Nambour Compass Campus opening heralds new opportunities for people with disabilities

11 May

Ted O’Brien, right, opens the new Campus with Compass Institute Founder and CEO, David Dangerfield. Compass is a for-purpose organisation dedicated to providing “real futures” for people with a disability.

It’s primary purpose is to provide leading-edge learning and development opportunities for young people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

But Compass Institute Founder and CEO David Dangerfield hopes his new campus in C-Square will also help change perceptions about people with disabilities.

“I refer to the facilities as campuses because of their focus on learning and development opportunities,” said Mr Dangerfield. “We have always challenged the implicit notion that people with a disability are liabilities requiring welfare.”

Mr Dangerfield heads the Palmwoods-based charity dedicated to providing “real futures” for people with a disability.

“Compass is a showcase that allows people with disabilities to demonstrate that they are in fact assets to their community. Like all assets their potential is unlocked through structured learning and development programs, and of course - opportunity.

“Compass also has a range of very successful social enterprises that provide the opportunity for people with disability to participate in meaningful ways in their community and to experience that sense of achievement and pride we all feel at the end of a job well done.”

Looking ahead, Compass hopes to offer market stalls, art installations, music, and other performance events throughout the C-Square public spaces. Compass will also be opening a new social enterprise retail store, Wabi Sabi, in the C-Square precinct in June.

Through Compass’ innovative social enterprise model this store will sell a range of products made by those who attend Compass across their six local Campuses.

Ted O’Brien MP, Federal Member for Fairfax officially opened the new premises last Wednesday.

“Locating dynamic institutions like Compass into C-Square is going to give Nambour a real boost,” Mr O’Brien said.

“We need to be more inclusive if we are going to build better and more resilient communities, and this is a great initiative. The team at Compass do a fantastic job, and I’m really honoured to support them.

“I have taken an active interest in the role they play here on the Sunshine Coast, supporting people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

“With the opening of their new facility in the heart of Nambour, hopefully more people will not only become aware of their work but also come and get involved.”

Compass’s new premises are at C-Square, Ground Floor (Courtyard), 52-64 Currie Street, Nambour.

The Institute provides further education, skills based training and vocational pathways to young people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Compass has grown from humble origins from supporting three young men with disabilities in a community hall in Palmwoods in the 90s. Today it supports 166 people and their families through six campuses from Caboolture to Gympie.

• To find out more about Compass or to get involved, visit their website at www.compassinc.org.au or contact Head Office via (07) 5445 9116.