Welcoming Australia Summit Series, Townsville

Lineup

• More details about How do we create and nurture belonging? Key findings, Lived experience reflections, and Pathways forward for Townsville

  How do we create and nurture belonging? Key findings, Lived experience reflections, and Pathways forward for Townsville

  Drawing on key findings from the Settling Well in Regional Australia: Experiences of people from refugee backgrounds study, this panel brings together people with lived experience of regional settlement in Townsville to share what it feels like to belong, and how we could nurture belonging within and beyond organisations. Chaired by Settling Well researcher Dr Paul Hodge (CQUniversity), the session offers practical, 'lived' insights that summit participants can draw on to guide the day's sessions. Speaker bios Dr Paul Hodge is a human geographer from Central Queensland University who lives and works on Darumbal Country, Rockhampton. Paul is QLD Lead for the Settling Well in Regional Australia research project which is a 5-year longitudinal study foregrounding the experiences of people from refugee backgrounds living in regional communities in Victoria, New South Wales and QLD. Mariam Mohamed Omar is a Townsville-based community and disability services professional with experience in mental health, family support, advocacy, and culturally responsive engagement. She has worked with refugee and multicultural communities and contributed to the Settling Well in Regional Australia research project. Mariam is also the Managing Director of Able Haven, a Townsville-based NDIS provider focused on inclusion, empowerment, and community connection. As a mum, she values family time and enjoys cooking and spending time with her children. Mariam enjoys walking along the Strand and at Riverway.

• More details about What it means to belong: Measuring social cohesion and why it matters

  What it means to belong: Measuring social cohesion and why it matters

  Belonging is a key foundation of building social cohesion within communities. In this session, Phoebe from the Scanlon Institute will walk through the role belonging plays in building resilient communities and the fundamental role it plays in building social cohesion. Presenter bio: Phoebe is a quantitative social researcher with expertise in survey analysis, applied policy research and evidence-based reporting. As Research Analyst at the Scanlon Institute, she leads day-to-day quantitative research delivery, including data collection, analysis, synthesis and drafting of technical outputs. She has strong experience working with nationally representative datasets, including the Mapping Social Cohesion survey. Prior to joining the Scanlon Institute in 2024, Phoebe previously worked as a Statistical Analyst at the Australian Bureau of Statistics, where she worked in both the Census and Financial Statistics divisions.

• More details about Insights from regional Queensland: Workforce projects which are solving recruitment and retention challenges

  Insights from regional Queensland: Workforce projects which are solving recruitment and retention challenges

  Welcoming Workplaces supports businesses to become ‘employers of choice’ by developing inclusive employment practices that foster retention and enhance workplace diversity and community partnerships. Ken will share two case studies: The outcomes of a two year partnership with Workforce Australia working with employers in Toowoomba and the Western Downs regions. And how the Goondiwindi community "took to the air" and connected with Kiribati forming a community partnership for closer economic relations. Presenter bio: Ken Dachi is the Welcoming Workplaces Coordinator at Welcoming Australia. Welcoming Workplaces is an initiative that focuses on “Employer Readiness”, to strongly position Australian businesses as attractive employers. Relatedly, Ken has structured relationships to advance settlement outcomes through research in partnership with universities, championed sector collaboration, and pronounced the role of advocacy. Presently, he is working extensively within the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme through the Mayoral Alliance for the Pacific (MAP). Ken was previously the Multicultural Affairs Advisor at Leeton Shire Council. Prior to that Ken was based in the UK, from where he worked and travelled to over 40 countries undertaking various International Development projects.

• More details about Employer Perspectives - Pathways to Employment for CALD Communities

  Employer Perspectives - Pathways to Employment for CALD Communities

  This panel will be led by local leaders from Townsville Multicultural Support Group and Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland, joined by local employers to discuss: - perspectives on hiring and supporting jobseekers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds - building employment pathways that connect training, work placements and lasting jobs - retention, workplace culture and support that goes beyond the first day on the job - whole-of-community collaboration between industry, education providers and community organisations Speakers Dr Lisa McDonald, CEO, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Townsville and North West Queensland Dr Tra Nguyen, General Manager, Townsville Multicultural Support Group Renae Dowling, General Manager People and Culture, Townsville City Council

• More details about What does Active Inclusion feel like in our public sports facilities and civic places?

  What does Active Inclusion feel like in our public sports facilities and civic places?

  A panel of people with Lived Experience sharing what Active Inclusion means to them, facilitated by Maia Tua-Davidson, Welcoming Clubs Lead. Facilitator Bio Maia Tua‑Davidson brings deep expertise in building welcoming, inclusive environments across sport and community organisations, alongside hands‑on leadership as a coach, volunteer and small business owner.