23 gymnasts representing PCYC Queensland at the National Clubs Gymnastics Carnival soared to new heights and left coaches, and supporters buzzing with pride.
Hosted by Gymnastics Australia last week, National Clubs was the first qualifying event for the Australian National Championships 2026.
Gymnasts from PCYCs Redcliffe and Caboolture represented PCYC Queensland in trampolining.
PCYC Redcliffe Gymnastics Program Leader Alex Lucas is thrilled about his student Harry Tedford being selected to represent Australia at the Junior World Age Championships for Tumbling and Double Mini Trampoline.
“We are so proud of Harry, and we can’t wait to cheer him on as he takes the international stage!” Alex said.
Rhythmic gymnasts representing PCYC Logan also competed at the 2025 National Clubs Gymnastics Carnival, impressing coaches and supporters alike with their talent and dedication.
A standout performance came from Aira Kim, who was named Overall National Champion and took top honours in the Ball and Clubs apparatus.
PCYC Logan’s Rhythmic Gymnastics Coaching Team, led by competition coach Kitti Csernyanszky, was thrilled with the team’s results and the athletes’ hard work throughout the event.
“We are so proud of this team for supporting each other and shining on the national stage. Congratulations to our Rhythmic superstars!” Kitti said.
PCYC Queensland’s young cadets took part in ESCape Week last week – an unforgettable series of exciting, hands-on experiences, provided thanks to emergency service professionals giving them a taste of a career in emergency services.
Emergency Services Cadets (ESCs) can only be chosen to participate in ESCape week once, and this year’s group showed their bravery, tenacity and willingness to learn.
This year the cadets experienced marine rescue and water safety challenges, learned skills to help in alcohol related trauma and accidents, searched for missing persons, used fire-fighting equipment, and spent time with the bomb squad and Polair.
PCYC ESC Program Coordinator Kerrieann Ruatoka’s highlight was seeing the students step out of their comfort zones and really engage with the different activities throughout the week.
“There was such a great sense of connection, energy, and growth. It was also really rewarding to hear the positive feedback from both students and staff about the impact the program is having,” Kerrieann said.
PCYC ESC Manager Sue Bernard enjoyed watching the Cadets grow from day one of ESCape Week, when they didn’t even know each other to becoming a great group of friends who take care of each other. It’s something she never tires of.
“The most memorable day was when I took a detour on our drive home from the Gold Coast, so that we got to spend a precious few minutes at the beach – which some of our regional Cadets had never seen before. That is a gift that will stay with me long after everything is done,” Sue said.
Gymnasts from PCYC Toowoomba competed in the Junior Artistic State Gymnastics Championships held last week at the Sleeman Sports Complex at Chandler.
PCYC Toowoomba Gymnastics Program Leader Felicia Platz said they had a large team representing PCYC Toowoomba at this four-day event hosted by Gymnastics Queensland.
“PCYC Toowoomba had a record of 25 gymnasts competing at State Championships this year, and 17 of them made the Darling Downs Team – out of 18 available spots!” Felicia said.
“We had athletes who competed individually and who represented the Darling Downs in the Regional Team Challenge, and we are so proud of them all.”
PCYC Queensland is the largest gymnastics provider in Queensland. Find out more about our inclusive, supportive and fun programs
Last month, PCYC Yarrabah’s Youth Leadership Team (YLT) did a ReefClean with Tangaroa Blue. They removed more than 100kg of marine debris from the reef, sorting, recycling and disposing of it. The YLT worked hard, ensuring the largest marine debris haul of any ReefClean at Green Island over the past 20 years!
Some of the debris found were small bleach bottles all the way from South-East Asia. Bleach bottles are squirted into the ocean to stun exotic fish, by people hoping to capture and sell them. The bottles are discarded and wash up in a range of faraway places – including here in Queensland.
The YLT also found a tuna tracker that had come off a tuna boat and was taken back to the mainland to be reused.
Well done to our Yarrabah Youth Leadership Team!
PCYC Pine Rivers was a hub of tumbling, flipping and fun during their Gymnastics Showcase Carnival on 13 September.
In a high-energy day as much about community as it was about skills, 70 gymnasts and their families cheered each other on at the club’s first gymnastics showcase.
