qld government homework centres

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Help with homework

Teachers ensure that homework is set as part of a balanced lifestyle. This gives students the opportunity to further their classroom learning while leaving enough time for family, recreation and other activities.

Homework helps students:

• consolidate classroom learning
• prepare for and expand on classroom learning
• involve family members in their learning
• become independent learners.

When and where should my child do homework?

It is helpful for students to establish routines for homework like:

• setting a time to complete homework
• finding a space that is free of distractions.

How can I help?

You can help your child by:

• encouraging them to take responsibility for their learning and time management
• supporting them to complete tasks by discussing key questions and directing them to helpful and appropriate resources
• participating with them in online learning forums
• reading and playing games with them
• involving them in tasks; including shopping and cooking
• encouraging them to read and to take an interest in and discuss local, national and international events
• discussing homework concerns with your child's teacher.

Will extra tuition help?

Before employing a tutor, you should think about options available through the school.

Find more about extra tuition .

Learning resources

The Learning Place —(need student login)—a space for students to share, create and learn.

Literacy and numeracy resources —fact sheets and activities to help your child's development.

The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory

School homework centres help students get ahead.

Published Thursday, 13 May, 2021 at 02:13 PM

Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing The Honourable Grace Grace

First steps are underway to set up the Palaszczuk Government’s 120 new free after-school homework centres - an $8 million commitment at the 2020 election.

Education Minister Grace Grace told Parliament today that the state’s 1254 schools could now apply to have one of the new centres, with the first to be operating for Term 3, beginning in July.

“Homework is an important part of every child’s education but it can be a challenge for busy families at the end of the day,” Ms Grace said.

“The Palaszczuk Government recognises this and our new free homework centres will provide a supportive, supervised environment for students to complete their homework before they go home for the day.

“Children can build good study habits and families can spend quality time together without any pressure to supervise homework.”

The Palaszczuk Government is investing $8 million over four years to fund centres in state schools, with onsite teacher-aides to supervise up to 24 students per session. The centres will operate for up to three hours per week, 30 weeks a year during term time.

“These centres will provide the help students need that their hard-working parents and carers may not have the time or expertise to provide at the end of the day,” Ms Grace said.

“They will also assist parents who may need more flexible working arrangements as our economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These new centres will make a simple but real difference in children’s education and the everyday lives of Queensland families. “

Ms Grace said the Palaszczuk Government had a proud record of investing in educating Queensland students.

“We are providing the new infrastructure, new teachers and new programs to ensure every child gets a world-class education, no matter where they live,” she said.

Schools can apply from today with regional panels to assess applications against criteria including services already available, capacity at the school and local needs.

Home » My child's education » How to help your child with homework

How to help your child with homework

When you show interest in your child’s homework, you are letting your child know that you value learning and education.

• Establish a routine so homework becomes a regular part of their day/week.
• Understand how your child learns.
• Help them get organised.
• Encourage your child when they make an effort.
• Seek help from the school if your child needs it.

When your child doesn’t want to do their homework, it can be tempting to nag and hassle them. Things can get quite worked up and it can start to feel like a never-ending cycle of conflict. But there is a way out of this cycle. The key is to gradually put some structure in place and then guide your child without taking away their opportunity to learn for themselves.

Benefits of homework

Homework can help your child practise the skills they are learning at school and learn time management and organisational skills. Homework also gives you the chance to see what your child is learning about at school. When you show interest in your child’s homework, you are letting your child know that you value learning and education.

Establish a routine

A big part of encouraging your child to do their homework is to make it a regular part of home life. Complete this checklist so you can better understand how your child learns. Use this knowledge to work out the best time for them to do their homework, stick with it, and make it part of their daily or weekly routine. Routines bring structure and predictability to a child’s world and can help them feel less anxious. Make sure your child’s had something to eat, is not too tired, and has a quiet space to work in. For older kids, encourage them to put their phone out of sight so they are not distracted.

Connect with the school

Finding out how much and what kind of homework your child is being given will help you know early if your child is falling behind or not doing their homework. By connecting with your child’s teacher, you can work together to support your child. If being around to help your child is difficult due to your work commitments, talk to your child’s teacher about flexible ways to get homework done so you can be around to guide your child when they need you. From Term 3, 2021, Homework centres are available in up to 120 state schools around Queensland.  The centres provide sessions supervised by teacher aides to support students to complete their homework before they go home. To find out more including available locations, check out Homework Centres .

