Welcoming Cities Darling Downs & South West Queensland Summit – A Day of Insight, Inclusion, and Connection
We were thrilled to be part of the Welcoming Cities Darling Downs & South West Queensland Summit. This dynamic and thought-provoking gathering brought together community leaders, organisations, and changemakers from across the region.
Hosted by Welcoming Australia, the summit featured powerful contributions from inspiring speakers, including Julia Spicer OAM, who delivered a compelling keynote on why inclusion is not just a social imperative—but an economic necessity. We also heard from Dr. Stephen O’Grady, who shared practical insights on how volunteering—particularly through sport—builds connected, resilient communities and supports regional economic growth.
The day unfolded through two engaging panel discussions:
Panel 1: Linking Economic Transition & Social Inclusion – exploring how inclusive strategies are vital to thriving regional economies.
Panel 2: Community-Led Approaches to Inclusion – highlighting local solutions driven by the people who know their communities best.
Participants also took part in an interactive workshop on Introduction to Active Inclusion, gaining hands-on understanding of what meaningful participation looks like in practice.
A standout message from the day? Regions don’t need saving—they need support to lead their own futures with confidence, agency, and a sense of connection.
Huge thanks to Welcoming Australia for hosting such a rich, collaborative, and hopeful event. We left inspired by the resilience, creativity, and commitment of everyone in the room, and we are excited to continue this vital work together.
https://welcomingcities.org.au/
Dalby 29 Oct 2025
