UnitingCare

Check out these snaps from our latest Grandfamily Camp on Magnetic Island! ☀️

From 7 to 10 April, families headed to Magnetic Island for four days of fun, connection, and a well earned break.

Grandparents got time to breathe and swap stories with people who get it. Kids made friends who understand their world.

That's the magic of Time for Grandparents Grandfamily Camps.

Learn more: grandparentsqld.com.au

Youth Week in Seventeen Seventy was all about connection, creativity and making space for young people to be heard.

At Connected Youth Café, hosted by Gladstone Regional Council, young people helped shape the day through art, conversation and community connection.

Our Discovery Coast Youth Service team loved being part of the event alongside families and local partners. One of the highlights was a collaborative artwork designed and created by young people, which became a shared expression of identity and creativity across the day.

It was a lovely example of what can happen when young people are given space to contribute, connect and feel part of their community.

You can read more about Discovery Coast Youth Service here: myuniting.care/DiscoveryCoastYouthService

Cost of living pressures aren’t just financial, they’re emotional.

As household budgets tighten, many people are carrying more stress, uncertainty and anxiety than ever. When money feels scarce, it can also change the way people think about risk, quick wins, and coping strategies.

At the UnitingCare Gambling Help Service (GHS), our teams are hearing directly from people who are feeling the pinch. We’re speaking with individuals and families who are juggling rising costs, debt, and everyday pressures — and, for some, gambling is starting to feel like a way to escape, distract, or “get ahead”.

What we know is this:

Financial stress can increase vulnerability to problematic gambling, particularly when hope, relief, or control feel hard to find elsewhere.

Now more than ever, early conversations matter. So does reducing shame, increasing awareness, and reminding people that support exists — before gambling becomes another pressure on top of everything else.

If gambling is impacting you or someone you know, support is available: Far North Qld Cent, Central Qld 0498 000 325, Wide Bay and Burnett 07 4191 3100 (Mon to Fri, 8:30am to 4:30pm). Out of hours: 1800 858 858 (24/7).