Help them get organised

• Suggest they take a moment to answer these questions – either on their own or with you depending on their age – so they can organise their learning in a way that works for them.
• Encourage them to break down their homework into manageable tasks and do the bit they feel comfortable with first so they can get a little win before tackling the rest. It doesn’t matter if they don’t get it all done; just doing some of it will show their teacher that they tried and indicate where they might need more help at school.
• Suggest they use a homework planner, a white board calendar, or study app to help them keep track of everything they need to do.
• Encourage them to make a to-do list of their tasks so they can check them off as they complete them.
• Help them work out milestones (like submitting an assignment) and celebrate when they achieve them.

Take breaks

Help your child maintain their concentration by taking regular breaks. Every child is different and will be able to concentrate for different lengths of time, so encourage your child to adopt a routine that works for them. Such a routine could involve 30 minutes homework followed by ten minutes down time when they can go for a walk or have a snack. Avoid screen time in the breaks and encourage your child to move around. Research has found that physical activity during study provides the brain with the oxygen-rich blood needed for higher performance and can improve your child’s alertness, attention and motivation.

Model learning behaviour

If your teen has a problem they can’t work out, show them how you would approach the problem. Don’t do it for them, but explain the questions you would ask, where you might go to research the problem, and how you would approach completing the work. Then try your approach together or let them do it on their own if they are ready, and see how they go. If your teen is reading a novel at school, consider reading it too. That way, when they have homework on the novel, you can talk to them about it and help stimulate their thinking.

And if you don’t understand your child’s homework (we all know what that feels like!), that’s okay too. What matters more is supporting them, letting them know you value homework as a way for them to learn and become more independent, and talking to their teacher to seek help when they need it.

Believe in them

Let your child know you believe in them and praise them when they do the right thing, however small. It’s important to reward effort, not just results. Celebrate little wins like these:

• Your child uses their homework planner to record their tasks for the week.
• Your child gets all the tasks done on their homework ‘to do’ list.
• Your child does their homework on their own when they usually need help.
• Your child finishes an assignment before its due date.

Tried everything and homework is still a struggle?

If you’ve tried everything and your child is still struggling with their homework, let their school know .

• If your child is spending more time on their homework than seems reasonable, they may have underlying learning issues they need help with.
• If your child doesn’t understand their homework even though you know they’ve been learning it at school, their teacher may need to go over it with them again.
• If your child cannot concentrate while doing their homework, find out if being able to focus on a task is something they also struggle with at school or whether it’s just a problem at home.

And if you’ve tried speaking to the school about your child’s struggles with homework and things still aren’t working out, please contact your Department of Education local regional office to seek help.

Children with learning needs

If your child has additional needs such as autism, an intellectual disability or other health concerns, talk to the team at your child’s school about how their homework can be adapted to suit your child’s needs. You can also visit the  Autism Hub and Reading and Writing Centre  and the Queensland  Department of Education  for more information.

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Latest News

New school homework centres start up for students.

Free after school homework centres start in 120 Queensland state school next term as the Queensland Government delivers an $8 million election commitment.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new centres would open up progressively during the term at schools from Thursday Island to the Gold Coast and west to Thargomindah.

“Homework is a very important part of every child’s education, but it can be a challenge for busy families at the end of the day,” Palaszczuk said.

“Our new free homework centres will provide a supportive, supervised environment for students to complete their homework before they go home for the day.”

The dedicated homework centres will also assist parents who may need more flexible working arrangements as our economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Palaszczuk Government is investing $8 million over four years to fund the 120 centres in state primary and secondary schools.

Education Minister Grace Grace said the centres will operate for up to three hours per week, 30 weeks a year, during term time.

“Students will do their homework under the supervision of on-site teacher-aides,” Grace said.

“Each participating school will plan their homework centre sessions around the age and learning and development needs of the students attending. A healthy snack will also be provided to the students.”

Grace added that the centres will give students the help they need, which their parents and carers may not have the time or expertise to provide at the end of the day.

“These new centres will make a real difference in children’s education and the everyday lives of many Queensland families,” she said.

Centenary Today

News and other stories about real people, places, and events in Centenary and nearby suburbs.

