HBNC

12/09/2026

It takes a village to raise a child. So, where’s your village?

Being a dad can sometimes feel like you’re meant to have all the answers. But the truth is, we all need people around us to share a laugh with, swap stories, ask questions and remind us that we’re not doing this alone.

That’s what BBQ & Braids is all about. A relaxed, family-friendly afternoon where dads and their kids can come together, have some fun and start building their village.

And yes, the kids are very much invited! 👨‍👧‍👦👨‍👦

There’ll be plenty happening for everyone, including:

🧱 Build a LEGO city together
🥩 Enjoy a free BBQ
💇 Have a go at braiding
💬 Meet other local dads and have a yarn
🎲 Hang out, play and connect as a family

We’ll also be joined by Josh Rimmington, local marketing agency - JR Marketing Group Owner, Mental Health Ambassador, parenting and business podcast host, and children’s author of Mummy Has Lost Her Voice. Josh will be there hanging out and available for anyone who would like to have a chat.

There’s no pressure to know anyone, have all the answers or stay for the whole afternoon. Just bring the kids, grab a plate, get building and enjoy being part of your local community.

Because building a village starts with creating spaces where people can come together.

📅 Tuesday 15 September
⏰ 4pm–7pm
📍 Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre, 22 Charles Street, Pialba
🎟️ Free event

Whether you’re a dad, stepdad, grandad, father figure or someone who plays an important role in a child’s life, you and your kids are welcome.

👉 Book your free place: hbnc.com.au/Event/bbq-braids

11/09/2026

🔪 READY TO LEVEL UP YOUR KITCHEN SKILLS?

Whether you’re a complete beginner, a confident home cook, thinking about a career in hospitality, or simply want to learn how to work more confidently in the kitchen — Foundations to Flavours is for you!

Get hands-on with Knife Skills & Kitchen Fundamentals and learn practical techniques that can make cooking safer, easier and more enjoyable.

👨‍🍳 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

🔪 Essential knife techniques and precision cutting
⚡ Preparation skills to help you work more efficiently
🧤 Safe handling of kitchen tools and equipment
✨ How to sharpen, care for and maintain your knives
🍳 How to confidently use essential kitchen equipment
💪 Practical techniques to build your confidence in the kitchen

Whether you’re cooking dinner for the family, wanting to impress in the kitchen, or considering where your cooking skills could take you next — come along, get hands-on and learn something new.

🌟 No matter your experience level, there’s always something new to learn in the kitchen!

📅 Friday 9 October 2026
⏰ 3:30pm – 5:00pm
📍 Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre, 22 Charles Street, Pialba
💰 $25

👨‍🍳 Sharpen your skills. Build your confidence. Discover what you can do.

👉 Registrations are essential — book your place today!
https://www.hbnc.com.au/foundations-to-flavours-knife-skills-and-kitchen-fundamentals

Build confidence and real-world kitchen skills — from the basics to professional practice.

10/09/2026

The people who care for our community need care, too.

Every day, community and health practitioners, support workers and helping professionals give their time, energy and compassion to support others.

But when we spend so much of ourselves helping others, it’s important to remember to make space to look after ourselves, too.

That’s why we’re inviting those who work in community, health and helping professions to join us for A Soulful & Heartfelt Approach to Community Practice.

This full-day workshop is an opportunity to pause, reflect and reconnect with the heart of community practice while exploring ways to build sustainable approaches to our work and support our own wellbeing along the way.

🌿 A space to reflect
🌿 An opportunity to recharge
🌿 Connection with others who understand the work
🌿 Practical reflection on sustaining yourself while supporting others

Because a strong, connected community is built by people who care. And those people deserve care and support, too.

📅 Thursday 17 September
⏰ 9.30am–3.30pm
📍 Urangan Community Wellness Centre
💲 $50, including lunch

If you know someone working in community, health or a helping profession who could benefit from taking a moment for themselves, please share this with them.

Find out more and book your place: https://www.hbnc.com.au/Event/a-soulful-heartfelt-approach-to-community-practice

10/09/2026

It takes a village.

There was a time when looking out for one another was simply part of being a neighbour, a friend, a workmate or a member of the community.

Somewhere along the way, life became busier and our connections can sometimes become harder to maintain. But the need for community hasn’t changed.

Chris’s story is a reminder that sometimes, a simple question can be the beginning of something important. “Are you OK?” can open the door to a conversation, let someone know they’re not alone and remind them that people care.

This R U OK? Day, let’s think beyond one day.

Let’s bring back the village.

Let’s be the person who notices when someone seems a little different. The neighbour who checks in. The friend who makes the time. The person who asks twice when something doesn’t feel quite right.

Because building a strong and connected community isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about showing up for one another.

💛 You don’t have to be an expert.
💛 You don’t have to fix everything.
💛 Sometimes, simply being there matters.

If you’re thinking about someone, ask R U OK? Any Day.

Read Chris’s story and learn more about starting a conversation through R U OK?
https://www.ruok.org.au/chris-s-story-if-you-re-thinking-it-ask-r-u-ok-any-day

10/09/2026

We are so excited to partner with Fraser Coast Regional Council to bring this event to our wonderful community! We will also be launching our Digital Gardens -immersive storytelling experience which we created with the support of the Bendigo Community Bank Hervey Bay.

See you there!

