Smiley's Support Services

30/03/2026

How amazing is this!!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BEDoKpUWT/

Teddy Bears Picnic Pop-Up Playgroup 🧸

First Nations families in the Bundaberg region are warmly invited to join us for a day of yarning, play, and connection. Have a yarn with our team and learn about the early childhood care and development support we offer through our Connected Beginnings Program.

Thursday, 16 April 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where: Lions Park North, Bundaberg North (under Kennedy Bridge)
Free community event

🎨🧸 Make-A-Bear Workshop! 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹
Bring your creativity and take home your very own personalised cuddly buddy! Spaces are limited, so make sure you register to secure your spot at 07 4167 0037 or reception@pccctrust.com.au

🌟 Don’t miss out on this deadly opportunity to connect with community, access valuable support, and let your little ones enjoy a day of fun and learning 🎨🧩

Connected Beginnings is a initiative proudly funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and the Department of Health and Aged Care.

24/03/2026

Gin Gin Community Recovery POP UP Hub
Assisting the community after the recent flooding – Tropical Low 29U
Community Recovery hubs are a place where residents who are experiencing hardship can apply for grants and obtain emotional and wellbeing support.
The Community Recovery workers will assist with grant applications and offer referrals to other community organisations and government agencies for further assistance.
Gin Gin Neighbourhood Centre
Address: 4 Dear Street, Gin Gin
Operating hours:
• Monday 23 to Friday 27 March
• 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

17/03/2026

Better Connect is hosting QPR Gatekeeper Training here at the Gin Gin Neighbourhood Centre.🎗
Learn to recognise su***de crisis and offer support.
To RSVP please see the contact information at the bottom of the flyer listed 😊

13/03/2026

Issued: 4.30 pm Friday 13 March 2026
Next update: as the situation changes.

Bundaberg Regional Council advises people in the Bundaberg Region, including in the following locations:
• Bungadoo
• Pine Creek
• Morganville
• Sandy Hook
• South Kolan
• Givelda
• Electra
• Duingal
• Goodnight Scrub
• Bundaberg North
• Bundaberg East
• Bundaberg South
• Bundaberg Central

to STAY INFORMED of the ongoing isolation, health and safety risks following major flooding on the Burnett River.

For non-life-threatening flood and storm emergency assistance, contact SES on 132500, 132500.qld.gov.au, or the SES Assistance Qld app on Android or iOS. In a life-threatening situation, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

What are we expecting?
The Bureau of Meteorology advises the Burnett River at Walla is likely to remain above the moderate flood level (8.00 m) for the remainder of Friday. The river may fall below the moderate flood level (8.00 m) overnight Friday into Saturday. The Burnett River at Bundaberg is below the minor flood level however residents are reminded that health, safety and wellbeing risks still exist.
• Rural and remote communities are experiencing extended isolation. Check on friends, family, and neighbours in the area. If you or someone you know has isolation concerns report it immediately. If you haven’t heard from someone who you think could be isolated report it immediately. For non-life-threatening assistance, contact SES on 132500. If you have any concerns for the safety or welfare of someone who could be isolated contact Policelink on 131 444. In a life-threatening emergency call QPS on triple zero (000).
• Avoid unnecessary travel in flood impacted areas. Safety assessments are still ongoing and not every location has been confirmed safe.
• Sandbags that have been in contact with water need to be thrown away. Sturdy gloves should be worn when handling wet sandbags as they can contain chemicals, waste, and diseases from water. Don’t place sandbags in household wheelie bins.
• Floodwater is contaminated. Avoid floodwater and during clean up protect your health and safety; wear boots, gloves and protective clothing when cleaning up, wash your hands and clothes often, throw away food that should be kept cold or frozen if you lost power. Access more health information here: https://www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/Community/Disaster-management/Recovering-from-a-disaster/Flood-recovery
• The number of mosquitos can grow after a flood. Protect your health and safety by using repellent, wear closed in shoes, long sleeves and pants, and empty containers that have water in them.
• Maritime warning - Avoid operating a vessel on the water, unless absolutely necessary. Debris may still be in the water and can cause damage to vessels. Aids to Navigation may be off station. Uncharted and unseen submerged hazards such as sunken vessels or large trees pose a significant risk. More information: https://www.qldmaritime.msq.qld.gov.au/

