Community makes meaning for Cairns changemaker
From the outback to Australia Zoo, Cairns innovator Sara Brown has built a career around building community – and her new role with CQUniversity is set to make new connections across regional Queensland.
Recently appointed Social Innovation Program Manager at CQU, the former community services manager will drive a range of regional initiatives to promote social inclusion and impact.
Ms Brown has lived in Cairns for six years, and previously worked with local Indigenous social enterprise The Maraway.
She’s also worked across Queensland, the Northern Territory and internationally, in social impact roles for community-based health, youth justice, parenting education, green city initiatives and even at the Irwin family’s Australia Zoo.
With a background in communications and a passion for telling untold stories, she said she’s keen to hit the ground running with the Office of Social Innovation.
“CQUniversity’s Social Innovation team is kicking off big things in Gladstone, and it’s really important work to understand who’s being left behind in our regional areas, and work with locals to design interventions that encourage and welcome everyone,” Ms Brown said.
“As someone who’s moved into new communities a lot, I know how meaningful it is to find your tribe, and to be able to give back to the place you live.
“Especially when the cost of living is hitting so hard, it’s exciting to take these free, creative, and innovative projects into parts of our communities that are feeling isolated, and help people find new ways to connect.”
Next month, CQU’s Gladstone Community Connection and Inclusion Project is delivering a series of workshops, inviting up to 60 community members to co-design and pilot new inclusion program.
Ms Brown and co-facilitator Steve Williams are working with Gladstone Regional Council, Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct, and the Salvation Army, to maximise involvement from young people, new parents, people with disabilities, and people dealing with mental health challenges.
“Loneliness can hit at every stage of life, and we want to hear from everyone about what sort of connections are most meaningful for them,” she said.
Later this year, CQUniversity’s Social Innovation team will also deliver the next stage of its project with Q-SEED and ArcBlue, to promote social impact through business and procurement in Townsville.
Outside work, Ms Brown is a mum to her one-year-old son, and loves hiking through Far North Queensland rainforests with her family, or blissing out on her yoga mat.
CQUniversity is Australia’s only social enterprise university, certified by Social Traders. The certification recognises its impact as Australia’s most inclusive, accessible, supportive and socially innovative university.
Learn more at CQUniversity’s Office of Social Innovation website.
