Cycle at PCYC Toowoomba.
Braking The Cycle supports learner drivers without access to a supervisor or registered vehicle to complete their 100 logbook hours. Volunteer mentor drivers guide learners on their way to passing their driving test.
Braking The Cycle Program Coordinator Tim Darr is proud of Dilo’s hard work and determination, noting that Dilo is not the first in his family to come through the program.
“Dilo is keeping it in the family, after his older brother Sameer gained his license via Braking The Cycle in 2022,” Tim said.
PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schultz said Braking The Cycle provides young people with the freedom and independence to help them connect with their community.
“Having a licence doesn’t just give these young people the key to drive, it gives them the key to finding and maintaining employment, pursuing study opportunities or the ability to support their families and the wider community,” Phil said.
PCYC is looking for more volunteer mentor drivers. PCYC provides full training and support to help mentors guide participants in becoming safe and confident drivers.
As Queenslanders ready themselves for summer and the festive season, road safety returns to the spotlight – and a PCYC Queensland driver mentor program proven to produce safe drivers is calling out for volunteers to keep building safe driving habits.
Braking The Cycle (BTC) connects learner drivers who lack access to a car or supervising driver with trained volunteers who guide them through the 100 hours of practical experience needed to become safe, capable motorists.
This year, a study by BTC funder Motor Accident Insurance Commission and Queensland University of Technology found that drivers who learned to drive via BTC were safer drivers who were involved in fewer traffic accidents and offences than others of the same age.
That’s thanks in no small part to the mighty team of volunteer driver mentors – and as demand for the program grows, PCYC Queensland is calling out for more mentors.
PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schultz said the study findings confirmed the value of the program, and of the mentors who guide young people towards achieving their licence.
“Our mentors give young people the confidence and the right advice to make good decisions behind the wheel,” he said.
“Every hour a volunteer spends with a learner helps make our roads safer for everyone.”
PCYC Queensland is currently seeking more volunteer mentors right across Queensland. Volunteer Services manager Andrew Parkinson said the role offers a meaningful way to give back.
“Mentoring is a practical way to make a real difference, and all our mentors say it’s deeply rewarding,” he said.
“You don’t need special qualifications and you’ll receive full training and ongoing support. You just need patience, empathy and a driver’s licence.
“We hear all the time that our mentors get as much out of BTC as the learners do.”
Gauta Brown is a driver mentor who works from PCYCs Logan and Inala, and has done for six years. He said being a mentor gives him purpose, and he values the rapport he has with young people.
“When they get their licence, it is a really great feeling; knowing I have played a part in helping them get to that next part of their life, because everything opens up when you have your licence,” he said.
“They are all so different, but they all really need someone who is calm and confident, who won’t judge them or be too hard on them, and who is patient. That’s the approach that I use.
“Sometimes it feels like we are doing more than simply teaching these young men and women to drive and we are building their confidence, too.”
A love of teenagers and a belief that everyone deserves a chance at independence is what drives Braking The Cycle mentor Miriam Houweling in her volunteer role.
For 18 months, she has volunteered as a driver mentor with PCYC’s Braking The Cycle, one of a statewide team of volunteers helping young learner drivers build up their 100 driving hours.
Braking The Cycle allows young learner drivers to build up their 100 driving hours with volunteer mentors like Miriam. The program is designed to assist young people who don’t have access to a car or an adult at home who can supervise their driving.
Miriam said she has always enjoyed volunteering, and was seeking new opportunities when she moved from Ipswich to Mackay. She joined the Older Women’s Network , and learned about Braking The Cycle at PCYC Mackay.
She knew this was a role where she could make a difference and feel connected to the young people she was helping.
“I love spending time with teenagers, they all have their funny quirks. If I show them respect, then they show me respect,” Miriam said.
“They all deserve a chance in life,” she said.
Miriam recommends volunteering to anyone who has time to give, and she encourages Mackay locals to come in to PCYC and find out more. PCYC provides full training and support to help mentors guide participants in becoming safe and confident drivers.
PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schultz said Braking the Cycle provides young people with the freedom and independence to help them connect with their community.
“We have more than 700 BTC volunteers across the state who provide their time, skills and experience to help young people who may not be able to access or afford driving lessons the chance to gain their driving skills – and become safe drivers for the future,” Phil said.
“Having a licence doesn’t just give them the key to drive, it gives them the key to finding and maintaining employment, pursue study opportunities or the ability to support their families and the wider community.”