QLD’s First After-school Homework Centre Program Now In Full Swing

With a mission to help students complete their homework before they go home, Queensland has launched its Homework Centre program , which is now in full swing. The program is expected to benefit more than 1,600 registered students from 120 state primary and high schools across the state, including Darra State School.

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What is a Homework Centre?

A homework centre is a free program where students get to have up to 3 hours sessions per week for 30 weeks per year. The four-year, $8-million Homework Centre program is a state initiative that aims to ease the burden on families by helping students get their homework done before they go home. The sessions are managed by principals and supervised by teacher aides. 

Each participating school will determine the exact operating hours of their homework centre based on needs of families in the school community, and each school will plan their sessions to ensure they are appropriate for the age, learning and development needs of the children attending. A healthy snack will also be provided during a session.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there had been a strong response to the state’s Homework Centre program.

“Ensuring that students have the support they need to do their homework is vital when it comes to setting young people up for success,” the Premier said.

During a visit to Darra State School in July 2021, Education Minister Grace Grace also shared that 17 students out of a capacity for up to 24 participated in a day’s session which shows that there is a need for a service like this within the school community.

At Darra State School,  the centre is open two afternoons each week for 30 of the 40 school weeks each year. Still, Ms Grace reminded that the way the centres run will vary from school to school.

Darra State School Principal Gayle Healey said the school has fully embraced the centre and the proof is in the numbers they have already registered.

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“I also know it’s popular with larger families with one family with four children all enrolled,” Ms Healey said, believing the program is a great opportunity for children to be supported to consolidate what they have learned during school hours.

“Ours is a very multicultural school and already we can see that children from a wide range of cultural backgrounds are enrolled and from across all year levels – I’m sure it will be a great success,” she said.

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Queensland Homework Centres in full swing

• 29 Jul 2021 11:27 am AEST Date Time

More than 1600 students are registered to attend homework centres established by the Palaszczuk Government schools across Queensland this year.

The Palaszczuk Government’s four-year $8 million Homework Centre program – promised by Labor at the election – is now underway, with 1654 students registered at 120 state primary and high schools.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there had been a strong response to the state’s Homework Centre program.

“Ensuring that students have the support they need to do their homework is vital when it comes to setting young people up for success,” the Premier said.

“Our homework centres provide Queensland students with extra tuition to learn some of school’s toughest and most important lessons.

“We also know that these centres can help to ease the pressure on working families.

“That’s why we committed to establish homework centres across the state at the election.

“All 120 are now up and running with thousands of students across Queensland already benefitting.

“Investing in healthcare and education is what good Labor governments do best.

“My government will continue to invest in new infrastructure and programs like this in Queensland state schools to give our students the best possible start in life.”

Education Minister Grace Grace and Mt Ommaney MP Jess Pugh dropped in to a homework session at Darra State School yesterday where 17 students are registered.

“Our Homework Centres are all about helping students complete their homework before they go home from school,” Ms Grace said.

“That means that students and parents don’t have homework hanging over their head and their home time is just that – home time.

“Here at Darra SS, 17 students out of a capacity for up to 24 participated in today’s session which shows that there is a need for a service like this within the school community.”

Ms Grace said the way the centres run will vary from school to school.

“The exact operating hours of a Homework Centre will be determined by each school based on the needs of families in the school community, and each school will plan their sessions to ensure they are appropriate for the age, learning and development needs of the children attending,” she said.

“Up to three teacher aides will supervise these centres for three hours per week– here at Darra, for example, that means the centre is open two afternoons each week for 30 of the 40 school weeks each year.

“Key features of the initiative are that the program is available to students free of charge, a healthy snack is provided and participation is entirely voluntary.”

Ms Pugh said the feedback so far was positive.

“I’m so glad to see students of all grades at Darra benefiting from their new Homework Centre,” she said.

“As a mother I know how difficult it can be to juggle homework so this is a great solution for local families.”

Darra State School Principal Gayle Healey said the school has fully embraced the centre.

“The proof is in the numbers we have already registered,” Ms Healey said.

“I also know it’s popular with larger families with one family with four children all enrolled.”

“It’s a great opportunity for children to be supported to consolidate what they have learned during school hours.

“Ours is a very multicultural school and already we can see that children from a wide range of cultural backgrounds are enrolled and from across all year levels – I’m sure it will be a great success.”

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9 July, 2021

New school homework centres start up for students

New free after school homework centres start in 120 queensland state schools next term as the queensland government delivers an $8 million election commitment..

