Brisbane East

Brisbane East Family

From free water play on the Wynnum foreshore to library rhymes, playgroups, junior sport and school-holiday care, Brisbane East gives families practical ways to spend time together. When parenting, developmental or financial pressures arise, local and wider Queensland services can also help you find appropriate support.

🌈 Play, learning and early-years connection

Wynnum Aqua Park

Brisbane City Council’s free water-play area is a lively option for toddlers and primary school-aged children. Young visitors can enjoy spouting whales, tipping buckets and water jets, while a wading pool is nearby. Toilets, shade, a playground and picnic areas make longer family visits easier, and the adjoining foreshore paths offer room to keep moving beyond the splash zone.

First 5 Forever babies, books and rhymes at Carindale Library

Babies up to one year old can join free sessions built around singing, clapping and rhymes. It is a simple way for parents and carers to share early literacy activities and spend time with other local families. Bookings are not required, but entry may close once the session reaches capacity, so check the scheduled date before setting out.

Carina State School P&C Playgroup

Children aged from birth to five can explore role-play toys, craft, prep activities, a sandpit and playground at this free community playgroup for Play Matters members. Tea and coffee are available for parents and carers, creating an opportunity to meet while children play. Sessions are outdoors at Carina State School, depend on the weather and pause during school holidays.

Australian Breastfeeding Association Wynnum Group

Held in Tingalpa for families from Brisbane East’s bayside suburbs, local sessions combine breastfeeding and general parenting information with peer connection and access to breastfeeding counsellors or educators. Pregnant people, parents, partners, friends, grandparents and children of all ages are welcome, including families who bottle feed, express or mixed feed. Info and Chat meets on the first and third Thursday mornings; preparation sessions need to be booked.

⚽ Sport, care and school-break activities

Quest Football Academy – Brisbane East

Children aged 5–12 can take part in before- and after-school football activities at several Brisbane East locations. Sites include Gumdale, Cannon Hill, Carindale and Manly, allowing families to look for a session close to school or home. Select the relevant local program and complete a booking with the academy before attending.

Wynnum Manly Little Athletics Centre

Based at Moreton Bay College in Manly West, the centre welcomes children from Tiny Tots, aged three and four, through to under-17 athletes. Regular Saturday-afternoon competition runs from August to March with a Christmas break. Tiny Tots uses play-based activities, and a parent or guardian must remain and assist. New athletes can use a two-week trial to explore whether the program suits them.

PCYC East Brisbane Fun Squad

Fun Squad provides before-school, after-school, school-holiday and teacher-free-day care at PCYC East Brisbane. Enrolment, bookings and account management are completed through the Kidsoft parent portal. Families can contact the service team directly to ask about places, care arrangements and the practical requirements for their child.

🤝 Parenting, youth and family support

BABI Youth and Family Service

Wynnum-based BABI supports families through counselling, parenting groups and healthy-relationship assistance. Young people can access help with employment and training pathways, family connection and wellbeing, alongside LINX Youth Space, group work, youth projects and school-holiday programs. Medium-term housing options are also listed for young people experiencing homelessness. For general administration, call (07) 3393 4176.

Young Mothers for Young Women (YMYW) – Micah Projects

Operating from nearby Coorparoo and serving Brisbane, YMYW works with pregnant or parenting women aged 25 and under, their children and partners. Support can cover housing, relationships, education and employment, early-childhood needs and childcare. Families may also join supported whole-family playgroups. Family support and peer workers are part of the program, together with dedicated Dad’s and Early Years workers.

Family and Child Connect

Parents, relatives and young people anywhere in Queensland can use this government pathway to connect with the closest relevant family support. Assistance may relate to parenting, relationships, housing, health care, budgeting or other family concerns. Call 13 FAMILY (13 32 64) for referral to the closest office. Contact may be available at home or another mutually convenient place.

Bayside Community Legal Service

Families in Brisbane’s eastern suburbs and the Moreton Bay islands can seek free, confidential legal advice, information and referrals from this not-for-profit Wynnum service. Its areas include civil, criminal and family law matters, and it can facilitate up to three hours of free mediation. Contact the service to discuss access and whether its assistance matches your circumstances.

🧩 Child development, therapy and parent wellbeing

Gateway Therapies

Gateway Therapies offers occupational therapy, psychology and speech pathology for children and young people. Available support includes early childhood intervention, school readiness, assessments, behaviour management, emotional regulation and parent training following a new autism diagnosis. Families may attend the Murarrie clinic, while mobile services operate across Brisbane’s south and eastern suburbs.

City to Sea Occupational Therapy

This mobile paediatric occupational therapy practice visits homes, schools and community settings across Brisbane East, including Wynnum and Manly. It works with neurodivergent children and children with developmental delays on play, self-care, motor skills, emotional regulation and executive functioning, as well as caregiver education. Access is available to self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants and privately funded families.

Hively Bumblebees Paediatric Clinic

Children aged 1–16 and their families can access paediatric psychology and assessment, including therapy, family psychoeducation, diagnostic, cognitive and learning assessments, and NDIS-related reports. Delivery options include the East Brisbane clinic, home and community visits, or telehealth. Clinic consultations are by appointment only.

This Parenting Gig

Parents and families navigating parenting, relationship or wellbeing concerns can seek counselling and practical support. Individual and couples counselling is offered by phone or online across Australia, with limited in-clinic availability at Carindale. Parenting program sessions are also offered. Families seeking NDIS-related support should discuss their particular needs with the provider.

Children’s Health Queensland Child Health Service

This free Queensland-wide service supports parents and carers of children from birth to eight years. Topics include health and development, behaviour, feeding and starting solids, sleep and settling, connecting with children, and parent groups. Telehealth forms part of everyday service delivery. New clients can submit an appointment enquiry online or call the bookings team on 1300 366 039.

📌 Before you book or visit

• Check ages and eligibility: programs range from baby sessions and Tiny Tots to youth services, and some support has specific age, funding or participation conditions.
• Confirm the current session: library capacity, outdoor weather, school holidays and seasonal sport calendars can affect attendance.
• Ask about access: discuss mobility, sensory, communication or other accessibility needs directly with the activity or service before visiting.
• Clarify supervision and bookings: some activities require an adult to remain, while care, therapy, preparation sessions and assessments may require enrolment or an appointment.
• Confirm costs and funding: check current fees, trial conditions, private payment and NDIS arrangements before committing.

✨ If you run a family-focused business, service, activity or community group serving Brisbane East, you are warmly invited to add your details or update your existing listing so local families can find accurate, useful information.

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