Central Queensland University, including the Institute for Sustainable Regional Development, is a key Gold Sponsor of a major Queensland social work conference that begins this Thursday (October 18) at Rydges Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon.

Over 150 delegates from all over Queensland as well as regional, local and interstate speakers will attend.

The Inaugural State Conference of the Australian Association of Social Workers (Qld) will address the theme Social Work: The Binders, The Separators and The Central Host through a rich variety of sessions, key papers and panel discussions.

The conference theme will explore the factors that unite social workers in their professional practice as well as the wide diversity that occurs within human services and social work across Queensland.

The theme also acknowledges the Central Queensland region as the host of this inaugural state social work conference. 

CQU's Associate Professor Sandra Taylor, a key organiser of the conference, will contribute to a presentation on the Relevance of Research to the Future of Social Work, as well as to a session on Communities as Centres of Engagement.

Other CQU presenters will include PhD and Masters candidates Annerley Bates, Kathryn Rendell, Janice Hinson and Margie Newton as well as academic staff from CQU Dr Steven Rogerson, Dr Nicola Taylor and Dr Amanda Shea Hart.