Arrival and welcome by CRU from 9:30am

Morning session: Connecting for Influence - Panel Discussion

10:00am - 12:30pm

Although there are more opportunities for people with lived experience to take part in co-design, there are still many barriers to genuine involvement. Things like power imbalances and ongoing negative assumptions or biases about lived experience can shape how positive or challenging the experience is. At the same time, having real influence often depends on building and sustaining helpful relationships with others at the table.

In this session, we will look at what you might be up against, and how you can address the issues while maintaining positive relationships.

Topics will include:

Reflecting on when power imbalances can influence the process
How power imbalances can impact on people with lived experience during co-design
Recognising both obvious and less visible biases and agendas that may be present
How to respond to biases in constructive ways

Hear from a range of people with lived experience who have navigated these tricky power dynamcs before.

Afternoon Session: Your Communication Style

1:30 - 4:00pm

Effective co-design and advocacy often requires strong communication skills. In this workshop we will explore:

Self-awareness of our own communication styles
Understanding the communication style of others
How we can work with differing styles to our own
How we communicate under stress

This will be a practical session focused on raising self-awareness, exploring how we can manage stress reactions, and thinking about how we can be ‘heard’ in potentially challenging situations

Click here for the Flyer

About the Presenters

Afternoon session: Your Communication Style

Catherine Allen is a Professional Accredited Executive Coach and leadership facilitator with over 25 years’ experience. She has led leadership and communication development initiatives across community services, partnering with organisations to strengthen capability and impact. Her work spans executive directors to frontline managers, with a strong focus on building practical communication skills that drive accountability, collaboration, and performance. Catherine has partnered with CRU for over a decade, designing and facilitating its Facilitation Program; workshops for Peer Support Networks for Self-Management, and; Family Leadership groups, strengthening leadership capacity across the NFP sector.
Ainsley Robertson has lived experience of disability as a family member was involved in the creation and delivery of CRU’s “Co-Design Essentials” workshops in 2025.

Who Should Attend?

People with lived experience of disability, including family members. This will include participants of CRU’s ‘Co-Design Essentials’ workshop and those who regularly connect with the work of CRU with an interest in co-design are invited to register for CRU’s ‘Co-Design Masterclasses’.

Co-Design Strategy

To find out more about The Queensland Disability Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Design Strategy, and other events being organised by QDN, visit: https://qldcodesignstrategy.qdn.org.au/

About CRU:

For over 35 years, Community Resource Unit has been working across Queensland to help people with disability take control of their lives and take their place in their community.

COVID-19: Please do not attend on the day if you are unwell or if you have COVID-19 like symptoms.

Please contact CRU if you require assistance to register, attend or participate in this event.

Ph: 07 3844 2211 or Email: cru@cru.org.au

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