General News
5 February, 2026
Give schoolkids dignity
DOUGLAS Shire has joined a program aiming to ensure that local children can return to school with all the right equipment and feeling confident about the coming new term.
Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre, part of the Port Douglas Community Service Network (PDCSN), has been working closely in recent weeks with an initiative called School Savvy.
Recently centre coordinator Belinda Fischer connected with team members from Centacare FNQ to discuss their School Savvy initiative.
This concept is designed to help young people start the school year feeling confident, prepared and ready to learn, all without the added stress of missing essentials.
Now on board with School Savvy, the centre have been and are still seeking donations of back-to-school supplies.
Items sought include any preloved school uniforms that children have outgrown or no longer need.
“Every item makes a difference and helps set a child up for a positive start to the school year,” Ms Fischer said.
“We know how challenging the back-to-school period can be for families, especially so soon after Christmas,” she said.
“We are incredibly grateful to live in such a caring and compassionate community. When the call for help was shared, our community listened, responding with an overwhelming generosity of pre-loved school uniforms and brand-new school supplies.
“We already have school bags, uniforms and a whole bin fill of new books and items like pencils.”
The initiative will support families with children attending school in Port Douglas, Mossman, Mareeba, Mt Molloy, Julatten, Cairns and surrounding areas.
Volunteer Emily Morgan has been one of the team members accepting local donations from the public and a pop-up shop was held at the Mossman Shire Hall on Thursday 22 January, aided by the School Savvy team from Cairns.
“Although we are based in Cairns, we are always on hand to help in the Douglas Shire,” Centacare FNQ family engagement worker Jessica Taylor.
Donations can be made by dropping off items at the centre’s reception at 6/10 Mowbray Street, Port Douglas.
