Toowoomba

Toowoomba Family

✨ From free library sessions and playgroups to youth arts, recreation and specialist family support, Toowoomba families can find practical ways to learn, play and connect. There are options for babies through to young adults, as well as services for parents, carers and families navigating disability, separation, trauma or violence.

📚 Early learning, playgroups and toys

Toowoomba Region Libraries — First 5 Forever

Children aged 0–5 and their families can join free, play-based early-literacy activities. Read + Play and Sing + Play use stories, songs and shared play to build early language skills. Sessions are offered at Toowoomba City Library, Queens Park and other regional locations, with no booking required for the activities identified on the program page.

Kath Dickson Family Centre — Wilsonton Heights Playgroup

Families with children under school age can enjoy supplied activities and materials at this free school-term playgroup. It runs at Wilsonton Heights Neighbourhood Centre on Tuesdays from 9am to 11am. Bring a hat, water bottle and morning tea for your child.

Kath Dickson Family Centre — Hope for Our Children Playgroup

Another free Kath Dickson option meets at Hope for Our Children in South Toowoomba on school-term Thursdays from 9am to 11am. It welcomes families with children under school age and provides the activities and materials. Pack a hat, water bottle and morning tea.

Highlands Playgroup

Children from birth to five can attend with a parent or carer on school-term Fridays from 9.30am to 11am at Highlands Kindy & Early Learning. The provider lists entry at $4 per family, making it a straightforward regular activity for younger children and their adults.

Kath Dickson Toy Library

Families with children aged 0–5 can borrow toys rather than buying every item used during the early years. Annual membership allows up to five items to be borrowed for four weeks from a Crows Nest collection of more than 1,600 toys. A mobile Toy Bus service is identified for Toowoomba in 2026; confirm visit details directly before planning around it.

🎭 School-age activities, care and youth programs

Toowoomba Region Libraries — School holiday activities

Free activities across the regional library network offer children something purposeful to do during school breaks. Programs change between holidays and some require bookings. Children aged 12 or under must attend with an adult, so check the current program and participation details before setting out.

Empire Youth Arts

Young performers can build drama skills through weekly classes, school-holiday workshops and an advanced performance program. Opportunities are organised for specific ages, helping families choose an appropriate pathway. Classes require enrolment, while workshops are ticketed, so review the current age range and availability first.

Toowoomba Regional Council — Youth Connect

Young people aged 12–25 can take part in changing council programs, activities and events intended to be low-cost and accessible. Youth Connect also works with families and service providers across the Toowoomba Region. Look at the current program rather than assuming an activity runs year-round.

PCYC Toowoomba

Offerings span early-years recreation, gymnastics, youth leadership and youth support. Programs include Little n Active for children under five, Braking the Cycle and After Dark. Following the destruction of the club premises by fire in March 2026, activities are being delivered through temporary venues and locations; confirm the latest timetable and venue directly.

PCYC Toowoomba East Fun Squad

Families needing care around the school day can explore this before-school, after-school and holiday care program at Toowoomba East. Enrolments and bookings are handled through PCYC Queensland’s parent portal. Check the provider’s current fees, available places and operating arrangements when applying.

🧩 Child development, disability and family health

Child Youth and Family Health Service — Toowoomba

Queensland Health provides early-childhood clinics, new-parent groups, developmental assessment, early-feeding support, home visiting, parenting programs and child, youth and family health information. Appointments are required, although the service states that referrals are not. Families should call before making an appointment.

Making Connections Toowoomba

Neurodivergent children, teenagers and young adults can access multidisciplinary support alongside their caregivers. Therapy and group programs are available, with suitability considered through an intake process. Caregivers and adults may self-refer by submitting an expression of interest.

Toowoomba and District Down Syndrome Support Group

People with Down syndrome and their families, carers and friends can find peer support and opportunities to meet others with shared experience. The group serves Toowoomba and the broader Darling Downs, providing a locally focused point of connection.

Carers Queensland — NDIS Local Area Coordinator partner

Carers Queensland delivers NDIS Local Area Coordination from a Toowoomba office. It provides a local access pathway for people engaging with the NDIS. Consult the official NDIS listing for current contact details and opening hours before visiting.

🌿 Parenting, relationships and serious support

Act for Kids — Toowoomba

Based at the University of Southern Queensland campus in Darling Heights, Act for Kids supports children and families affected by trauma or risk of harm. Its local work includes child and youth therapy, family support, early education and protective-behaviours programs, plus in-home parent education for families with children aged 0–5. Call the provider to discuss access or arrange an appointment.

Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement Company — Family and Child Wellbeing

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Toowoomba and surrounding regions can access culturally safe programs including family wellbeing, family participation, foster and kinship care, Indigenous youth services, and specialist domestic and family violence support.

CatholicCare Social Services — Toowoomba Family Relationship Centre

Separated or separating parents and carers can seek information, referrals and structured help with communication and conflict. Available supports include family dispute resolution, parent mediation, child-inclusive mediation, programs and counselling for children and young people. Contact the centre directly to discuss which option may fit your circumstances.

Domestic Violence Action Centre

DVAC provides specialist domestic, family and sexual violence support across Toowoomba, the Darling Downs and its surrounding service area. Women, children, young people and individuals can access telephone or face-to-face support, advocacy, referrals, group work and court support. Counselling is also available for children and young people aged 5–18 who have experienced domestic or family violence. Contact DVAC directly for confidential access arrangements.

headspace Toowoomba

Young people aged 12–25 can seek early-intervention support for mental health, physical and sexual health, alcohol and other drugs, and work or study concerns. Family and friends are also welcome. A young person may self-refer or, with their consent, be referred by family, a doctor, school or another service. Headspace Toowoomba is not a crisis service.

Parentline

Queensland parents, grandparents, carers and family members can access confidential phone or WebChat counselling about parenting and family matters from home. Both channels operate daily from 6am to midnight AEST. Parentline also provides a moderated online community for parents and carers.

✅ Check before you go

• Age and supervision: Confirm the stated age range and whether a parent or carer must remain, particularly for library, arts and youth activities.
• Bookings and intake: Holiday programs, care, workshops, health appointments and specialist supports may use different enrolment, referral or intake processes.
• Access needs: Ask the provider about physical access, sensory considerations, communication support and other adjustments relevant to your family.
• Current arrangements: Recheck dates, venues, fees and available places, especially for school-holiday activities, temporary venues and visiting services.

📌 Run a family-focused business, service, activity or community group in Toowoomba or the surrounding region? You’re warmly invited to add your offering or update an existing listing so local families can find accurate, useful details.

⚠️ Accuracy Note: We do our best to keep this information useful and up to date, however details can change over time. If you notice anything that appears incorrect or out of date, please let us know and we will review it. Local business owners and community leaders can also help keep local information accurate by logging in and creating or managing their own listing and useful content on toowoomba.city.