YMYW Brisbane at the Turning Point Symposium: Sharing a Model of Care that Supports Young Families

As part of the symposium program, the Young Mothers Young Women (YMYW) Brisbane team had the opportunity to present our innovative model of care, highlighting the practical ways they support young parents in their community.

A key focus of their presentation was the Wellspring Hub in Brisbane, a one-stop community space designed specifically for young families. The hub provides accessible, wraparound support made possible through strong partnerships with local health services, including Mater Hospital. 

One standout feature is the Mater Young Women’s Clinic, which operates from the hub two days per week, alongside a visiting female GP available on Fridays. Together, these services ensure young women can access bulk-billed contraception and reproductive healthcare in a safe and supportive environment.

Beyond healthcare, the Wellspring Hub fosters connection and community. Regular playgroups welcome young mums, dads, and their children, creating inclusive spaces where families can build relationships and support networks.

Importantly, YMYW Brisbane also delivers one-on-one, community-based support, working directly with young families to help them stay together and thrive. This personalised approach reflects a deep commitment to meeting families where they are and walking alongside them on their journey.

By sharing the model at the Turning Point Symposium, the YMYW Brisbane team contributed valuable insights into what effective, compassionate support for young parents can look like in practice, reinforcing the importance of integrated, community-led solutions.

A special acknowledgment goes to Brave Foundation for hosting this important event and championing the voices of young parents across Australia.

Insights and reflections

The Turning Point Symposium created a unique space where lived experience met professional expertise. Young parents shared their perspectives alongside leading practitioners, policymakers, and researchers, all working within the critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life. This collaboration ensured that discussions were not only informed by theory and policy but grounded in lived experiences.

Our team members share their reflections.

“The day created space to share and reflect on improving service design and policy around pre-birth and infant safety reports, with young parents’ voices at the centre.

A strong theme of the symposium was the need to better support families to stay together. While the first 1000 days are critical for babies, it’s just as important for young parents. The value of lived experience peer workers was also highlighted, offering a unique lens on what families need to thrive.

A key takeaway for YMYW was seeing how important our work is and the positive impact holistic support can have on families. Ongoing challenges raised included children in care and early child safety reports, housing, limited funding for smaller organisations, access to services, systems failing families, and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.”

Melanie, Peer Worker, YMYW Brisbane

“The Turning Point Symposium, hosted by the Brave Foundation, was a pivotal event in the discussions of early intervention, the importance of lived experience voices, and the first 1000 days of life. It brought together practitioners, policymakers, and specialist researchers from across the country, and even a perspective from a specialized service in the UK, to generate discussions on service design, innovative approaches, and policy.

The YMYW team presented on the unique use of a two-generation approach to support, as well as the importance of programs built by community feedback and peer input. Many inciteful questions were asked about the operation of the YMYW programs, the peer worker role, and the shortfalls of funding in this industry. Having peer workers’ perspective included in the presentation allows for authentic delivery of information, as well as the ability to share our personal journeys and the way the program has supported our journeys.

The symposium highlighted the extraordinary work that is being done in this sector from the bottom, with individuals sharing their lived experience to advocate for change all the way to the very top with Deb Tsorbaris, National Child's Commissioner, speaking on the work they are doing to create change at a federal level. Brave did a spectacular job in bring such a wonderful group of people together for thought-provoking and pivotal discussions surround supporting children and young people.”

Taylin, Peer Worker, YMYW Brisbane

Where things stand 

In Queensland, young parents are disproportionately represented in pre-birth and infant child protection reports. 

For 30 years, the people who we work alongside at Micah Projects, the people who have experienced the family support and child protection systems (of yesterday and today) have been generous in sharing their lived experiences. We have participated together in the community-building work of advocacy that seeks to end cycles of hardship and disadvantage.

Evidence shows that early, intensive intervention can reduce the need for child removal and improve outcomes for families, yet current approaches are not addressing the root cause and systemic issues contributing to adverse childhood experiences. Parents affected by pre-birth reports are often unseen and unsupported, and the intergenerational impact needs to be platformed.

The long-term impact of child removal, on both the child and the parent, cannot be ignored. Instead, access to intensive and specialised early intervention programs for young parents at risk of child protection involvement, can ensure families are safe and supported.

How YMYW is making a difference

YMYW hubs are located in Brisbane, Caboolture and Redcliffe, and part of a long and evolving commitment by Micah Projects to support young pregnant and parenting women, their children and partners. 

For more than 30 years, YMYW has demonstrated that early support changes futures. By helping parents and young children early, our community can disrupt intergenerational cycles of poverty, homelessness and trauma, and build stronger, more connected communities. 

Across all locations, YMYW provides early intervention for young pregnant and parenting women - under 26 in Brisbane, and under 20 in Caboolture and Redcliffe.  

The model is built on a two generational approach, supporting both parents and children to strengthen the whole family unit. This includes pregnancy support, child health services, parenting education, occasional care, peer support, and pathways to housing, safety, education and employment. 

Young fathers are also supported through targeted programs, helping them pursue goals, build skills and strengthen their role in their children’s lives. 

Evidence from Micah Projects’ Two Generational Approaches: Learning from the First 2000 Days paper shows that the earliest years of a child’s life, from conception to age five, are a critical window for shaping lifelong health, development and wellbeing.  

 
When young parents receive coordinated support in the first five years, the benefits extend across two generations, improving stability, safety, attachment, and long-term opportunity. 

As Micah Projects continues to work alongside government, philanthropy and community partners, the evidence is clear: investing early in young families creates stronger, healthier communities.  

We thank our partners and supporters for making this work possible.

Get in touch: Young Mothers for Young Women | Micah Projects

Learn more:

•  Two Generational Approaches Learning Paper 
•  Family Inclusion Network