Connecting2u program celebrates 10 years with expansion

Children’s Health Queensland’s (CHQ) Connecting2u program celebrates 10 years of offering support to parents of children aged birth – five years in 2024.

Connecting2u offers short, culturally inclusive and easy to read text messages to support the health and wellbeing of infants and their parents across Queensland, including regional areas such as Darling Downs, Wide Bay and Torres and Cape, also offering facilitated access to local healthcare, education and social services.

Since its inception the program has supported more than 8,000 new mothers and fathers across Queensland.

“By providing new mums and dads with clear, consistent and strengths-based messages, Connecting2u is helping parents feel more confident, reassured and empowered and providing Queensland children the best start to life,” Children’s Health Queensland Chief Executive Frank Tracey said.

“The program is part of our commitment to ensuring that all Queensland children and their families have access to the best care, no matter where they live.”

In 2024, the service is expanding to provide health reminders to parents and carers for the first 2,000 days of their child’s life (up to 5 years of age) on topics including self-care, bonding and attachment, brain development and immunisation reminders.

The expanded service is predicted to recruit up to 5,000 new families and 350 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers across Queensland in its first four months.

“Under the expansion, we’re partnering with Darling Downs, Wide Bay and Torres and Cape hospital and health services to connect more regional families with health, education and social services, closer to home,” Mr Tracey said.

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Debbie Carroll welcomed the expansion saying the Hospital and Health Service is excited to be involved, and is looking forward to reaching more local families. 

“As a health service we are committed to improving the utilisation of services for First Nations consumers,” she said.

“I strongly encourage new and expectant parents in the Wide Bay to sign up now to receive free text messages with information on accessing local support services as well as tips and health check reminders to support their baby’s growth and development.”

The initiative is funded through the Queensland Government’s $67.5 million Connected Community Pathways program.

Parents and carers can register for Connecting2u through the CHQ website, here.