What you need to do:
• Check on friends, family, and neighbours in the area. If you or someone you know has isolation concerns report it immediately. If you haven’t heard from someone who you think could be isolated report it immediately. For non-life-threatening assistance, contact SES on 132500. If you have any concerns for the safety or welfare of someone who could be isolated contact Policelink on 131 444. In a life-threatening emergency call QPS on triple zero (000).
• If your property has been flood impacted, make sure it is safe before entering. Check for damage to windows, walls and the roof and be careful of potential dangers including asbestos.
• Make sure the electricity and gas are turned off before going inside. If power points, electrical equipment, appliances or electrical hot water systems have been exposed to floodwater or are water damaged in any way, they must be inspected by a qualified electrician before use. Gas appliances and gas bottles that have been exposed to floodwater should be inspected for safety before use
• Never drive, walk, ride through, play or swim in flood water. If it’s flooded, forget it.
• Consider the consequences of road and bridge closures. Damage to roads, bridges or buildings caused by flooding may exist in your area. Consider the need to make alternate arrangements for work, children, and travel.
• Drive to conditions and remain alert. Be aware of road hazards including mud, debris, and water in low lying areas.
• Obey all signs about road closures and instructions from emergency services.
• Stay away from creeks, rivers, and drains.

Support and recovery help:
• Go to Bundaberg Regional Council’s website for clean-up and recovery information: https://www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/Community/Disaster-management/Recovering-from-a-disaster/Flood-recovery
• For general relief and recovery information go to the Get Ready Queensland website (After a Disaster).
• Natural disasters can affect your mental health. If you need help, call any of these groups:
o Lifeline: Go to lifeline.org.au or phone 13 11 14.
o Beyond Blue: Go to beyondblue.org.au or phone 1300 224 636.
o Kids Helpline: Go to kidshelpline.com.au or phone 1800 551 800.
• Community Recovery services are available at:
o The Community Recovery Hub at the Bundaberg TAFE at 118 Walker Street – 9 am to 4 pm daily from Friday 13 March
o The Pop Up Recovery Hub at Bundaberg Neighbourhood Centre at 111 Targo Street 9 am to 4 pm daily from Friday 13 March to Friday 20 March.
o The Community Recovery Lifeline Hotline provides a dedicated disaster counselling support line to assist disaster affected people and communities as well as a Farmer to Farmer support. Call 1800 116 671 (8 am to 8 pm).

For more information:
• Follow our local council disaster dashboard here https://disaster.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/.
• Listen to your local radio 100.1 ABC Wide Bay https://www.abc.net.au/widebay
• For power outage information go to ergon.com.au/network
• Check the latest weather, warnings, rainfall, and river heights at the Bureau of Meteorology Queensland website.
• In a life-threatening situation, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
• For non-life-threatening flood and storm emergency assistance, contact SES on 132500, 132500.qld.gov.au, or the SES Assistance Qld app on Android or iOS.
• Check road closures at the QLD Traffic website or for phone service call 13 19 40.
• Check disruptions to public transport at the Translink website.

SES Queensland can assist when you or your property are in danger or potential danger associated with a flood or storm in QLD. The State Emergency Service Queensland is a volunteer based organisation designed to empower people to help themselves and others in their community in times of emergency an...

12/03/2026

DISASTER HARDSHIP ASSISTANCE: Flood-impacted residents in targeted parts of Bundaberg can now access disaster assistance.

CURRENT **UPDATED** activated areas for Personal Hardship Assistance include:
📍Avoca
📍Branyan
📍Bundaberg Central
📍Bundaberg East
📍Bundaberg North
📍Bundaberg South
📍Bungadoo
📍Morganville
📍Pine Creek
📍South Kolan.

(Please note, as further impacted areas become known and evidence reported, the activated areas list will continue to change and be added to. Will be sure to keep the community updated on these changes/additions.)

𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 – $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more to purchase immediate essentials like food, clothing and medicine.

𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 – $150 per person, up to $750 for a family of five or more to assist with immediate needs following the loss of essential services at home for more than five consecutive days.

𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 – income-tested assistance for uninsured residents, up to $1,765 for individuals and up to $5,300 for couples or families to replace destroyed essential household contents such as bed linen and whitegoods.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 – up to $80,000 for uninsured, income-tested owner-occupiers towards the repair or replacement of a disaster damaged dwelling to return it to a safe and habitable condition.

𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 – income-tested grants to help uninsured residents reconnect damaged services like electricity, gas, water or sewerage. Up to $5,000 per household.

Additionally, flood-impacted not-for-profits in Bundaberg can apply for disaster loans of up to $100,000 via www.qrida.qld.gov.au or by calling 1800 623 946.

DRFA assistance has also been made available to the local governments of Bundaberg.

If your property has been directly impacted by these floods, please visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au to check your eligibility for assistance.

The Queensland Community Recovery Hotline is available for those needing urgent disaster support, with officers taking calls 24/7 on 1800 173 349.

10/03/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DKNihTvMo/

This warning is no longer current. Get the latest weather warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology: https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and.../warnings-and-alerts

Issued: 9 am, Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Next update: as the situation changes.

Bundaberg Regional Council advises people in the following area(s):
• Bundaberg North
• Bundaberg East
• Bundaberg South
• Bundaberg Central
• Branyan
• Avoca

to PREPARE NOW for the major flooding on the Burnett River which will cause property inundation and isolation.

For non-life-threatening flood and storm emergency assistance, contact SES on 132500, 132500.qld.gov.au, or the SES Assistance Qld app on Android or iOS. In a life-threatening situation, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

What are we expecting?
The Bureau of Meteorology advises major flooding will be occurring at Bundaberg expected to reach 7.00 m by 3 pm Tuesday, 10 March, continuing to rise to 7.5 m around 3 am Wednesday 11 March, similar to levels experienced in December 2010. When the Burnett River reached 7.00 m the Tallon and Burnett Bridges will be closed.
The Burnett River at Walla is currently at 18.56 m and rising, with major flooding. Further rises are possible as upstream flows arrive.

Be advised that:
• The Bundaberg Recreational Precinct, located at 7 Kendalls Rd, Branyan (access Via Kendalls Rd), has been established as a place of refuge.
• Bridges and low lying roads may be impacted by floodwater. The Tallon and Burnett Bridges will close when the Burnett River reaches 7.00 m, which is expected to be 3 pm.
• Transportation may be out of service.
• Safe evacuation routes are likely to be cut off. Residents should monitor Paradise Dam and Walla river gauge levels and use Council’s flood gauge mapping, accessed on the Disaster Dashboard to assess their individual flood risk.
• You will become isolated until flood waters recede.

What you need to do:
• If you find it hard to move quickly leaving early is safer than waiting. Call your support service, a family member, or a friend to help.
• If it’s flooded, forget it. Stay out of flood water.
• Decide if you, and the people you live with, will leave if floodwaters get close to your house.
• If you have children make sure they are with you or an adult you trust.
• Be prepared to have no power. Charge mobile phones and other electronic devices now.
• Get and fill sandbags and block doors to stop water getting inside. You can get sandbags from Bundaberg SES Facility, 7 Kendalls Rd, Branyan.
• Use sandbags to block toilets, sinks and drains to stop sewerage backflow.
• Warn family, friends, and neighbours in the area. Help others if you can.

If you decide to leave early:
• Lift important things onto bed, tables, shelves or upstairs to protect them.
• Lift waste containers, chemicals, and poisons up high.
• Pack enough clothes, food, water, medicine, baby items (like nappies, formula) and pet food for several days. Plan not to have a fridge or microwave.
• Take your pets, mobile phone charger, battery-powered radio, torch, and valuables like photos, cash, and important documents (like identification, insurance, or banking records).
• Lock windows and doors.
• Go to a safe place, away from flooding. This could be with family or a friend.
• If you come to a flooded road, turn around and go another way. Do not drive through floodwater.

If you find it hard to move quickly or have special or medical needs:
• Use your Person-Centred Emergency Plan (P-CEP) now if you have one.
• Make sure you have enough medicine for at least one week.
• If anyone in your house uses powered medical equipment, like a dialysis machine or ventilator, decide now where you will go in case you lose power.
• Call your support person or service to organise transport if you need to leave.
• Leaving early is safer than waiting.

