CQU is involved in the United Nations-supported International Conference on Engaging Communities, due to be held in Brisbane from August 14-17.

CQU is a supporting partner for the event and several of our staff members will take part.

Even before the event, CQU's Ross Springolo has done a lot of liaison work with the UN and Queensland Government and has represented CQU on conference organising groups.

Professor Bob Miles, from CQU's Institute for Sustainable Regional Development, has been contracted to help the United Nations conduct a closed session entitled: \'International Information Exchange on Poverty Environment Nexus Initiative in Central Asian and Southeast Asian Regions'.

Professor Miles will help as a presenter/facilitator and will summarise and report on the session.

He was also involved in the organisation of a Central Queensland tour for the conference, along with Mal Hellmuth (Department of Transport) and Bill Highman (Department of Communitites).

ISRD\'s Sandy Paton is involved in two conference presentations, 'Learning with Amanda' (jointly with John Homan) and 'The Grameen Bank Approach to Community Engagement'. 'Learning with Amanda' raises awareness about the importance of respectful relationships, friendship and the opportunities for choices in the lives of the intellectually disabled. The theme for the Grameen paper is the role of appropriate training in skill building and generating the confidence and sense of worth in people that supports effective community engagement.

Ms Paton also has a poster presentation on the 'Evolving Life of a Community Group', in conjunction with Liz Alexander from the Central Highlands Regional Resource Use Planning (CHRRUP) program.

Meanwhile, Association Professor John Rolfe (CQU Rockhampton) and Shion Yee (CQU Brisbane) will present a session on 'Evaluating Community and Government Engagement Processes in the CQ region'.

CQU academics who served as peer reviewers for the conference included: Jane Maidment; Nicola Taylor; Sue Rice; Eric Boardman; Philip Clift; Bob Miles; Victoria Dyer; Daniel Teghe; Paul Hyland; Fergus O'Brien; Lorna Moxham and Bob O'Sullivan.

The International Conference on Engaging Communities is an initiative of the United Nations and the Queensland Government.

Details are available at: http://www.engagingcommunities2005.org/home.html