Public forum to address Toowoomba's equity of access

Toowoomba's accessibility from a disability perspective will be discussed during the forum

Toowoomba’s accessibility from a disability perspective will be high on the agenda for discussion during the Community for Community (C4C) Public Forum next week.

Local residents are invited to attend the USQ-sponsored event on Tuesday 29 March as architect Col Davidson, lawyer Dan Toombs and academic Sharon Boyce provide their views on the issue in the areas of higher education, town planning and the legal system.

USQ Community engagement Project Coordinator, Professor Glen Postle, said the forum would enable community members with disabilities to share their insights.

'We want the community to be involved in finding solutions to community issues, which is the essence of the Community for Community Project,' Professor Postle said.

Col Davidson is the Principal of CKD Architects in Toowoomba and has undertaken many projects in the private and public sector. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Toowoomba East where he led ideas on the design of the Toowoomba Flexi School.

Dan Toombs is an award-winning Toowoomba lawyer who works with disadvantaged groups, particularly people with disabilities who have had the misfortune of colliding with the Queensland criminal justice system. His work has exposed major gaps within both legislation and court process that significantly predispose people who suffer mental illness, intellectual disability or an acquired brain injury to unjust outcomes.

USQ educator and UQ doctoral student Sharon Boyce co-runs the educational consultancy Discovering DisAbility and Diversity, which focuses on the promotion of inclusive practices for educators across many diverse backgrounds. They design and deliver training in a variety of education settings, including schools and universities. Miss Boyce has Rheumatoid Arthritis and uses a wheelchair.

The forum is free-of-charge and will be held at the QCWA Hall in Margaret Street on Tuesday 29 March at 6.45pm. Those wishing to attend should contact Mary McGilvray on 4631 1414 or email: ccbp@usq.edu.au by Friday 25 March.

Contact Details:
Madeleine Tiller, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1163, 0423 166 307