09/09/2026

🎨🏡 TOMORROW! Children’s Art Factory is here! 🌈💛

Families of Hervey Bay… we’re getting ready for a BIG day of little imaginations! 🎉

Tomorrow, we’re opening the doors to our Children’s Art Factory, where children can get creative, get messy and explore an interactive village of colourful cubby houses — all while discovering something really important:

✨ They belong.
🌱 They can grow.
🛡️ They deserve to feel safe.
📣 Their voice matters.

And while the little ones are busy creating and exploring, parents, grandparents and carers can enjoy our Neighbourhood Family Lounge and learn practical tips about child safety, boundaries and creating safe spaces for children.

🍔 FREE community BBQ
🎨 Creative activities
🏡 Interactive cubby house village
👨‍👩‍👧 Family-friendly fun
💬 Helpful conversations for parents & carers
💰 FREE entry!

📅 TOMORROW – Friday 11 September
⏰ 10am–2pm
📍 Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre, 22 Charles Street, Pialba

👕 Remember: Bring the kids in clothes they don't mind getting a little paint on!

No need to wait for the perfect day out — come along, get creative and celebrate Children’s Week with us! 💛

We can’t wait to see you tomorrow! 🎨🏡✨

09/09/2026

🩵 Understanding Neurodivergence: Depression & Motivation

Depression can look different for autistic adults and people with ADHD, and is often mistaken for burnout, executive functioning challenges or low motivation.

Join Skye from Bright Day Psychology for a practical, neuro-affirming workshop exploring how depression impacts neurodivergent people and strategies to support wellbeing, motivation and daily functioning.

📅 Tuesday 29 September 2026
🕠 5:30pm – 7:30pm
📍 Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre, 22 Charles Street, Pialba

🎟️ $20 per person

Your ticket includes:
• Free dinner
• $5 onsite supervised children's activities

https://www.hbnc.com.au/Event/understanding-neurodivergence-depression-motivation

Part of Night Studio, HBNC's after-hours learning program for adults.

08/09/2026

🌿 How is habitat loss affecting our wildlife? 🦇

Join environmentalist John Parsons for an engaging workshop exploring how urban growth is changing our natural environment and what we can do to help local wildlife thrive.

🌱 Learn about:
• Habitat loss and urban development
• Wildlife in our suburbs
• The role of microbats and native species
• Creating wildlife-friendly backyards

📅 Tuesday 15 September 2026
⏰ 5:30pm – 7:30pm
📍 Hervey Bay Community Centre
💰 $5 | Bookings Essential

🍽️ Free dinner provided
👧 $5 children's activities available

https://www.hbnc.com.au/Event/neighbourhood-night-studio-microbats-habitats

Part of Night Studio, HBNC's after-hours learning program for adults.

Supported by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.

07/09/2026

🐾🎓 ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT FOR PUPPY PRESCHOOL! 🎓🐾

💥 STARTING THIS THURSDAY! 💥
🐶 Puppies aged 8–16 weeks
💰 $150 for the full 4-week program

Those early puppy weeks go by SO quickly, and they’re such an important time for building confidence, creating positive experiences and setting up good habits for the future. 🥹💕

Our 4-Week Puppy Preschool is designed to help you give your puppy the best possible start while learning how to navigate all those fun (and sometimes chaotic 😂) puppy stages!

🌟 Over the four weeks, we’ll cover:
🐾 Safe & positive socialisation
🐾 Confidence building
🐾 Basic obedience & communication
🐾 Puppy biting and common puppy behaviours
🐾 Routines and boundaries
🐾 Setting your puppy up for success
🐾 Helpful training tips you can continue at home
🐾 PLUS plenty of fun and puppy socialisation!

Our classes are kept small so every puppy and owner gets plenty of support, guidance and opportunities to learn. 💕

💉 Only their first vaccination is required to attend!

💰 $150 for the entire 4 weeks

We now have JUST 2 SPOTS LEFT before this class is FULL! 🎉

If you have a puppy between 8–16 weeks old, now is the perfect time to start building those foundations.

🎓🐾 DON’T MISS OUT — SECURE ONE OF THE FINAL SPOT!

Send us a message to book your puppy in. 💕🐶

06/09/2026

BIG little conversations start with play!

What if your child could learn about their rights, safety, feelings and having a voice… all while painting, playing and having a whole lot of fun?

Join us at Children’s Art Factory during Children’s Week for a FREE family day designed for little people — and the grown-ups who care for them.

🎨 For the kids:
They’ll get to paint, decorate and explore four colourful interactive cubby houses, each bringing an important message to life:

🏡 We All Belong – celebrating friendship and inclusion
🌱 We Can Grow – building confidence and self-expression
🛡️ We Stay Safe – learning about personal space and trusted adults
📣 We Have a Voice – knowing their feelings matter and they can speak up

👨‍👩‍👧 For parents & carers:
While the kids get creative, you can relax in our Neighbourhood Family Lounge and learn more about keeping children safe in everyday spaces like schools, sporting clubs and community organisations.

We'll talk about child-safe standards in plain, practical language, including how to have age-appropriate conversations with your children about safety and boundaries.

🍔 Plus, there'll be a FREE community BBQ, family-friendly games and plenty of opportunities to connect with your local community!

📅 Friday 11 September 2026
⏰ 10am–2pm
📍 Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre, 22 Charles Street, Pialba
💰 FREE!

🎨 Tip for parents: Bring the kids in old clothes they don't mind getting a little paint on!

Come along, get messy, get creative and help your little ones discover that their voice matters, their feelings matter and they have the right to feel safe.

👉 Find out more: https://www.hbnc.com.au/Event/kids-kindness-village