Workshop to address homelessness, drug abuse, youth suicide in Toowoomba

Police, regional councils, community groups and education providers are among a wide range of organisations that have shown interest in the Community Capacity Building Workshop being held at USQ this Friday April 9.

It is this enthusiastic response that has organiser and Chair of the Friends of the Toowoomba Flexi School, Professor Glen Postle AM, excited about the event, which he sees as a step towards addressing some of society’s most pressing problems, including homelessness, drug abuse, youth suicide and loneliness amongst the aged.

The Workshop, which will be held in the University's Allison Dickson Lecture Theatre, is part of a project that will bring together government, education, social welfare and community sectors to promote community capacity building and well-being.

'The response to the project has been extremely positive and it has attracted a huge amount of interest. It is definitely emerging as something that the community is passionate about,' Professor Postle said.

'People in the community are concerned about problems associated with the increase in crime and violence and problems in regards to Australia’s ageing population.

'There is an important role for the community to play in addressing the challenges created by our rapidly changing society and this Workshop will give the community the chance to find solutions to these issues.'

Professor Postle said that the Workshop would explore the reasons behind society’s problems in an effort to achieve what he hopes will become a more compassionate society.

'The big question that we want to ask is: Why is this happening?

'At present the Government tends to react to issues and look at the effects instead of the cause of these problems.

'When it comes to our youth we want to help them before things get out of control and assist them to rejoin society and the community. It is about solving the problems early and keeping people in contact with their community.'

Registrations for the free Workshop are still being taken, with anyone interested in attending encouraged to contact Professor Postle on 0407 362 331 or email Mary McGilvray at mcgilvra@usq.edu.au 

This initiative is being conducted as part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by USQ and the Toowoomba Flexi School in 2008, which aims to improve educational and life opportunities for all youth.

For the past 12 years, the Toowoomba Flexi School has provided many disengaged and disenfranchised youth in the Toowoomba region with alternative education pathways towards a new life.

The Workshop will get underway from 9am this Friday.