The event was designed to showcase the progress and success of all gymnasts, giving athletes a chance to demonstrate what they’ve learned in a fun and supportive environment in front of their friends and family. It was a celebration of the effort and growth each young person has made in themselves.
Club Manager PCYC Pine Rivers Paula Sargent said the event was a huge success and a credit to the team spirit of the participants.
“Our Gymnastics community at PCYC Pine Rivers is truly something special, and it was wonderful to bring everyone together to showcase the skills and progress they’ve made,” she said.
“The carnival was such a fun and high-energy day – it really showed how incredible gymnastics is as a sport. Watching everyone in action reminded me how much strength, flexibility, and confidence it builds. I’m so proud of our gymnasts; they lit up the space with their passion and skill, and I think we all left feeling totally inspired.”
PCYC Pine Rivers team members were happy to see so many families and friends supporting the gymnasts and cheering them on throughout the day.
The Showcase doubled as a fundraiser, with every dollar raised going back into helping PCYC Pine Rivers deliver great outcomes for young people in the community.
Spring is heating up, and PCYC Queensland is ready to take on management of the Allora swimming pool when it reopens on 1 October – just in time for the summer season.
This marks a major milestone for PCYC Queensland, one of the state’s largest providers of sport and recreation programs.
PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schultz said the move into aquatics was a natural next step for the organisation.
“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. It’s an exciting time,” he said.
“We are especially excited to commence our first season at the Allora pool, and we look forward to working with the local community to make it a vibrant hub for health and connection.”
PCYC will introduce a range of engaging aquatic programs, including learn-to-swim classes, squad training, aquatic fitness sessions and more. The pool will also open up employment opportunities for locals interested in aquatics and youth development.
Sport and Recreation Manager – Aquatics Ilka Lebbink said she was keen to get things started.
“We’re planning lessons and activities for the opening, and can’t wait to welcome families to the pool,” she said.
“We are excited to really become a part of this great community.”
PCYC Queensland will also offer a monthly Drop In session at the neighbouring basketball court. Drop In is one of the organisation’s youth programs, focused on peer connection, positive mentorship and ensuring young people have a safe space to connect, enjoy themselves and seek guidance if needed.
PCYC Queensland has a significant presence in regional Queensland, with busy and popular clubs in nearby Toowoomba and Dalby delivering youth programs and activities.
“We’re delighted to welcome PCYC Queensland to Allora,” said Cr Russell Wantling, Southern Downs Regional Council’s portfolio Councillor for Active Communities.
“Their proven track record in youth development and recreation aligns perfectly with our vision for a healthier, more connected future for our region.
“The introduction of PCYC’s Drop In program is a fantastic initiative that will give our young people a safe and supportive space to grow, connect and thrive, and we’re excited to see the positive impact this will have on the Allora community.”
“I’m looking forward to a long and successful partnership with Council and with the Allora community,” said Phil.
Child Protection Week is a chance to say loud and clear: child safety is everyone’s business. At PCYC Queensland, we’re shining an extra spotlight on the things we’re doing to make sure every child and young person feels safe, respected and heard.
Our new Code of Conduct posters will soon be up around our services. You can see a sneak peek of them below. They’re a clear reminder to everyone – including children and families – of the standards we expect and the values we hold. It’s about being upfront with our commitment to safety, inclusion and respect.
Real Conversations, All Ages
We’ve been having age-appropriate chats with children and young people about what safety means to them. That includes talking about consent, recognising when something doesn’t feel right and knowing who they can talk to. From curious primary school children to thoughtful young people, these conversations are helping build a culture where asking questions and speaking up is encouraged.
Hearing From Our Community
We have also launched a short survey to get feedback from families, children and staff about how we’re doing on safeguarding. What’s working? What else is needed? It’s all part of making sure our policies and practices aren’t just words on paper but really reflect what our community needs.
Child safety is never a one-off conversation. It’s something we keep coming back to, because children and young people deserve nothing less.
We’re proud to share the latest exciting development in our youth pathways at PCYC Queensland!
After a successful pilot, we’re officially rolling out our new Coaches of Tomorrow program for young gymnasts aged 12 to14.
This age group is where we often see a drop-off in participation, and we wanted to find a way to keep our young people connected with the sport, and with PCYC more broadly.
