Council Partners With QUT To Plan Inclusive Communities

Queensland University of Technology has invited Gympie Regional Council and community members to participate in a research project which aims to achieve better inclusive community planning for people with disabilities in regional areas.

The project, led by Dr Lisa Stafford, aims to uncover the meaning of an inclusive community, and people’s experiences living in the Gympie Region.

Researchers are calling on all local residents to complete a questionnaire. People with disabilities or chronic illnesses aged nine years and older have the option of completing a story board and participating in an interview with a researcher.

Dr Stafford says well planned inclusive communities benefit everyone while safeguarding the rights of people with disabilities.

“Many people with disabilities or chronic illnesses continue to experience exclusion due to social-attitudinal and physical barriers.

“Identifying how we can better plan communities for inclusivity is key and everyone’s involvement is needed to make communities inclusive for all,” she said.

For more information and to participate in the research, visit www.planninginclusivecommunities.com

This project is funded by the Australian Research Council under DE190101512 ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA). QUT Ethics Approval Number.