What’s Happening?
C&K Kirwan Community Kindergarten has received the Early Years Award at the 2026 Queensland Mental Health Awards for its Wellness Wednesday initiative.
The kindergarten was among the winners recognised at Brisbane City Town Hall on Friday, 9 October 2026. Hosted by Open Minds, part of Vertaview Group, the annual awards celebrate leadership, innovation and community impact in Queensland’s mental health sector.
The recognition highlights the kindergarten’s approach to helping children and families develop emotional wellbeing, resilience and healthy habits together.
Why It Matters
The Wellness Wednesday initiative creates a supportive environment where young children can build emotional skills and stronger connections with their families.
Through play-based experiences, mindfulness, movement and family engagement, the program encourages emotional literacy, self-regulation and confidence.
Open Minds CEO Karen Hale-Robertson said the winners demonstrated the importance of compassion and innovation in improving mental health.
“Every one of this year’s winners demonstrates what is possible when compassion, innovation and a genuine commitment to improving mental health come together,” Ms Hale-Robertson said.
Local Impact
The award puts C&K Kirwan Community Kindergarten in the spotlight for its approach to early childhood wellbeing.
Its Wellness Wednesday program supports children and families within the kindergarten community. In particular, the initiative encourages healthy habits while helping children develop confidence and emotional awareness.
The recognition also highlights the role of family engagement in creating a supportive early learning environment.
By The Numbers
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30 years of Queensland Mental Health Awards were celebrated in 2026, recognising achievements in mental health since 1996.
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12 awards were presented across categories recognising mental health leadership, community support, inclusion and workplace wellbeing.
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Three awards went to Eating Disorders Queensland, including the Jude Bugeja Lived Experience Excellence Award, Not-For-Profit (Large) Award and Earle Duus Overarching Award.
Zoom In
C&K Kirwan Community Kindergarten’s Wellness Wednesday initiative brings together activities designed to support children’s emotional development.
The program uses mindfulness and movement alongside play-based learning. It also involves families, helping build stronger connections across the kindergarten community.
Together, these activities aim to strengthen children’s resilience, self-regulation and confidence.
Zoom Out
The Queensland Mental Health Awards recognise contributions from individuals and organisations working to reduce stigma, strengthen communities and support people experiencing mental ill health.
An expert judging panel selected finalists from nominations submitted across Queensland. Those represented included lived experience advocates, community organisations, schools, workplaces and mental health professionals.
The awards also recognise work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ inclusion and workplace wellbeing.
Hale-Robertson said recognising these achievements could help inspire improvements across the sector.
“Recognition matters and by sharing the achievements of people and organisations making a difference, we not only celebrate their contribution, we help elevate ideas and approaches that can inspire positive change across the wider mental health sector. Open Minds has a long history of supporting Queenslanders experiencing mental health challenges, so we are enormously proud to have provided a platform that celebrates the people and organisations who share that commitment to building stronger, more inclusive communities.”
What To Look For Next?
The Queensland Mental Health Awards will continue as an annual event during Queensland Mental Health Week.
For C&K Kirwan Community Kindergarten, the recognition highlights its Wellness Wednesday approach to supporting children and families through emotional wellbeing activities.
The awards provide an ongoing platform for recognising mental health initiatives and community contributions across Queensland.
