Berrinba: A Community Connectedby Nature and Culture

Community Snapshot

Berrinba is a nature-rich suburb in Logan, home to wetlands, bushland, and welcoming community spaces where families gather and children explore. We listen deeply to understand and honour the shared stories we hear and help create in Berrinba. Respecting the cultural strengths of our region, we are guided by the community for the community. With an unbreakable commitment to the wellbeing of children and families, we know that the best way to make that happen here is when everyone is working together.

Population
~3,100
Location
This important wetland hosts eight kilometres of shared walking and bicycle tracks and is a vibrant part of Berrinba. With a large variety of wildlife and family-friendly spaces, it is one of Logan's hidden gems.
Strengths
Cultural diversity Environmental pride Strong community connection

Origin Story

Established July 2024

The Berrinba Friends Group (BFG) began with a strong sense of possibility. Local leaders recognised that their community deserved more opportunities to shape its own future. They made the bold decision: “We’ll do it ourselves”. This spirit of determination has grown into a collective impact initiative, with children and families leading the way.

Supported by Logan Together’s backbone team and a strong local backbone lead, the school now acts not only as a place of learning but also as a school-based hub. The initiative is enriched by its partnership with Eagleby Together, whose cultural leaders regularly run learning sessions for Berrinba children, ensuring culture and connection are woven into everyday practice.

Early Signs of Success

Berrinba Friends Group uses an innovative approach to gather community voice. Facilitators use play, modelling and drawing with children to capture their ideas and hopes. Importantly, the group is tailoring different approaches for different cohorts. Each voice is valued in its own right, and together they form part of the ambitious “1000 Voices” project, the next major milestone on Berrinba’s pathway to a truly shared Community Collective Plan.

Berrinba has shown how play as a pedagogy can shift Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) outcomes and strengthen classroom learning. These achievements are building stronger connections for children, families and the wider community. [1]

[1] Evidence study, Berrinba East, 2022.
Learn more

The Future Machine

A fun, ethical and innovative way to hear from young children what they want to see in the world around them when they grow up.

Ways of Working

Steering Group
Meeting monthly, this passionate steering group is guided by community voices and brings together educators, families, service providers and local leaders to create a collective vision for Berrinba’s future.

Community connections
During school terms, the BFG hosts community gatherings that aim to build community connections, encourage high-quality play, and share stories of what it’s like to raise kids and live in the local area.

Justin Walters

Justin Walters

Backbone Lead - Berrinba Friends Group

Justin brings strong experience working across organisations, systems and places to improve outcomes for children and families. As Backbone Lead for the Berrinba Friends Group, he works alongside local people through collective impact to help turn shared hopes and priorities into action.

A Logan local for more than 35 years, Justin is privileged to be surrounded by four generations of family. These deep roots drive his commitment to the place he knows and loves, and to building a stronger future for Berrinba’s children.

Berrinba's Big Chat

Berrinba’s Big Chat is a community conversation about the future of Berrinba. We are connecting with children, families, community members, services and local partners to listen to what people love about Berrinba, what matters most, and what hopes they have for the future. What we hear will help shape the next steps for Berrinba, guided by the voices and vision of the community.

Berrinba Big Chat Flyer

Community Voices

It’s a very nice home, and people are very kind when I say ‘hello’ and when I say, ‘nice to meet you, how was your day?’ they say ‘it’s very good’ and we have a little chat.
- Grade 1, Student
Being kind to other people. Being grateful for what you have. Being good sisters and brothers. Being kind to each other. Helping others in need and seeing other people happy.
- Grade 7, Student
A nice calm life. I will be taller and smarter - school will help me be smart. I will have my own family and sometimes I will be strict, other times not. I'd like to be a doctor or lawyer.
- Grade 3, Student

FIRST NATIONS FIRST

We believe that we need to do the work to strengthen cultural ways of knowing. This will see us shift from western structures and processes into an intrinsic way of working with a First Nations First approach.

CHILDREN AT THE HEART

We are helping to ensure children growing up in Logan are loved, safe, valued and thriving. We are working to ensure that the voices of our children directly influence the decisions we make together to ensure their strong futures.

COMMUNITY LED

We believe power should be shared equally with our diverse community. Together we will enable community members to lead decision-making and share accountability with the sectors as confident, capable individuals.

What's next?

The Berrinba Friends Group shows what courage, creativity and strong foundations can achieve. With positive early outcomes and the 1000 Voices project on the horizon, Berrinba is ready for deeper partnership and investment to secure long-term change for children and families.

Contact Us

Resource Hub

Downloads

Berrinba Focus Community: Outcome and Data Card
Berrinba Focus Community: Outcome and Data Card
A snapshot of Berrinba, highlighting improved child development outcomes, strengthened school achievement, and innovative approaches to capturing community voice
Berrinba Big Chat Flyer
Berrinba Big Chat Flyer
An invitation for Berrinba children and families to share their ideas, experiences and hopes for the community’s future.
Berrinba’s Bright Futures Book
Berrinba’s Bright Futures Book
A community story capturing Berrinba’s strengths, aspirations and shared vision for children and families.

How to Get Involved Locally

Learn more about the Berrinba Friends Group (BFG)

The Berrinba Friends Group brings together community members, organisations and government partners who care deeply about Berrinba. Together, they share insights, strengthen connections and work towards creating more opportunities for parents, carers and caregivers to build safe and trusted relationships.

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Connect with the Berrinba Backbone Lead

Connect with the Berrinba Backbone Lead to learn more about the work happening across the community, share local ideas and explore opportunities to get involved.

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