CentaCare FNQ opens permanent School Savvy Hub in Cairns

Far North families now have access to a comprehensive year-round hub where they can access support to help their children overcome schooling barriers. Details:

CentaCare FNQ's successful School Savvy program has will enter its tenth year with a permanent building for the first time. CentaCare FNQ volunteers Madeline Kavare, Christine Keko, Hariangel Medina, Mohd Hashim Ismail, Esterania Moya, Anita Tamang and Ercis Irakore will all help parents and gaurdians prepare their children for the 2026 school year. Picture: Brendan Radke

Families can now access a “village” approach to education support in the Far North through a new permanent hub replacing temporary pop-ups.

CentaCare FNQ has established a permanent School Savvy Hub in Cairns to provide year-round support to school kids and their families.

Executive director Anita Veivers said the hub, located on Pease St in Manoora, had everything for families to learn about available support, helping them overcome any barriers impacting their children's’ engagement with schooling.

“When we run a pop-up shop, we have hundreds of people come through the door so you don’t have time to really engage closely with them,” Ms Veivers said.

“What we can do here is work one-on-one holistically with families and make sure that they can completely engage with their child’s schooling.

CentaCare FNQ's successful School Savvy program has will enter its tenth year with a permanent building for the first time, at 66 Pease Street, Manoora. Picture: Brendan Radke

“The system is quite complex, there are lots of social services out there, and what we can do is really act as that conduit to support people to get into the right system, the right processes, and navigate what they need.”

School Savvy is an annual program that offers affordable uniforms, stationery, haircuts and other school essentials to children in the lead up to the school year through various pop-up shops.

The hub will be staffed by a social worker, team leader, admin support and supported by the broader School Savvy team.

Ms Veivers said the hub would be running various programs and workshops to help families get ready for the new school year.

“It really comes back to the old adage of ‘it takes a village to raise a child’,” she said.

CentaCare FNQ workers Kumiko Millward, Andrea Obeyesekere, Shana Johanness, Aidan Coate and Jess Taylor will all work out of the new School Savvy hub. Picture: Brendan Radke

“What we’re doing is creating that village by bringing together all the people who can provide supports and services to children and families, and schools to just make it all work.”

As part of the School Savvy program, CentaCare FNQ is also encouraging individuals, workplaces and classrooms to take part in their ‘Pack a Pencil Case’ challenge.

Participants are encouraged to buy and fill a pencil case with school supplies, label it primary or secondary, and drop it off by December 12 to the new Hub, Connect Hub Cairns Central or any local Vinnies store.

CentaCare FNQ are receiving $1.4m over four years from the Queensland government for the School Savvy program, which helped establish the hub.

CentaCare FNQ executive director Anita Veivers and Member for Barron River Bree James outside the new School Savvy building at 66 Pease Street, Manoora. Picture: Brendan Radke

Barron River MP Bree James said the program was extremely important for the community.

“We know that School Savvy do a fantastic job, especially just before school goes back, helping families with those resources that they need to get back to school,” she said.

“Many families are doing it tough, so those hose pencil cases, pre-loved uniforms and school shoes, free haircuts … are really important.”

The School Savvy pop-up shops locations and opening times are available via the CentaCare FNQ website.

Originally published as CentaCare FNQ opens permanent School Savvy Hub in Cairns