If you are a tourist, visitor, camper or caravanner:
• Campers and caravanners should start packing up now.
• If you do not need to be in the warning area, leave now. Check road conditions and plan your route before you leave.
• Be ready to move if the situation gets worse.
• Ask the campground owners whether the site floods.
• Check your surroundings of water catchments, and monitor conditions.

For more information:
• Follow our local council disaster dashboard here https://disaster.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/
• Listen to your local radio 100.1 ABC Wide Bay https://www.abc.net.au/widebay
• For power outage information go to ergon.com.au/network
• Check the latest weather, warnings, rainfall, and river heights at the Bureau of Meteorology Queensland website: https://www.bom.gov.au/qld/.
• Check road closures at the QLD Traffic website: https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/ or for phone service call 13 19 40.
• Check disruptions to public transport at the Translink website: https://translink.com.au/service-updates.

10/03/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Akshs424s/

UPDATE: The Bundaberg Recreational Centre is now an evacuation centre.

Residents likely to have properties impacted by floodwaters can evacuate to the Bundaberg Recreational Precinct.

Address: 7 Kendalls Rd, Branyan. Access Via Kendalls Rd. Open Tuesday 10 March until further notice.

The Main Pavilion at the precinct has been opened as an evacuation centre by Bundaberg Regional Council in response to major flooding of the Burnett River.

Residents should LEAVE IMMEDIATELY if their property may be impacted by floodwaters.

The Bureau of Meteorology advises major flooding will be occurring at Bundaberg expected to reach 7.00 m by 3 pm Tuesday, 10 March, continuing to rise to 7.5 m around 3 am Wednesday 11 March, similar to levels experienced in December 2010. When the Burnett River reaches 7.00 m the Tallon and Burnett Bridges will be closed.

People with medical needs need to consider their evacuation plan and relocate to the southern side of the river to maintain access to primary health and medical services and in case power supply is lost.

Residents are urged to know their flood risk by accessing Council’s flood gauge mapping at disaster.bundaberg.qld.gov.au.

Take steps to be prepared and manage a self-evacuation if required, making arrangements for transportation and for your animals.

EARLIER: Residents likely to have properties impacted by floodwaters can take refuge at the Bundaberg Recreational Precinct.

Address: 7 Kendalls Rd, Branyan. Access Via Kendalls Rd. Open Tuesday 10 March until further notice.

The Main Pavilion at the precinct has been opened as a place of refuge by Bundaberg Regional Council in response to major flooding of the Burnett River.

Residents should WATCH AND ACT and PREPARE NOW to leave if their property may be impacted by floodwaters.

The Bureau of Meteorology advises major flooding will be occurring at Bundaberg expected to reach 7.00 m by 3 pm Tuesday, 10 March, continuing to rise to 7.5 m around 3 am Wednesday 11 March, similar to levels experienced in December 2010. When the Burnett River reaches 7.00 m the Tallon and Burnett Bridges will be closed.

People with medical needs need to consider their evacuation plan and relocate to the southern side of the river to maintain access to primary health and medical services and in case power supply is lost.

Residents are urged to know their flood risk by accessing Council’s flood gauge mapping at disaster.bundaberg.qld.gov.au.

Take steps to be prepared and manage a self-evacuation if required, making arrangements for transportation and for your animals: https://www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/Community/Disaster-management/Be-prepared-get-ready/Prepare-your-pets

If you are required to evacuate consider whether you can shelter with friends and family (if safe to do so).

The Recreation Precinct is established as a place of refuge and not an evacuation centre at this point in time.

This means that there will be limited resources available.

17/02/2026

Struggling to navigate the world of aged care? We have the amazing and talented team at Footprints coming into our office every Wednesday morning between 9-12 to assist 🌻. No appointment is necessary, no obligations; they are just there to answer your questions and get you heading in the right direction.

26/01/2026

Another example of why the internal workings of the NDIS and the commission need an inquest into how they run and corrective procedures put in place.. Proples lives are in danger and yet lets spend 7 months trying to find flaws in our service? Far from perfect but continuous improvement should be the backbone of every company.

Serco employees also say they are given email addresses identical to public servants, making them indistinguishable

19/01/2026

15/01/2026

Here in Gin Gin -
Monday 19th Jan
Tuesday 20th Jan
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1MLpPo4jxD/

Our staff travel in mobile service centres (MSCs) to rural and regional areas to help people with our services and payments.