Our facilitators

Damian, the teacher of the Reading and Writing Group, graduated from QUT in 1991. Since then, he has used his gifts in the arts in community education programs. He worked with homeless youth for about a decade empowering young artists to educate their community on health, disadvantage and personal expression. Damian has been an advocate for social justice as a community visitor (Commission for Children, Young People and Child Guardian), a community activist (Brisbane East Timor Action Coalition) and as a graphic designer for community projects. In the last few years,

Damian has worked as a teacher (visual arts and multimedia) at Kenmore State High School. He spends his spare time writing and illustrating a children's story, singing and cycling. Damian is passionate about using the arts to give voice, vision and form to personal and social change.

Suellen has long believed in the importance of community and the need to work intentionally to build, grow and sustain healthy communities that are welcoming for everyone.  She is passionate about the power of personal stories and working to give voice to people whose stories are often 'silenced'.

Suellen works as a community inclusion worker and is very happy to be working locally at A Place To Belong (APTB).  Mum to three children (5-16 years old), Suellen also works at Community Resource Unit (CRU).

Carmel Rosella was living a life of chaos when a service provider asked her “What is your vision?” It was this question that led to new possibilities for Carmel. She then learnt to read and write at 25 years of age. This led to her developing a vocation to teach people with learning difficulties literacy, numeracy and computing skills.

Over the following years she received significant support from people in her community and now she wants to put back something of what she has received. She helps run a Reading and Writing Group in West End. Carmel’s story is a powerful aid for learning in seminars. Click here to listen to Carmel’s audio story.

Deborah Lugsden likes to share her story about how life has gone for her the last few years. Living in institutions for many years and being at risk of homelessness has shaped Deborah significantly.

Now she has her own unit, a bank account, a job, friends and local networks. Her story has been a powerful learning tool in workshops throughout Brisbane and Queensland.

Penny Barringham has helped to shape the work of A Place to Belong from its inception. Her thinking, frameworks and priorities are greatly influenced by the lessons she has learned from being committed to others in her home and neighbourhood. These guide Penny in her role in A Place to Belong.

Penny is passionate about people who are vulnerable being treated respectfully and keeps a close eye on the values framework to which A Place to Belong is committed. Penny’s training roles have included seminars on empowerment, values and inclusion. Penny has post graduate qualifications in social work.

Neil first started learning about community inclusion in the disability realm when he and his wife became more involved in their community and shared their home with a few people who were working through the recovery process.

From this, Neil saw the power of ordinary, simple friendship connections. He is passionate about sharing this insight across the sector and seeking to inspire people to keep a community vision alive.

Neil has been running training in mental health for over ten years. He is the manager of A Place to Belong and a trainer and consultant with the Community Praxis Cooperative. Neil has postgraduate qualifications in community development, management and social work.