Bringing Services Together: How Connected Care Helps Families Thrive

We see parents as strong and courageous partners.

Every day, we see the resilience and determination of women, children and families facing complex challenges. We work together with specialists and community to help families access a safer, more just and equitable future.

Over three decades of supporting families, Micah Projects has learned that positive outcomes are most likely when the whole person and whole family is seen and supported. The Hawthorne Women, Children and Families Hub is modelled on evidence and best practice to do just that: be a safe place of support for families facing interconnected challenges, which often include domestic and family violence, housing instability, trauma and social isolation.

Now evolved to include a range of age-appropriate responses for children and parents, the Hub is showing us that women, children and families have hopeful pathways towards safety, stability and wellbeing.

Underpinning the Hub's approach is The Nest Wellbeing Framework, an Australian evidence-based reference that highlights the importance of supporting multiple aspects of wellbeing, including health, learning, participation, identity and culture, material basics, and feeling valued, safe and loved.

These principles align closely with what families tell us they need, and what decades of practice have shown us: integrated, wrap-around support helps create lasting change.

What Makes the Hawthorne Hub Different?

The Hawthorne Hub is built on what we have learned from decades of working alongside women, children and families.

We see parents as their children's first teachers and support them to build their capacity, strengthen relationships and advocate for their families.

We focus on both parents and children together and separately through two-generation approaches that understand the wellbeing of each family member is interconnected.

Because the first 2000 days of a child's life are key for healthy development, we place a strong emphasis on children's wellbeing and early intervention, helping families identify concerns early and access specialist support.

We combine safe, welcoming community hubs with outreach and home visiting, seeing that flexible support is often essential for families facing complex challenges.

Our work is trauma-informed and responsive, recognising that many women and children have experienced adversity that can span generations.

We know that secure housing creates the foundation for safety, wellbeing and participation, which is why we continue to work with partners and stakeholders to support families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Stronger Through Partnerships

The Hawthorne Hub is strengthened by partnerships with government, community organisations, health services, researchers and philanthropic supporters.

This includes partnerships with Children's Health Queensland, the University of Queensland School of Social Work and Midwifery, Queensland Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety, the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Hand Heart Pocket and the Ningana Trust. 

Together, we are helping create opportunities for women, children and families to heal, recover and thrive.

Each year, hundreds of women, children and family members access support through the Hub. Working alongside these families we see that, when communities, families and services work together, stronger futures become possible.