Catalyst for Care
In 2024, the Queensland Government released Queensland's Residential Care Roadmap which recognised that residential care is an important component of the out of home care system and plays a vital role, including for children and young people with high needs, with disability and some sibling groups.
PeakCare has been commissioned by the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety to deliver as the Catalyst for Care Program three of the recommendations from the Roadmap.
Catalyst for Care will:
- Develop a residential care workforce strategy to meet the needs of the sector and children and young people in residential care.
- Modernise Queensland’s Hope and Healing Framework to provide workforce with essential knowledge and skills.
- Establish a sector-led residential care forum to celebrate and value workers, showcase and recognise best practices
Our commitment to improved outcomes for children and young people from high quality residential care is steadfast. We believe every young person in care deserves the best care, provided by the best workforce, no matter where they are in Queensland.
We also believe our workers deserve the best possible opportunities and to be celebrated and valued for the work they do every day. By addressing workforce challenges and improving job satisfaction, we aim to attract, train, and retain dedicated care staff.
Our approach
Information and ideas will be generated from multiple sources, collated, categorised and reviewed. PeakCare and advisors will provide analysis and advice on strategies to respond to the generated information for both the workforce and the expansion of Hope and Healing.
We will establish a sector-lead reference group to test ideas for practical implementation and providing direct feedback about what employers and employees will need to create a viable and stable workforce.
See below how you can take advantage of opportunities to participate.
Get involved
Your input is essential
CareCONNECT is the first of its kind in Queensland, created to bring together residential care workers, sector leaders, and decision-makers in one powerful, purpose-driven space. At a time when the Commission of Inquiry into residential care is prompting much-needed reflection, this event offers an opportunity to build more robust systems for the future—together.
Join us at this landmark event to help shape the future of care.
We welcome your input and feedback at any time, confidentially or for anonymised inclusion on our communications channels and reporting, to the Catalyst for Care team at workforce@peakcare.org.au
Frequently Asked Questions
We understand you are likely to have questions about the program, what it means for the sector, for organisations, for workers and for the young people you support
See below for our most recent FAQs. If there is anything you would like to see or discuss, we welcome you to contact us at anytime to workforce@peakcare.org.au
Consultation and engagement:
How will regions and special interests be captured?
PeakCare is excited to capture the diverse perspectives of those working in, and reliant on, the sector to shape Queensland’s first Residential Care Workforce Strategy and support the modernisation of Hope & Healing for residential care. To ensure we are able to capture this, we will be travelling across Queensland to seek your views on the issues most relevant to your region, and your thoughts on how they might be most effectively addressed. We will be holding specific forums in various geographic locations to ensure input from different areas, and invitations to communities of interest to share their unique perspectives. Every voice matters in shaping the future of a residential care workforce in Queensland that is inclusive and effective.
What if I cannot attend in-person consultations or events?
We are committed to making our engagement processes as inclusive and accessible as possible. We aim to offer public webinars in March - May (dates TBD) to ensure that those unable to participate in person can still engage meaningfully with our team.