Description
This Pre-Budget Submission 2026-2027 outlines and costs 8 priority recommendations for Neighbourhood Centres Queensland (NCQ) and the Neighbourhood Centre sector. It was formerly submitted to Treasury in February 2026.
These recommendations include:
Provide early intervention support to community members facing complex cost of living, housing, domestic violence and mental health issues by expanding the Community Connect Worker Program from 33 Neighbourhood Centres to all 130-state funded Centres
Develop the workforce and sector to respond to increasing community and government demand by investing in a statewide workforce development worker to provide professional development and training through the peak body, NCQ
Help Queensland communities get ready for, respond to, and bounce back from compounding disasters by investing in a statewide strategic disaster resilience worker through the peak body, NCQ, and seeking permanent disaster funding for Neighbourhood Centres
Deliver more Neighbourhood Centres for the growing number of Queenslanders by mapping place-based community-led infrastructure
Revitalise volunteering, civic participation and community connection opportunities in regional, remote and metropolitan Queensland by investing in volunteer coordination workers in Neighbourhood Centres
Address loneliness and social isolation while improving physical and mental health outcomes by advancing social prescribing initiatives through Neighbourhood Centres
Publication Details
Published: February 2026
Authors: Cate Akaveka, Chris Mundy and Melanie Maher
Published by: Neighbourhood Centres Queensland
Post date: February 2026