We came up with a coaching program that introduces young people to the world of coaching, from foundational skills and planning sessions, to understanding responsibility, leadership, and even getting started with things like Blue Card applications.
The feedback from our pilot group was amazing and we’re now rolling it out across all clubs that offer Gymnastics.
With this program we are building confidence, creating pathways to paid work, and helping young people see a future in the sport they’ve grown up loving.
This initiative is a brilliant example of how we can support young people to stay active and involved, both in sport and beyond. And while they stay connected to PCYC, as gymnasts and then as coaches, these terrific young people will also have access to our other youth programs which offer even more leadership and development opportunities.
We can’t wait to see more young leaders come through this program and grow with us!
One of PCYC Innisfail’s shining lights is Shaz, a determined teenager whose inspirational journey has transformed adversity into opportunity.
Shaz is always brimming with boundless energy and an infectious smile, finding solace and purpose in PCYC’s Boxing After Dark and Drop In programs during challenging times in her personal life. She’s become a beloved and active participant and is now giving back to the community and becoming a leader herself.
Nervous on her first day of boxing, Shaz said Sgt Mick Maguire’s booming voice kept her in line, but over time Sgt Mick has become a big supporter and mentor to Shaz.
Shaz’s connection with PCYC began early, in Year 5, through PCYC’s Team Up program at Innisfail State School. Her engagement deepened in Year 6 with the Bluelights Blue Edge program, as well as her regular attendance at Boxing After Dark and Drop In sessions. It was during these Drop Ins that her talent and passion for gymnastics truly emerged.
This year marks another significant milestone for Shaz as she proudly joined PCYC’s Youth Leadership Team (YLT). Shaz has chosen to dedicate her volunteer hours towards achieving her Gymnastics Coach qualification. This will no doubt unlock a wealth of future possibilities, promising greater engagement, further education, and employment prospects within PCYC’s gymnastics programs.
Shaz is enjoying training to become a gymnastics coach and extending her abilities.
“My favourite part is teaching the younger kids and truly getting to know their individual personalities,” she said.
Shaz’s story is a powerful reminder that with resilience, the right support, and a place to nurture one’s talents, young people can not only overcome obstacles but also achieve their dreams.
The PCYC Innisfail community couldn’t be prouder of this remarkable young woman and eagerly anticipates all the incredible things she will accomplish.
Shaz recommends other young people Drop In to PCYC.
“Take the leap! You’re guaranteed to meet a lot of new faces and leave with unforgettable memories,” she said.
This Queensland Road Safety Week, longterm supporter of PCYC Queensland’s driver mentor program Braking the Cycle, the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), announced they will commit $13.6 million over three years in a continuation of funding which has already had a huge impact on young Queenslanders – and been proven to produce safer drivers.
A recent evaluation undertaken by MAIC and Queensland University of Technology found that drivers who had participated in Braking the Cycle had incurred significantly fewer traffic offences of any type and were involved in fewer crashes when compared to a matched control group.
The MAIC funding will help ensure PCYC Queensland can continue providing free driving lessons to people without access to a vehicle or supervising adult, ensuring they gain the required 100 hours of experience prior to obtaining their licence.
PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schultz said support from MAIC was extremely important.
“The funding from MAIC ensures we can give these young people a positive introduction to the world of driving, with safety top of mind, and a supportive, positive experience with one of our incredible mentors,” he said.
“Every week we hear stories from clubs about people gaining their licence, overcoming challenges, and proving they have the determination to succeed, with help from our volunteers.
“All of us at PCYC Queensland are incredibly grateful to MAIC for continuing to recognise the profound importance of this program, and for supporting us in delivering it.”
Insurance Commissioner Neil Singleton said he was pleased to continue a partnership which had such a positive impact on young Queenslanders.
“Our partnership with this incredible initiative began in 2017, and with this new funding term, I’m proud to say that our collaboration with PCYC will soon mark a decade of positive impact,” he said.
“MAIC’s support has enabled PCYC to address previously unmet needs across Queensland by enabling delivery of the program in some of our most remote and vulnerable communities.
“Under the newly confirmed agreement, our funding will support operations across 37 PCYC sites, including the First Peoples’ specific program ‘Changing Gears,’ which will continue to operate in Napranum, Palm Island, and Yarrabah.”