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new centres would open up progressively during the term at schools from Thursday Island to the Gold Coast and west to Thargomindah.

“Homework is a very important part of every child’s education, but it can be a challenge for busy families at the end of the day.

“Our new free homework centres will provide a supportive, supervised environment for students to complete their homework before they go home for the day,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Children can build good study habits and families can spend quality time together without any pressure to supervise homework.”

“The dedicated homework centres will also assist parents who may need more flexible working arrangements as our economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“Families can register their child in the program by contacting their school.”

Education Minister Grace Grace said the centres will operate for up to three hours per week, 30 weeks a year, during term time.

“Students will do their homework under the supervision of on-site teacher-aides," Ms Grace said.

“Each participating school will plan their homework centre sessions around the age and learning and development needs of the students attending. A healthy snack will also be provided to the students.

“These centres will give students the help they need, which their hard-working parents and carers may not have the time or expertise to provide at the end of the day,” Ms Grace said.

“These new centres will make a real difference in children’s education and the everyday lives of many Queensland families.“

For a list of participating schools visit  www.qld.gov.au/homeworkcentres .

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• Port Douglas

© 2020 Cairns Local News ABN 12 643 194 932

Maremma dilemma as animal rescuers report rising number of guardian dogs surrendered by unprepared families

Maremmano-Abruzzese sheepdogs, better known as Maremmas, are cute, energetic and fiercely loyal.

The puppies are adorable bundles of playful fluff, but they soon become large dogs needing lots of room and discipline.

"[People] adopt these cute fluffy pups, then when they're about eight months old they ditch them," said dog carer Naomi Hooper.

Ms Hooper runs a not-for-profit animal sanctuary near Armidale in northern New South Wales, which is currently caring for 20 surrendered Maremmas.

She said she's seeing more surrenders of Maremmas, and receives calls daily from owners desperate to rehome the breed.

Beneath the fluffy exterior, Maremmas are a herding dog traditionally used by farmers who have livestock that need an extra pair of watchful eyes.

"They're a guardian dog — they need to be out on properties guarding livestock, guarding poultry; they're more like a wolf than a dog," Ms Hooper said.

Unprepared owners

Kindly Animal Sanctuary is run by Ms Hooper and her daughter, Trinity Valdez.

Ms Hooper said she goes to great lengths to ensure surrendered animals are given a home.

Recently she travelled past Canberra to pick up eight Maremma pups and their mother.

"These nine had nowhere else to go, it was an 18-hour round trip," Ms Hooper said.

It's not uncommon for Maremmas to be born in litters of 12, and by seven months old the pups can be as heavy as 35 kilograms.

Kindly Animal Sanctuary asks for a $250 donation from people who are surrendering a Maremma, with the money put towards desexing the animals before they are rehomed.

Near Lithgow in NSW, Sarah Coulon works with Maremma Sheepdog Rescue, which houses livestock dogs, including Maremmas, that have been surrendered to them.

"We call them boomerang dogs," she said.

"We will probably only rehome six or seven [of the Maremmas] — they're a stubborn dog and not overly obedient."

Ms Hooper said while some Maremmas can be a great family pet if time and effort is put into their training, it is still in their blood to be territorial.

"They tend to bark a lot, that's how they guard," she said.

"Everyone wants experienced guardians, but don't want to put the effort in."

Do your homework

Ms Valdez said many families turn to social media for advice about buying or adopting dogs, which she said creates problems.

"People offer up random, terrible advice online," she said.

"They will say they had a Maremma growing up and it was great and they are fine to adopt in suburbia or in an apartment."

Advice is something Maremma breeder Linda Bagnall makes sure she offers before she agrees to sell one of her dogs.

Ms Bagnall said she tries to ensure her dogs go to the right owners.

"I turn away more people than I sell to — people don't have a good enough understanding of what they are getting into," she said.

"I look for intelligent owners that have a job for the dog."

She said she believes her commitment to vetting buyers leads to very few dogs being returned to her.

Research your addition to the family

The RSPCA says that dog adoptions should not be made based on the appearance of an animal.

In a statement, the association said it is hard to know how many Maremmas are in their centres, but that ill-advised adoption is a problem. "We encourage all prospective owners to do their research thoroughly when considering a new pet," a spokesperson said.

"You should always be mindful of breed characteristics, both mental and physical, of the animal you are thinking of bringing home."

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