Centacare FNQ and Wuchopperen Health Service have teamed up in the first-ever official School Savvy partnership, adding six pop-up shops to its January 2025 series - ensuring First Nations students get back to school in style, on budget and with a free haircut if they would like one.
Established in 2016 as part of Anti Poverty Week, Centacare FNQ's School Savvy program provides year-round, much-needed relief to families across the region and notably hosts a January pop-up series in various locations, supplying thousands of students with tools for school and access to volunteer hairdressers.
When it launched its 2025 School Savvy program earlier this year, Centacare FNQ announced it would also expand its pop-up shop locations to seven and double the number of program trainees to 10 - a necessary expansion to ensure those students needing support are reached.
This month, Centacare FNQ kicked off its first official partnership with Cairns' primary health service provider for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This partnership builds on the organisation's history of supporting communities and addressing educational disparities for First Nations families.
Centacare FNQ senior manager Andrea Obeyesekere said the partnership with Wuchopperen Health Service is a significant development that will elevate School Savvy's impact to a new and unprecedented level.
"While working in an unofficial capacity to deliver assistance to Wujal Wujal families following the December 2023 flooding disaster, we knew we could make an even greater difference through collaboration, and the culmination of a partnership with Wuchopperen Health Service is a watershed moment for the School Savvy program," she said.
Wuchopperen Health Service chief executive officer Joy Savage said the partnership with Centacare FNQ's School Savvy complements the organisation's Connected Beginnings Program. This ensures that all First Nations families in Cairns can access initiatives offering cultural safety, self-determination, and empowerment.
"Our Connected Beginnings Program aligns perfectly with the School Savvy initiative, fostering strong families, school readiness, and culturally safe support. We are proud to contribute to this impactful effort for our community," she said.
Aside from School Savvy's pop-up shop series, which will roll out across Cairns and the far north in January 2025, Wuchopperen Health Service will host a six-day pop-up shop at its Manoora headquarters, on the 15th, 16th, and 17th of January and the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of January from 10am to 2pm each day.
Throughout January 2025, all School Savvy shops (Cairns, Atherton, Mossman, Trinity Park, Wuchopperen Health Service, Innisfail, and Edmonton) will be stocked with essential school supplies, uniforms, and resources, including free haircuts.
The program initiated in Cairns now runs in Townsville, Rockhampton, Mackay, and Gladstone, with Toowoomba and Brisbane coming online in 2024. There is currently strong interest in also further delivering the program interstate.
Centacare FNQ School Savvy call out for donations has also begun with the following back to school essentials accepted: Pre-loved or new uniforms for high school and primary students, especially public schools; Backpacks in good condition; Primary school shoes (runners of any colour); High school shoes: black or white runners; Scientific calculators; and New lunchboxes and water bottles (for hygiene reasons).
Donations can be dropped off at Centacare FNQ McCormack or Aplin Street, Connect hub Cairns Central or any Vinnies store.
