OUR WORK
Belonging in action.
From a first warm welcome to a new driver's licence, our programs bring Waymakers and Toowoomba locals together to build brighter futures.
Welcome. Connect. Equip.
HOW WE WORK
Three ways belonging grows.
Welcome.
GOOD NEIGHBOUR · WELCOME PICNICS
Helping people feel valued, celebrated and at home from their first weeks in Toowoomba.
Connect.
ENGLISH CLASSES · COOK 2 CONNECT
Building friendships, language and support networks between Waymakers and local people.
Equip.
DRIVER MENTORING · ROAD SAFETY
Practical skills and pathways towards independence, confidence and work readiness.
WELCOME · GOOD NEIGHBOUR INITIATIVE
Making a new place feel like home.
Starting again in a new city is easier with a neighbour who knows your name. Volunteers deliver welcome packs, help with the practical things that feel overwhelming in the first weeks, and simply sit and talk. Our Welcome Picnics bring newly arrived families and locals together over food, music, dance and games, and many friendships begin there.
For newly arrived families · Welcome packs and home visits · Welcome Picnics through the year
CONNECT · ENGLISH CLASSES
More than learning a language.
Our weekly English classes at Glenvale State School are tailored for refugee and migrant parents. Onsite childcare and transport mean more people can come. Over ten weeks, learners build the confidence to speak up at the shops and the school gate, and they make friends along the way.
“Before these classes I was scared to speak. Now, I feel more confident every time I go to the shop or talk to a teacher.”
Shireen, English class participant
Weekly in school term · 15 to 20 learners, 6 volunteers · Childcare and transport included
CONNECT · COOK 2 CONNECT
Friendship starts around the table.
Food is a universal language. Over eight weeks, refugee and migrant women cook, swap recipes and stories, and sit down to eat with local volunteers. The kitchen becomes a place of pride and confidence, and a bridge to local services that support health checks and employment opportunities.
“I didn’t know anyone when I arrived. Now, I have friends, I have confidence, and I can cook something new every week!”
Rabia, Cook 2 Connect participant
8-week program for women · 15 participants per program · Transport and childcare included
EQUIP · LEARNER DRIVER MENTOR PROGRAM
A licence opens doors.
A driver’s licence means getting the kids to school, getting to work and getting around without waiting on anyone. Our free program pairs learners with volunteer mentors and professional instructor lessons, with two driving simulators for practice.
Road Safety Education runs alongside it: culturally safe lessons on Australian road rules and the Fatal Five, delivered in partnership with TMR.
“Getting my licence changed everything. I can take my kids to school, go to work, and do it all on my own. I feel free.”
Zara, Learner Driver Mentor Program graduate
40+ licences gained · 350+ mentor hours, Feb to Jun 2026 · In partnership with TMR
MORE WAYS TO BELONG
More ways we bring people together.
Community events
THROUGH THE YEAR
Welcome Picnics, cultural celebrations and shared meals that bring the whole community together.
Women and leadership
WHEN FUNDED
EmpowerHER, digital skills and women’s health sessions that build confidence, connection and leadership.
Youth and STEM
WHEN FUNDED
A school holiday STEM and leadership workshop with The ASE Group, run in Toowoomba in September 2026.
OUR IMPACT
Impact at a glance.
3,000+
People supported, Waymakers and community members together
1,500+
Volunteers since we began
400+
English class participants
40+
Waymakers have gained their driver’s licence
FROM WAYMAKER TO VOLUNTEER
Welcome, passed on.
Kamo arrived in Australia in March 2020 from the Shariya refugee camp in northern Iraq. He learned English and rebuilt his life, and in 2023 he began volunteering as a driver mentor.
More than eight of his learners have since gained their licence, and Kamo is now studying to become a professional driving instructor.
Kamo's story features in our 2026 Impact Report.
GET INVOLVED
It takes a community to build belonging.
Volunteer
GIVE AN HOUR, GAIN A FRIEND
Mentor a learner driver, help in an English class or welcome a new family. Volunteer with us →
Give
KEEP PROGRAMS OPEN TO EVERYONE
Your gift funds the transport, childcare and practical support that make our programs possible. Give now →
Partner
REACH FURTHER, TOGETHER
Schools, businesses, councils and community groups help us do more. Partner with us →